National Wildlife Federation Certifies

New Wildlife Habitat Garden in Oldwick, New Jersey

Local residents make a difference to protect wildlife

Media Contact: Jessica Ordóñez-Lancet, National Wildlife Federation, 202-797-6809,

OrdonezLancetJ@nwf.org

OLDWICK, NEW JERSEY – October 28, 2020 – The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s

largest wildlife conservation and education organization, is pleased that Deborah and Jason DeSalvo in Oldwick, New Jersey have successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat® through its Garden for Wildlife™ program. The DeSalvo’s habitat has been co-certified with NWF’s state affiliate, New Jersey Audubon.

NWF celebrates this effort to create a garden that supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs and other local wildlife. Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden provides natural sources of food, water, cover and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants, conserves water and doesn’t rely on pesticides.

Celebrating over 45 years, the Garden for Wildlife movement has recognized over 227,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens across the United States to date, encompassing more than 2.5 million acres that support wildlife locally. Backyards, urban gardens, school grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos and community landscapes can all be recognized as wildlife habitats through the program.

“Anyone, anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities,” said NWF naturalist David Mizejewski. “Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban area or a rural plot of land, you can make a difference for local wildlife. Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is fun, easy and makes a real difference for neighborhood wildlife. It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally and help birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife,” he added.

“My husband Jason and I moved to this part of New Jersey because of its stunning natural beauty and spectacular wildlife. Although our property already had a strong history of conservation (in 1980 the New Jersey Conservation Foundation was granted a Conservation Easement covering 25 acres), we wanted to actively improve the environment for both ourselves and the abundant local wildlife that is so important to us,” said Deborah.

“The agricultural land that is part of our property had been farmed ‘conventionally’ for decades – something that takes an incredible toll on the environment – so we immediately began the process of transitioning our farming practices to Regenerative Agriculture in a way that follows organic farming principles, but goes even further in striving to actively improve the soil and biodiversity of our land.”

The Net Zero House that we are building will generate 100% of the power we need both for living and
driving (up to 30,000 miles per year in electric vehicles) and the land surrounding our home will be
‘landscaped’ using Permaculture principles ensuring that everything planted will be both appropriate for
this part of New Jersey and also serve to provide food or habitat for either us or wildlife.”

Many of NWF’s state affiliate organizations are partners in the Garden for Wildlife Movement. Habitats in
partnering states have national and state certification.
Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is now also part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a
national effort to create a million gardens that provide habitat for declining pollinator insects such
butterflies and bees.

Participants who have their wildlife habitat garden certified receive a personalized certificate with a unique
habitat number, a one-year membership to NWF with a subscription to National Wildlife magazine, a
subscription to the Garden for Wildlife e-newsletter, a 10 percent discount to National Wildlife catalog,
and the exclusive right to post a Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign.
For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and how to qualify to have a garden space
recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit https://www.nwf.org/garden or call 1-800-822-9919.

About National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization, uniting all Americans to
ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world.