By Sedona Narayan

Photo Credit: Lindsay Graham 

I recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing an esteemed member of the local Rochester community, Margot Fass. (This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity)

The interview took place in the beautiful native plant garden at A Frog House, located in the village of Pittsford at 65 State Street. The breeze blew gently and a chorus of birds chirped as Margot discussed the incredible work that she does, and the passions that inspire it. Afterwards, we were able to visit vernal ponds her team made at the Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsford.

Margot Fass is a psychiatrist, artist, and ecological activist. Margot’s love for frogs did not come until later in life, when she was partaking in her hobby of oil painting.

Fass:  “About ten or twelve years ago I started painting images of frogs, and painting them and painting them, and now it’s my big passion.”

Her frog art is exhibited at Rochester’s Impact Earth Lifestyle Store and is expected to remain there indefinitely. It also appears in her book, Froggy Family’s First Frolic.

Photo Credit: Margot Fass

Narayan: What is A Frog House? 

Fass: Our daughter Lindsay moved here to Pittsford into this house, which she was renting at the time, but there were chemicals all around the yard, and non-native plants. Somehow I thought it was my job to maintain and improve the property. We’ve installed mostly native plants.

While making my first sweep around the gardens, this was standing there [pointing to A Frog House]. That used to be an old boathouse or shed, I guess. But it was pretty run-down, so I applied some spackle and paint. Since I’ve been known as the “frog lady” for ten years or so before that, people tend to give me frog items. Naturally, I thought this would be a great place to put all my “frogabilia.” A friend of mine said, “Why not make it an educational place?” That seemed exactly right to me.

Before I went to medical school, I worked in education, so everything perfectly fit together. Our mission is advocacy, collaboration, and education. We go to schools, we have groups that come here, and we have a few educational events every year, including our annual “Save the Frogs Day,” which is April 28.

Photo Credit: A Frog House 

Narayan: As part of your advocacy you do a lot of workshops, what does one of these look like for those wanting to get involved?

Fass: I go to schools and elder homes and just teach them about the importance of wetlands and about how easy it is to have your own home-built vernal pond. I teach them about the importance of saving the frogs because of all the threats [facing] them. There are many many many threats to frogs, and actually to all species [pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change].

Narayan: Is there a certain amount of knowledge or skills that people should have when attending events/workshops?

Fass: I hope they will have kind hearts, or be willing to learn to be kinder. One of my little scout volunteers deliberately stepped on a spider when we were starting a project, and I asked him why he did that. Of course, he had no answer. I explained to him that it’s easier to destroy than it is to save life. Hopefully he learned a lesson there.

Narayan: What is the “Save The Frogs Day” event? 

Fass: Save The Frogs Day is an annual day of education and conservation, which started about fifteen years ago by Dr. Kerry Kriger. He started the worldwide Save The Frogs organization, which has affiliate groups throughout the world.

When I first got interested in frogs, I contacted him and then eventually went on some of the “SAVE THE FROGS!” eco tours. Then eventually, Lindsay moved here and I had A Frog House. That became my inspiration to participate.

Every year since 2019, we have had a Save The Frogs Day event. Last year, our main project was to build three big vernal ponds up in the arboretum, which was very exciting. Now they’re about 30 feet wide, but they were built to be as wide as 40 or 50 feet.

We finished all three of them on April 27th last year with the help of Tom Biebighauser, who is a wetland restoration and training person. By May 10th, the frogs had found the ponds and were laying eggs and peeping and croaking away. They populated the ponds immediately, which was very rewarding, because at A Frog House I had to wait for years for frogs to show up.

Photo Credit: Sedona Narayan

The liners were 50 feet by 50 feet square, and because the ponds are circular, we had large pieces of fabric left over. One of my volunteers said, “Why don’t we make kits out of them?” Since then our focus has been to make “home-built vernal ponds.”

The idea was to get people, young people, scouts, high school students, and younger kids to be able to put these outside themselves. In fact, it was very inspiring because while some volunteer Cub Scouts were helping us fold the excess up, they asked if they could take some home. Their mother later sent me some pictures of two of her sons digging a hole and putting the liner in.

Our kit includes two geotextile liners, one polyethylene eco-safe liner, a pH meter, spikes to hold the liner down, and an instruction booklet. There’s also a preparation booklet because not every type of ground needs a kit. Some people could do it without liners if they have very, very heavy clay soil and/or groundwater.

Photo Credit: Sedona Narayan

With a couple of grants, we have put together these materials for distribution of 8 free kits to selected recipients. I’m very inspired by working with scouts and teachers, because one of the purposes of the grant is to get kits into underserved areas as well. One great area would be the former brownfields along the river by the University of Rochester, which really need renovation.

The Save the frogs Day event took place successfully on April 26th, 2026 with great attendance and beautiful weather! -Narayan

Narayan: What do you think is most beneficial to humans about being in nature?

Fass: There are a lot of studies showing that being in nature has a very calming effect and can be almost curative. I lived in the country as a child. I grew up in Vermont, and I don’t think that, without being a part of the land, I would have survived psychologically.

I think it’s realizing that we’re part of a whole, that we’re not separate. The grass grows, and we grow, and we depend on the grass and the grass depends on us. I think that feeling of being a part of something bigger than ourselves has something to do with nature’s benefits

Narayan: How do you approach people who may have an aversion to frogs?

Fass: In a city school elementary class, before I started my presentation, I asked the students how they felt about frogs. Some kids said, “Ew, they’re so slimy,” and some said they liked them.

Then I did my little presentation about the amazing diversity among frogs and their many wonders, where they are, and what their threats are. I said, “And now how do you feel about frogs?”

Unanimous approval!

That process of changing people’s minds and introducing a new way of thinking about something is the joy of education.

Stay up to date on A Frog House!

The annual “Froggy Family Fundraiser Birthday Party” will be held on Sunday, August 9th at A Frog House (65 State St, Pittsford, NY 14534). They also hold pop-up events and allow others to bring groups or have parties there. 

Learn more about A Frog House and upcoming events here: https://afroghouse.org/ 

Fass: Ever since starting A Frog House, everything’s been magical, so I teach everybody high four while holding up four fingers. Fully rely on goodness. Most frogs have four toes on their front feet. High four for the frogs!