Webinar: The Heritage Garden Program

Heather Wendt

Assistant Manager·Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts

Heather Wendt is the co-creator, and Director of the Heritage Garden (HG) Program. She is also the co-author of the Plant Selection Guide, Heritage Gardens of the Columbia River Basin. Heather has worked for conservation districts since 1997. She currently serves as the Assistant Manager for both the Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts, and she is responsible for implementing the HG Program in Benton and Franklin Counties. Heather also serves as the Co-Chair of the Columba Basin Chapter WNPS.

Kelsey Kelmel

Program Coordinator·Yakima Heritage Garden

Kelsey Kelmel is the Yakima Heritage Garden Program Coordinator. She also works for a native plant nursery where she grows native and drought tolerant species. Kelsey loves to connect folks to the local shrub-steppe flora and is actively involved in the Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society. She is currently in the midst of converting her brother’s lawn of Bermuda grass into a native, drought tolerant landscape and is an avid food gardener with an affinity for vermicomposting aka worm bins.

Dinah Rouleau

Project Manager·Columbia Basin CD

Dinah Rouleau, Project Manager at Columbia Basin CD, has spent most of her life in both Grant and Adams Counties. Shortly after graduating from Whitworth in 2020 with a Plant Biology degree, she started working for the Columbia Basin Conservation District. She currently lives in Ritzville with her husband, three horses, three dogs and several reptiles. Dinah’s favorite native forb is Lewis’ Flax.

Elizabeth Jackson

Resource Specialist·Cascadia Conservation District

Elizabeth Jackson joined Cascadia Conservation District as a Resource Specialist in February 2021. Her main programs include Heritage Gardens in Chelan County, agricultural landowner assistance and cost-share, urban agriculture, irrigation efficiencies, Salmon Safe certifications, and education and outreach for adults and youth. She earned a master’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Oregon State University in 2021. Currently, she is a member of Wenatchee Valley Chapter WNPS. Elizabeth enjoys traveling, gardening, hiking, and caring for foster animals on her urban ranch.

Wendy Mee

Resource Technician·Kittitas County Conservation District

Wendy Mee has called Kittitas County home for over 50 years. She is a CWU graduate with a BS in Biology with a Horticultural Specialization. Wendy holds a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning 2003 from Utah State University. Her thesis project was the publication of Water Wise: Native Plants for Intermountain West Landscapes. Wendy currently works as a Resource Technician for the Kittitas County Conservation District. Her duties include providing landowner assistance with wildlife and pollinator plantings, riparian plantings, Firewise home assessments and fuel reduction efforts and the Heritage Garden program.