How You can Fight Invasive Species

Everyone has a role in the battle against invasive species, not just at the Jay Estate, but everywhere you go, you can identify and remove species like Mugwort as quickly as possible. Here are some of the ways to do so:

Track the spread of invasive species through apps. There are a variety of apps to download on the app store, such as iMapInvasives Mobile (developed by SUNY ESF) and iNaturalist, that allow you to take a picture of any invasive species (or species you think to be invasive) you see, allowing you to track their spread. In other words, if you see something, say something.

Spread the word on invasive species to your friends and family. The more information about invasive species spreads through word-of-mouth, the more people will be aware of their existence. Thus, more people will be much more likely to remove them. It's an ecologically beneficial positive correlation that you cannot ignore.

Get your hands dirty and do it yourself. By removing invasive species as soon as you see them -- on the Jay Estate grounds or anywhere else -- you are actively weeding out the problem (quite literally) and giving everyone a small (but needed) victory in the battle against invasive species. On that note ...

Forage! With edible invasive species like Mugwort and Garlic Mustard, one can forage them from sites like the Jay Heritage Center and incorporate them into their cooking. The Jay Heritage Center currently works with one such forager, Tama Matsuoka Wong, author of Foraged Flavor: Finding Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer’s Market!