Amy Martin

Senior Features Reporter

Amy Martin, a journalist and writer for more than 40 years, is a senior reporter for GreenSource DFW. Her latest book, "Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature in and round Dallas-Fort Worth,” (Wild-DFW.com) will be released by Timber Press in July 2023. She is currently creating a biographical website (NedFritz.com) of Ned Fritz, Texas' most famous environmentalist. Her prior book was "Itchy Business: How to Treat the Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rash, Prevent Exposure and Eradicate the Plant.”(Itchy.biz)

She was contributing editor for the national magazine Garbage (recycling and features), and has written for TheaterJones (comedy and cirque), Senior Voice (The Aging Hippie column), Dallas Morning News (recycling), Dallas Times Herald (performing arts), and Dallas Observer (music and comedy). For a dozen years, Martin also operated a popular alternative news service called Moonlady News, earning her the nickname Moonlady. She may be reached through Moonlady.com.

By Amy Martin

Mar 15 2024, AMY MARTIN

Texas Buckeye hikes honor a 40-year-old tradition

March 15, 2024

Beneath the massive bur oaks that anchor the slippery floodplain floor and the spreading boughs of towering Shumard red oaks that render dappled shade, an ivory cloud of creamy Texas buckeye blossoms hang suspended in the deep forest twilight.

Mar 01 2024, AMY MARTIN

New Dallas group aims to restore neglected hiking spot

A new Dallas group, Friends of Piedmont, is dedicated to restoring the neglected trails of Piedmont Ridge, once a popular hiking spot. With support from the city and local volunteers, they aim to reclaim the area’s former glory, focusing on preservation, history, and environmental sustainability.

Dec 08 2023, AMY MARTIN

Immersive exhibit portrays endangered Texas Prairie

The Amon Carter Museum exhibit "Trespassers: James Prosek & the Texas Prairie" highlights endangered Texas prairies through immersive, exquisitely detailed art. Watercolors, sculptures, and multimedia works illustrate prairie fragmentation and wildlife displacement, stirring awareness of this vital ecosystem's plight.

May 11 2023, AMY MARTIN

Two solar eclipses to be viewable in Texas

Texans can view two solar eclipses soon: an annular eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, visible in West and South Texas, and a total eclipse on April 8, 2024, visible across North Texas. Eclipses occur at the New Moon phase when Earth's, Moon's, and Sun's orbits align perfectly.

Apr 28 2023, AMY MARTIN

Rookery thrives within Dallas medical district

A thriving rookery of herons and egrets resides in UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Birds exhibit "nest fidelity," returning annually to nest in wooded ravines amid urban bustle. This avian sanctuary, a recognized bird preserve since the 1960s, faces challenges but remains a vital ecological haven.

Mar 24 2023, AMY MARTIN

Texas buckeye trail hikes kick off Saturday

The Texas Buckeye Trail hikes start March 25 with guided walks in the Great Trinity Forest. Ned Fritz discovered the buckeye grove in the 1970s, fighting against the Trinity barge canal project. The trail, named after Ned and Genie Fritz, was restored by activists and now hosts weekend walks.

Jan 18 2023, AMY MARTIN

TLC Vegan Cafe serves up savory plant-based fare

Troy Gardner's TLC Vegan Cafe in Richardson, featuring a plant wall, offers savory plant-based dishes including mock meats, flatbreads, and creative vegetable dishes. Despite cooking challenges, the cafe is known for its comforting vegan fare, with highlights like pizzas, Impossible Cheesy Lasagna, and unique desserts.

Nov 09 2022, AMY MARTIN

New urban greenbelt to improve park equity in South Dallas

The Trust for Public Land envisions a park within a 10-minute walk of every Dallas home, with a focus on South Oak Cliff. The Five Mile Creek Urban Greenbelt aims to connect trails and parks, backed by significant funding, benefiting the community's environment, health, and equity.

Nov 04 2022, AMY MARTIN

Texas prairie advocates gather to share conservation tactics

Texas loses 250 rural acres daily to urban development, fragmenting habitats and endangering species. At the People for Prairies conference, advocates shared conservation tactics, raising $27,000 for outreach. Cities like Fort Worth and Lewisville are integrating prairies into urban plans. Corporate and private landowners play crucial roles in prairie conservation.

Sep 09 2022, AMY MARTIN

Ned Fritz Scholarship winner inspired by Arlington nature center

Heather van Waasbergen, inspired by River Legacy Nature Center, plans to become a wildlife veterinarian. She received the Ned Fritz Scholarship, celebrating her environmental commitment and Unitarian values. Van Waasbergen aims to address global warming impacts on wildlife, studying at the University of California, Davis.

Aug 18 2022, AMY MARTIN

Hiker's guide to dirt trails in DFW

Aug. 18, 2022

Local cities invest millions in paved paths, yet largely ignore the public’s passion for soft-surface trails.

While the quality excels, for a 10,000-plus square-mile metroplex of nearly seven million people, there should be at least twice as much.

But let’s explore dirt-trail options for DFW urban nature retreats while we wait for city leaders to catch up.

Aug 18 2022, AMY MARTIN

Dirt trails lead to close encounters with nature

Aug. 18, 2022

A few years ago, I shattered my C2 vertebra, an injury only two percent survive. The surgeon’s solution was to fuse my top three vertebrae, but the end result was to make my head unable to turn, diminishing my sense of balance by 20 percent.

As I learned to walk again with a walker and then a cane, sidewalks and streets were essential, but I yearned to hike on dirt again. Six months after the neck wreck, I stopped by Clear Creek Natural Heritage Area near Denton.