About the Hamm behind it all, Katie Hamm-Robinson
I’ve always enjoyed nature and had a concern for the environment. Buying a home and caring for my own little quarter acre urban plot of land in 2019 was life changing. The previous owners of our property were honeybee keepers and many of their plant choices reflected this – lemon balm, mint, salvia. I noticed bees and small butterflies (or moths?) flocking to these blooms and adored watching the different species happily buzzing and snacking together. This led me to purchase a wildflower seed packet from the nearby big box store (now I know that wasn’t the best choice, but hey, this whole bio is documenting my journey). The wildflower patch welcomed many more bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and lizards. These observations led to researching how to welcome more wildlife, which led to studying pollinator gardens, which has led to a passion for native plants and gardening for wildlife with sustainable practices.
My goal is to peacefully coexist with the nature around me, respecting how Nature has operated for millennia, by planting a variety of native plants for a variety of wildlife. This biodiversity is critical, although it does not align with society’s current obsession with the perfect lawn and perfect ornamental plants, maintained with harmful chemicals. I’m eager to help my clients see the beauty and value in embracing Nature the way she was intended to be enjoyed – full of food and habitat for important bees, butterflies, moths.
Credentials
Over the years, I’ve registered my habitat (aka yard) through several nonprofits’ initiatives: Pollinator Pitstop on the NC Butterfly Highway; Monarch Waystation from Monarch Watch; Pollinator Habitat from Xerces Society; and is on Doug Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park Map. Additionally, my yard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat from North Carolina Wildlife Federation and I’m working on achieving the North Carolina Native Plant Society ‘s Native Plant Habitat Certification. The principles of these organizations drive my planting practices, and this is the valuable experience I bring to my clients’ new habitats.
To further strengthen my credibility as an expert in pollinator habitats, I’m currently engaged in training from the Pollinator Partnership to be a Certified Pollinator Steward and am seeking a Certificate in Native Plant Studies from UNC Charlotte. The hands-on experimentation, trial-and-error, and joy of witnessing the fruits of my labor over the past four years in my own gardens is absolutely invaluable. I’ve learned the best places to source native plants in Charlotte, best planting practices, what grows well where, and endless other helpful tidbits that will save my client’s time.