What is Natural Neighbors?
BiodiversityWorks and the Village and Wilderness Project have partnered to develop the Natural Neighbors program, with support from the Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship. Natural Neighbors works with individuals and neighborhood associations to learn about their interests in nature and identify current and potential biodiversity contributions on land they manage. Then, we’ll offer customized management recommendations to benefit plants, pollinators, and wildlife in your area. We’ll help you develop a stewardship plan compatible with your time and resources.
Why do we need this program?
While Martha’s Vineyard has a lot of land in conservation, these properties aren’t enough to conserve the island’s flora and fauna into the future. Populations of plants and animals need to find each other, and private lands can provide vital habitat connectivity to help wildlife and plants move, mate, pollinate, and thrive. Many private landowners enjoy the plants and animals around their home and contact us to learn more about them or how to help them. Natural Neighbors has sprouted from the many requests we receive from our community members who want to know more about stewardship.
Become a Natural Neighbor
The Natural Neighbors Program helps our community create habitat for their own enjoyment and to support biodiversity. We work with individuals, neighborhoods, and community groups to customize plans, be they for single or multiple properties. Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll help you get started!
About the staff
Rich Couse is the Program Director. He grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts and lives in West Tisbury. Rich has a B.A. from UMASS in English: Writing & Communications with a minor in Education, a M.C. in Publishing from Emerson College, and an M.S. in Environmental Sciences, Conservation Biology from Antioch University. Rich conducts site visits with support from Luanne Johnson and Tom Chase as needed.

Luanne Johnson is the Director of BiodiversityWorks and a wildlife biologist. She provides expertise on bats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.
Tom Chase is the Executive Director of Village and Wilderness an organization that works to amplify the power of established organizations by creating innovative strategies to restore Martha’s Vineyard’s environment and foster an Island culture that stewards it. Tom advises on all aspects of the project and occasionally makes site visits.
Read Natural Neighbors Blog Posts
Solving Life’s Little Mysteries
It's life's little mysteries that keep our sense of wonder alive. Categorizing and naming things is built into our human DNA, and for some, the...
Time Well Spent
A lot can happen in a month or so, especially in plant-time. If you have been following along, you know I have been spending time each weekend...
Observing Nature When Life Gets Busy
As life gets busy in the summer, it’s hard to fit all one’s activities in, especially during the confines of a weekend. I always try my best not to...
WEEKEND ACTIVITY – Finding Abundance in Your Yard
About a month ago, I was on a Natural Neighbors visit walking a property with a landowner and talking about things that can be done to increase the...
Natural Neighbors: The Benefits of a Natural Pool
Conventional pools use an alarming amount of energy and chemicals to operate, whereas natural pools utilize regeneration sections with native plants...
Become a Natural Neighbor
The Natural Neighbors Program helps private property owners create backyard habitats for their own enjoyment and to support biodiversity. We work with individuals, neighborhoods, and community groups to customize plans, be they for single or multiple properties. Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll help you get started!