Pollinators in Peril
Pollinator species, (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other native species), need our help. With varroa destructor mites, pesticides, weather extremes, habitat loss, and lack of food to forage on, pollinators are dying off at alarming rates. We've lost 90% of Monarch butterflies since 1996, the Rusty patched bumblebee is listed on the Endangered Species Act, and honeybee populations have declined about 40% each year for the last decade. This is especially concerning, considering that pollinators are responsible for fertilizing 1 in every 3 bites of food that we eat and are vital to both our food system and natural ecosystems. With urbanization and industrial farming, there are less and less flowers- especially native flowers- for pollinators to feed on. When pollinators do find flowers, they are usually ornamentals, which tend not to produce as much pollen and nectar, and they could be contaminated with toxic pesticides.
You Can Help
Providing more healthy, abundant wildflowers such as cosmos, milkweed, calendula, bachelors buttons, coneflowers, bergamot, phlox, sunflowers, clovers, fleabane, asters, beebalm, and many others, gives pollinators a buffet full of nutrition to boost their immune systems, protect them from pesticides, and gives us a colorful season-long show. Wildflowers are easy to manage, repel pests due to increased biodiversity, and are self-sufficient. They do not require reseeding, fertilizers, herbicides, or supplemental watering. Mowing them down once at the end of the growing season takes care of reseeding and saves on mowing costs for landowners.
The funds raised in this campaign will help provide wildflower seeds, tiller rental (if applicable), organic compost, and the labor necessary to plant the wildflowers, to businesses and organizations that accept the offer and generously give their land to help our pollinator species.
Alternatively, businesses on Main Street, or others without available land, could receive planter boxes with soil and seeds to establish wildflower gardens. Not to worry though, bees are very docile and do not seek to harm you, as they will die if they do. When looking for food, they have nothing to protect and just want to do their job.
If our goal is not completely met, we will establish as many pollinator gardens/meadows as funds allow.
At least one business/organization has already expressed their interest and communication is happening with others to expand the project as far as we can go.