The Essex community garden was established in 2014, much to the credit of community members Louis Comeau and Meg Parker who were able to secure a grant from the NYS Department of Health. The garden consists of composting bins and numerous community plots, including beds that are higher off the ground, making them more accessible to all members of the community. This summer many of the plots are home to luscious tomato and pepper plants.

In order to enhance the space and add to pollinator landscape, AdkAction’s Pollinator Project recently installed a pollinator garden at the site with the help of three wonderful volunteers including Louis himself! The garden consists of four honeycomb-shaped planter boxes that contain numerous species of native wildflowers such as bee balm, goldenrod, and blue cardinal flower. These species are especially beneficial to northeast pollinators including various butterflies moths and birds, as well as ground-nesting and solitary bees. This install was made possible through a grant provided by the Eddy Foundation, “a charitable organization that works to preserve open space for the welfare of people, plants, and animals.”

The Pollinator Project will be installing eight more scheduled for this summer all over the Adirondack region, maybe you will see our new Mobile Pollinator Garden Trailer pop up in your area! While we are no longer accepting applications for pollinator gardens this season, the application will be back up on our website next spring! Let us know if we can add some pollinator habitat to a community space near you!