The Adirondack Pollinator Project’s mission is to empower people to take individual and collective action to ensure a future where pollinators thrive, native habitat abounds, and Adirondack residents and visitors are engaged pollinator advocates. This project is a collaboration with partners Paul Smith’s College, the Lake Placid Land Conservancy, and The Wild Center.
Since last year:
We had our biggest native plant sale ever, putting 6,000 native plants in the hands of Adirondack gardeners, many of which are replacing lawn space with pollinator plantings.
Our Community Garden Assistance Program received 21 applications for pollinator gardens and selected 11 for installation via our Mobile Pollinator Garden Trailer. There are now 40 pollinator gardens installed by AdkAction throughout the region – from Plattsburgh in the North to Queensbury in the south and out to Old Forge in the west.
We have distributed over 72,000 packets of wildflower seeds through farmers markets, events, and direct requests from year-round and seasonal residents of the North Country. Board Member Chris Cohan was instrumental in getting the DEC to create a pollinator landscape at the Upper Saranac Lake boat launch.
New this year due to the uncertainty of large gatherings and COVID restrictions, the Adirondack Pollinator Project held three online Pollinator Happy Hours for gardeners interested in developing pollinator offerings in their gardens.
In the Pollinator Project’s 3-year plan, we will be focusing on Adirondack Town and Village Governments and State Department of Transportation to increase awareness of their impact on local pollinator populations through roadside mowing and planting. We will deliver easy-to-implement strategies on changing mowing times, planting natives around new buildings, and overseeding capped landfills.
