Committee Chairs
Lisa Meek
Laura McCloughan
Matt Belsley
Robert Gomez
To contact the chairs of this committee, click here.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Native & Invasive Community Educators (NICE) Committee is to educate the public about the benefits of using plants native to Indiana in our landscapes and about the adverse effects invasive plants have on our environment, health and economy.“
Display Beds:
The NICE Committee maintains two display beds at the 4-H Fairgrounds that highlight how native plants can be successfully utilized in our home landscapes and offer examples of alternatives for the invasive plant species often found on our own properties. The purpose of the Native Plant Beds is to educate the community about the importance of native plant species to the health and diversity of our ecosystems and to demonstrate how they can be successfully utilized in our home landscapes. Only species native to Indiana or their cultivars are planted in these beds!
History of Committee:
Our committee began in 1985 as the Native Plant Bed Committee located on the 4-H Fairgrounds. The original beds in front of the Purdue Extension office have expanded over time and now also include the bed surrounding the Centennial Pavilion. These beds are experimental in nature and constantly evolving with the installation of new native plant species almost every year. In 2020, the scope of the original committee was broadened to include the environmentally critical topic of invasive species and rebranded as the NICE Committee.
NICE Committee Information:
Click on the pdf slide deck below for more detailed information about the NICE Committee and why you should be concerned about the important issue of natives and invasives and the effects they exert on our environment, health and economy.
Informational Resources on Natives and Invasives:
Natives:
* INPS “Buy Natives Directory”
Invasives:
