Hudson Valley Groups Link Land Stewardship to Medical Outcomes

The connection between residential landscaping and human physiology is the central focus of a new public program in Pocantico Hills. Perfect Earth Project and RiverFest FPS will host a workshop titled Your Land: Your Environment, Your Health on Wednesday, November 4. The event seeks to quantify how specific plant choices and yard maintenance practices influence local biodiversity and resident well-being.

The panel brings together specialists from distinct sectors to map these connections. Edwina von Gal, founder of Perfect Earth Project, will moderate the discussion. She will be joined by Jen Benson of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Dr. Sarah Evans of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dr. Amy Karpati of Teatown Lake Reservation, and Ryan MacLean of the Greenwich Audubon Center. The session includes a question and answer period for attendees.

Dr. Evans brings a medical perspective to the conversation. As an Associate Professor in Environmental Medicine at Mount Sinai, her research examines how early exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals such as BPA affects brain development. She works with several health centers to translate this data into policy actions that protect communities from toxic substances.

The program also includes the premiere of a short film directed by Ted Weinbaum. The video profiles the work of ecologist Elijah Goodman, educator Patty Butter, and landscape designers Leslie Needham, Dawn Orza, and Kim Eierman. Local organizations such as Hilltop Hanover Farm, Native Plant Center, Riverkeeper, and Wildr Places will be present at the venue.

Logistics for the event are set for the Historic Hudson Valley Headquarters at 639 Bedford Road in Pocantico Hills. Doors open at 12:00 p.m., and the program runs from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. A buffet lunch prepared by RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen is included with attendance. Linda Richards will perform a rendition of This Land is Your Land during the event.

Admission is free, but advance registration is required because space is limited. The event is sponsored by Historic Hudson Valley, Homegrown National Park, and RiverMarket. The gathering aims to provide attendees with actionable knowledge on creating resilient, biodiverse landscapes that support both ecological health and human safety.