About the Author
About the Author
I’m Deb Simpson, a full-time Mount Gretna resident, ecological steward, and community educator. I created Grassroots Gretna as an extension of the work I began in 2020 on my property, Gretna Island. There, I’ve built the Gretna Island Ecological Garden—a half-acre of forest restored through native plantings and the careful removal of both invasive and non-native species. It serves as a living example of how even small properties can contribute to healthier woods, cleaner water, and thriving wildlife. I am inspired by the Homegrown National Park movement, which emphasizes the urgency of the biodiversity crisis and shows that everyday people can make measurable differences in protecting and rebuilding biodiversity. GrassrootsGretna.eco enables me to easily share this message more widely within my community, providing information and resources for anyone interested in learning more about the land, water, and stewardship choices in our community.
In 2025, I authored Resolution 07-18-2025 (B)—the “Clean Easement” resolution—to protect the Southern Chautauqua Woodland, the largest undeveloped tract of Chautauqua land and a key part of protecting our regional source water supply. I continue to stand by the importance of permanently protecting that land, but there is little more to do until the community has another opportunity to vote in 2026. In the meantime, my focus is on education—building on what I began with the Gretna Island Ecological Garden to share practical guidance on stewardship and restoration. I’ve also included an Easement 101 section on this website to provide clear answers to questions that continue to come up in conversations with neighbors.
Mount Gretna is my home. I live in the forest and work to be a responsible steward of the half-acre I own, just as I encourage individuals and organizations to care for the larger woodlands that define our region’s character and health.
I’m not a trained forester or hydrologist, but I’ve built strong partnerships with those who are. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Lebanon Valley Conservancy, and I’ve also been a public advocate for Governor Dick Park, speaking out against extractive forestry practices on publicly owned land.
In addition, I serve in a local public role (Mount Gretna Borough Council)—but the work on this site reflects my independent perspective as a resident, not an official position.
My stewardship journey began soon after I moved here in 2020, when I engaged LandStudies to help me understand how to care for the forested property I had just purchased.
Since 2021, I’ve partnered with Waxwing Ecoworks to plant more than 3,500 native herbaceous plugs on my property. Beginning in 2023, that partnership expanded into monthly stewardship sessions, where I spend an afternoon working alongside a member of the Waxwing team as they guide me through the seasonal care my property needs throughout the year (March - November).
I’ve also worked with Brandywine Urban Forest Management to inventory my trees and develop a long-term health plan, and with Good's Tree and Lawn Care for ongoing tree maintenance.
These hands-on projects have deepened my understanding of what small properties can achieve—and why the actions of larger landowners are even more critical.
I support Mount Gretna’s landscape and cultural life through several volunteer efforts. I:
Help maintain public spaces through the Gretna Gardeners and Soldiers Field Volunteer Brigade
Share books and nature resources through a Little Nature Library at the end of my driveway (Environmental Stewardship brochure).
Volunteer with local historical and arts organizations
I’m semi-retired from Penn State University, where I work part-time as a sy analyst/project manager in IT. I will retire fully by the end of 2025 and will continue devoting my time to conservation, cultural, and historical projects that serve the Mount Gretna community.