"Should We Be Afraid of Exotic Invaders?," an examination of the role non-native plant species play in our world, will be discussed by Janie Becker at the annual meeting of Recycle Rutherford on Monday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in the second floor courtroom of the Rutherford County Courthouse.

The public is invited free of charge.

Becker is a native of Lawrenceburg, and is a botanist by training, but a horticulturalist by passion, plus a fan of all life sciences. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in biology and was contracted for four years by the Tennessee Army National Guard to manage natural resources on their training lands statewide. The work included invasive species removal, wetlands delineations, creating restoration plans for at-risk species, and stream bank restoration.

More recently, Becker has spent seven years as an extension agent with UT/TSU Extension in Rutherford County. She was responsible for orchestrating the revitalization of the Rutherford County Farmers' Market, coordinating the Master Gardeners of Rutherford County volunteer program, creating bird habitats in the suburbs, and helping new farmers find their marketing niche and improve production techniques.

She recently moved to Bell Buckle with her husband and four-year-old daughter. She volunteers with Read to Succeed and serves on its board of directors.

Again, Janie Becker, the person you heard up until recently on WGNS answering your lawn and garden questions, will be the 7:00PM Monday night speaker at Recycle Rutherford.