Brookside Farm Museum: A Homegrown National Park Success Story

When Brookside Farm Museum launched its Homegrown National Park initiative in 2024, the goal was to blend historical preservation with ecological restoration. Today, that vision is thriving—and the community is taking notice.

Transformative Habitat Restoration

Local invasive plant management specialist Colin Bennett and his team at SwampYankee Earthcare have led efforts to clear invasive species and plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers across the property.

As one Facebook post shared:

“Colin leads the crew in clearing the invasive species clearing and nurturing native plants for Brookside’s ‘Homegrown National Park’ initiative.”

This work has uncovered dozens of young oaks and other native species that now  have the chance to flourish, dramatically improving the health and biodiversity of the landscape—making Brookside both historically enriching and ecologically vibrant.

Engaging Local Youth: Girl Scouts in Action

Brookside welcomed local Girl Scout troops twice this year, where the scouts planted new pollinator gardens and learned firsthand about native plants and the insects they support. These visits didn’t just beautify the grounds—they helped spark a love for conservation in the next generation.

Camp Harkness

For three weeks, Brookside hosted the campers from Camp Harkness as they did job training. Learning to work as a team, negotiate with employers and coworkers and the tangible skill of landscaping practices, the group cleared invasive species for three weeks straight making a very tangible impact on the landscape at Brookside.

Renewed Community Pride & Aesthetic Appeal

As EcoPlantia commented on the museum’s transformation:

“So happy we could be part of this transformation—Brookside Farms just rolled out native habitat with ease!”

Gardeners, heritage enthusiasts, and casual passersby alike have praised how the native plantings have rejuvenated the property—highlighting beauty woven with purpose.

Grounded in Education & Local PartnershipsThe East Lyme Public Library teamed up with Brookside to offer book studies for adults and children using Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope, along with guest speakers and workshops that empower residents to start their own backyard habitat projects.

 Impact Snapshot

Outcome	Community Highlights
Ecological Gains	5 acres cleared & hundreds of natives planted
Youth Engagement	2 visits by Girl Scouts planting pollinator gardens
Educational Outreach	Book studies & library-led programs inspire home projects
Civic & Cost Benefits	Less mowing saves town resources; stronger local pride