Community Milkweed Planting

Project Description 

Our project was designed to encourage sustainable landscaping practices, create pollinator-friendly habitats, and build climate resilience at the neighborhood level by planting native milkweed plants in local yards. By distributing two milkweed plants to at least 35 households, we aimed to strengthen biodiversity and support monarch butterfly populations affected by climate change. We also provided educational materials to raise community awareness about the importance of native plants.

• 2 Project Leaders aged 15-24

• 45 Total Project Participants

Outputs 

• We Planted 70 milkweed plants

•  We visited 35 homes in Hastings to deliver and/or plant the milkweed

•  WE emailed, texted, or called more than 35 residents in Hastings about our project. 

Outcomes 

• As a result of planting native milkweed, biodiversity will increase in yards across Hastings-on-Hudson

• Monarch caterpillars will have habitat on which to grow 

• As a result of our outreach, more people will learn about the positive impacts of native plants

Process

1. Made a google form and flyers about the project, and the importance of milkweed.

2. Connected with over 35 residents in Hastings about our project. The Hastings Pollinator Pathway helped us by emailing our google form to their mailing list. 

3. We obtained 70 milkweed plants.

4. We used the results of the google form to contact responders about planting the milkweed.

5.  We went from home to home and planted the milkweed. 

Lessons Learned

Our first plan for distributing the milkweed did not work well. After some brainstorming, we made a new plan and delivered the plants to the last 30 homes much faster than the first 5. We learned that perseverance and determination is important when completing a project like this one. 

Milkweed plants planted at  homes across Hastings