Meet Margaret Meyncke

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margaret Meyncke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaret, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Our organization started in response to learning that the Monarch Butterfly was going extinct. This fact created a sense of urgency. What can we do to make a difference immediately?

I researched some relevant organizations such as the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and the Xerces Society. These formal organizations had meetings and activities that were too far away. We wanted something local to Temecula. We began to form a radius of 20 minutes from Temecula City Hall. We reach north to Lake Elsinore and south to Fallbrook. By limiting the activities to “LOCAL” we could encourage more neighborly interaction. People could carpool to events. They could host local events. They could build community with their neighbors. They could become friends. We did end up connecting with the CNPS as a project under the Riverside – San Bernardino Chapter.

Another significant factor was creating a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization where everyone could feel welcome. This requires constant vigilance to hold people accountable for being respectful at all times.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career is somewhat unique. I have five daughters and chose to be a stay-at-home mom. On top of that, we ended up homeschooling for 30 years. I’ve always been interested in education, so I eventually got a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in business. After receiving my California Teaching Credential, I became a substitute teacher in three local school districts.

During this time, I began teaching piano and continue to this day.

I got most of my environmental training in the various groups I belong to. It started with Sierra Club – Santa Margarita Group, Temecula Valley Rose Society, Temecula Valley Woman’s Club, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and now, the Temecula Valley Native Plant Network.

I am very proud to use all my gifts and abilities to coordinate a group of friends that are focused on nature. The Monarch Butterfly is just the start. We use the opportunity to explain that native birds require native insects. Native insects require native plants. The foundation is native plants.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you come to visit the Temecula Valley, you need more than a week!

I would take friends to visit the Rose Haven Heritage Garden. This garden is free to the public and has different sections such as the Pollinator Garden, the composting area, the Cactus Garden, etc.

Wine country is a huge attraction and offers more than 40 different wineries to explore.
Don’t miss horseback riding or a hot air balloon ride over wine country.

Lake Skinner offers kayaking and motorboats and a visit to the Discovery Nature Center.

Santa Rosa Plateau is a nature reserve with miles of trails. Stop at the visitor center to check in and then enjoy the birds, wildlife, and scenic chaparral.

The Murrieta Public Library now has a Pollinator Garden and a Seed Library. This is a spectacular addition to our local environmental efforts. We are developing the Temecula Public Library’s Butterfly Trail as well.

Both Old Town Temecula and Old Town Murrieta offer great restaurants and local coffee shops.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to the original group of five women from the local Sierra Club, the Santa Margarita Group. Pam Nelson, Shea Millan, Caren Hanson, Cathy Peterson, and me.

We did a field trip to a local golf course, Temecula Creek Golf Course, to tour the newly installed Butterfly Garden. The local golf course manager, Brett Wininger, had applied to Audubon for their “Monarchs in the Rough” grant to plant a butterfly garden at the golf course. This is where I learned that the Monarch Butterfly was going extinct. We talked about it over lunch and decided we had to take action!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativeplants_temeculavalley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3123383767971750

Other: EMAIL: m.meyncke@gmail.com

MEETUP: “Outdoor Families”