The Pollinator Meadow Project

By: Mia Barghout

The Pollinator Meadow Project is an opportunity for people of all ages in the Millburn community to help create habitats for pollinators. As pollinator abundance and diversity decline worldwide, this project creates space for local pollinators to thrive. 

The meadow is an ongoing project that began in June 2023. Lori Labode, the project's founder, says the meadow will always require some degree of maintenance. This gives us an opportunity to take initiative in giving back to natural spaces in Millburn and foster appreciation for the local natural environment. Lori says she finds the importance of the project in the participation it requires and in how this can lead to further positive changes,

 “it provides the opportunity to take part in on-going data collection and analysis through citizen science efforts which can lead to advocacy.”  

Volunteering in helping this path form consists of cutting squares of plastic, shoveling sand and mulch into wheelbarrows, moving the materials (mulch and sand) along the path, and then scavenging for rocks to line the edges of the path. 

“It’s strenuous work but gratifying because you can see the immediate progress,” Lori says. 

 The wildflower species that are planted along the path are thoughtfully selected because they must support all stages of pollinator life cycles. The bluestem goldenrod, deer tongue, and other deer-resistant grasses are included in the meadow to target the local butterfly and moth populations. 

The project's long-term goal is to support higher pollinator abundance and diversity by maintaining a healthy, productive meadow. Lori says the meadow wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers who come and help the project progress, as well as power and funding. 

“It really does require community.” 

By working together and strengthening partnerships with local experts and organizations, the project maximizes its chances of success. 

To keep expanding the project, people of all ages can join public workdays available to view through somocon.org. To help get more high schoolers involved, you can plan a volunteer day for any school group/organization by contacting citizenscience@somocon.org.