Help people plant seeds — literally, not metaphorically
“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” — Albert Einstein
We are living in a time of dramatic, rapid environmental and societal change — a legitimate state of crisis. While it’s essential that we take stock of what’s going on around us, the scope of the problems can feel overwhelming. When working to make change, we need do to more than just talk about problems; we need to offer practical, implementable solutions.
That’s-a-Plenty Farm & Pollinator Habitat is a three-acre strip of land on the Connecticut River in Hadley, Massachusetts. A year-round riot of native plants, literally humming with activity, the farm has been studied by regional researchers, who have catalogued more than 20 species of native bees on the property. Monarchs abound. So do birds; the farm is a hotspot for birders, who send each each other urgent messages online — “Blue grosbeak at TAPF! Go now!”
But the TAPF crew wanted to create more than just a single oasis for pollinators. We need to be planting pollinator habitat everywhere — in every backyard, along every street, in window boxes, on rooftops. Instead of just exhorting people to get out there, the farmers began the painstaking process of gathering, sorting, and packaging seeds to sell.
To accompany the seeds, they wanted to create a bloom calendar, which would help folks decide what to buy and when to plant. They brought me in to consult, and together we created a matrix — nothing fancy, but chock-full of information about soil type, plant height, color of flower, desired pollinator, bloom period, and more.
For both practical and psychological reasons, we all need to be working toward a sustainable future. Putting data into a form that helps people take action in their own daily lives is a powerful tool for change.
You can read more about pollinators and nourishing plants at thatsaplentyfarm.com.