On Thursday, March 19, students at Indian Lake Central School got their hands a little dirty for a big reason.
AdkAction’s Project Coordinator Kailey Maher and Board Member Lisa Salamon led two Winter Seed Sowing workshops for elementary students, reaching about 60 young learners across all grade levels. The day was split into two sessions: one for pre-K through 2nd grade, and another for students in 3rd through 5th grade.
Each student created their own mini greenhouse using recycled plastic milk and water jugs. After scooping in soil and sprinkling in seeds, students sealed their containers and labeled them before placing them outside to wait for spring. Inside those jugs, a quiet transformation is already underway.
Small Seeds, Big Impact
This hands-on activity is part of a larger effort. AdkAction is partnering with the Town of Indian Lake to transform a closed, capped landfill into an eight-acre native pollinator habitat. This three-year demonstration project explores how underused landfill sites across the Adirondacks can be restored to support bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators.
The project is supported by a Smart Growth Grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The seeds planted by students this week will eventually be transplanted at the landfill site, becoming part of a living landscape that supports biodiversity and strengthens the local ecosystem.
Choosing Plants That Pollinators Love
Students didn’t just plant seeds, they helped choose what to grow.
Younger students voted to plant black-eyed Susans, a bright, hardy native wildflower known for its golden petals and dark centers. These flowers bloom in mid to late summer and are especially attractive to bees and butterflies, providing an important source of nectar during the growing season.
Older students planted common yarrow, a resilient perennial with clusters of tiny white flowers. Yarrow is known for its long bloom period and ability to attract a wide variety of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Its deep roots also help improve soil health, making it well-suited for challenging sites like capped landfills.
Growing a Sense of Ownership
Projects like this are about more than plants. They are about connection.
When these students visit the completed pollinator habitat in the future, they will be able to see the direct impact of their work. Whether it is a patch of black-eyed Susans or a stand of yarrow in bloom, each plant will represent a small but meaningful contribution.
We hope that sense of ownership stays with them. That they recognize their role in caring for the natural world, and that even simple actions can help restore and support the ecosystems around them.
Because sometimes, the first step in building something lasting starts with a handful of soil, a few seeds, and a recycled jug left outside to greet the spring.
