Working collaboratively with a diverse network of community partners—including local government, businesses, and fellow environmental organizations—VCS strives to promote sustainable practices, protect vital ecosystems, and inspire stewardship across the island.
Through these partnerships, VCS engages the community in conservation efforts, fostering a shared commitment to the island’s environmental health and future resilience.
Plant Local
Plant Local MV is a collective of conservation groups, botanists, and landscaping practitioners focused on building our resilience to climate change by incorporating plants native to the island into yards and commercial landscapes.
Use carefully curated guides to learn about the diverse and beautiful plants native to Martha’s Vineyard and available for gardens and landscapes.
Native Plants for a Resilient Island
The booklets and brochures include information on why to plant local and reduce lawn size, details about our top 20 native plants, where to begin, how to care for native plants, what not to plant, sample garden designs, and much more.
Apply these guidelines to support nature-based landscaping and encourage others to join the “Plant Local” movement.
Great Ponds
A Film Series
The Great Pond Series is a collaboration with Ollie Becker and Circuit Arts, a compelling collection of films that explore the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of Martha’s Vineyard’s Great Ponds.
Martha’s Vineyard’s great ponds have been a source of sustenance and beauty for countless generations of Islanders. Recently, many of these ponds appear to be at a tipping point, with algae blooms choking out shellfish, and cyanobacteria making the water unsafe for pets and humans.
This three-part documentary is supported by the Vineyard Vision Fellowship and Vineyard Conservation Society, with invaluable contributions from other Island conservation organizations, private grants, and donations.
Learn MoreEPISODE 1: On Our Watch
Dir. Ollie Becker
Produced in partnership with the Vineyard Conservation Society, On Our Watch is the first of a three-part series documenting the health of these spectacular coastal ponds, and what our community is doing to help. Following the efforts of organizations such as the Great Pond Foundation, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, and the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, as well as several community members, the film examines the history of these ponds, the challenges they face, and what can be done to save them.
EPISODE 2: Finding a Better Balance
Dir. Ollie Becker
In the second episode of this docuseries, Martha’s Vineyard’s coastal ponds continue to be adversely affected by the rising sea-level and temperatures of climate change, and an influx of nitrogen from septic systems and landscaping runoff. In response, the Great Pond Foundation, Vineyard Conservation Society, Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, Wampanoag Environmental Laboratory, and others make vital and cooperative efforts to revive the herring, shellfish, and eelgrass populations. While offering hope, this film urges the public to consider its nitrogen and carbon footprints, in relation to the ponds’ survival.
Environmental Film Festival
Since 2014, Vineyard Conservation Society has partnered with the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society to present Nature as Inspiration, an annual Environmental Film Festival held each Memorial Day Weekend. Featuring powerful environmental films, guest speakers including directors and scientists, and an exhibition of winning student artwork in the Feldman Art Gallery, the festival celebrates the intersection of art, science, and environmental awareness.
