By Tito Caba, Green Space Director
In early June, we welcomed the addition of a pollinator habitat kit from the Xerces Society, a science-based nonprofit organization focused on protecting the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. We received and planted 550 plugs that will contribute to increasing biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and landscape beautification.
An endeavor months in the making, this project was a testament to collective effort, involving volunteers from Friends Select, Germantown Friends, Green Tree School, Thornton LLP, neighborhood participants, and dedicated staff. We planted the garden over a period of two weeks and the plants are now flourishing with the garden having become a haven for dragonflies, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
Encouraged by the beauty and ecological value of this habitat, we are now further enhancing the orchard area in collaboration with the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP). We are creating an interactive landscape that is both edible and ornamental, designed to engage and inspire community members and visitors. The layout will include meandering paths, offering a maze-like experience where beauty and pollinators can be appreciated from every angle. This ambitious project will unfold over the next two years with the support of POP, volunteers, staff, and school visitors.
This summer has been deeply rewarding and I am honored to contribute to the revitalization of our community’s infrastructure, supporting both our children and the essential native pollinators that sustain our ecosystem and farm.
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer gardener and help us maintain the sustainability of our gardens, reach out to Tito or stop by any Saturday to help.
