As you walk past the Bloomington Chapter House in the summer, there’s a garden with wildflowers, buzzing with little bees and other animal pollinators. These plants are all native to Minnesota, and there are two more Green Crew-led pollinator gardens in Minnesota. The importance of creating and protecting pollinator habitats lies in the fact that pollinators face many challenges, like diseases, habitat loss, climate change, etc. We in the Green Crew do our part to help the pollinators by protecting their habitats.
Habitat loss is a serious issue that many pollinators face. This can occur for various reasons, from agriculture to the existence of invasive species. In an effort to curb the effects of habitat loss, the Green Crew aims to create gardens specifically for pollinators. We plant wildflower seeds, like flora that’s native to Minnesota—some examples are Sensation lilacs and Virgin’s Bower—and native grasses. With this, pollinators will have a home, which is also essential in the reintroduction of native plants to the ecosystem.
But there’s more to planting gardens than placing seeds or digging holes for transplants! There are many things to consider, like whether the location is sustainable for a garden, or how to preserve it for the winter—and that’s where you come in!
The Green Crew uses recycled paper, like old mail, scratch paper, and old art projects, to shred and soak into a pulp. It’s then recycled and remade into pollinator paper, sheets embedded with native pollinator seeds. This initiative addresses the environmental issues of wasting paper by making our own eco-friendly paper. When the paper is planted, the embedded seeds will germinate and grow into native flowers, increasing the biodiversity in local ecosystems and providing individuals a tangible way to participate in conservation efforts.
But it provides prospective members a tangible way to get involved with the Green Crew as well! Making enough pollinator paper to be used in a sustainable fashion takes a tremendous amount of effort and hands, so join us in making this paper more accessible!
2025 Green Crew. All rights reserved.