Hastings Pollinator Pathway 

Our Mission: to support pollinators by strategically linking large green spaces via networks of pollinator-friendly gardens on public and private land.   

Why are we doing this? Because the world’s community of pollinators is in crisis. 

Habitat loss and pesticide use are top reasons for this decline, and we can do something about that!

Conservation techniques work. When homeowners, governmental agencies and private companies commit to expanding pollinator-friendly, pesticide-free habitats, we change the future for pollinators and secure our own. We encourage your home to become a part of the path through Hastings! 

The Pathway. Major arteries of the Hastings Pollinator Pathway plan include:

News

New Student Adopt-a-Spots

Greenhouse for Growth

With funding from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, Hastings natives Sasha Fuller Eden Greenberg built a greenhouse at Zinsser Community Gardens, a beloved institution since their inception as Victory Gardens during World War I, to extend the growing season and provide local, organic food throughout the year to Hastings gardeners. See more photos and details here.

Revitalizing Zinsser Community Gardens

Garden cleanup, design, planting, and community engagement project by Sophia Ballard, with funding from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund. This project aims to enhance the sustainability, accessibility, and appeal of our local community gardens, a beloved institution since they were created as Victory Gardens during World War I. See more photos and details here.

Educational Garden at Zinsser Park

HHS student Chloe Smith installed an educational garden at Zinsser Park. Her garden permits both children and adults to learn about plants and how they benefit the environment. It also affords a reflective space to stimulate one's senses and awareness, allowing for a more personal experience, and an ongoing outward-facing educational space for future troops of Girl Scouts and other community members. Chloe is grateful to funding from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund. Check out more photos and Chloe's detailed write-up, and her custom website.

Pollinator Garden at 5 Corners

HHS students Hanna Lambert, Siri Lambert, Niahm Lynch, Akansha Muthukrishnan and Emma Boudrias have installed a pollinator garden at Five Corners. This garden complements HPP's 5 Corners garden catty-corner across the intersection and will build on the Beautification Committee's Foodtown garden across the street as well. The more habitat for pollinators, the healthier our local ecosystem will be! Hanna & friends' garden was made possible by a grant from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund. Check out more photos and their how-to description!

Restoring the HHS Garden Club Garden

Jack Maney, Lola Berlin, Mila Sultan worked to restore the HHS Garden Club's garden, which is on the east side of the school building. The garden was started years ago by previous members of the club, but had fallen into disrepair. Following a reinfusion of equipment thanks to the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, plus a little elbow grease to restore the garden and make it more substantial, the Garden Club had a record turnout of new volunteers this fall. Check out more photos and their how-to description!

Pollinator Garden at Hillside Elementary School

HHS student Cassie Probst-Huertas has installed a butterfly garden at Hillside Elementary School, also made possible by a grant from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund. It is attached to the school's vegetable garden and right next to Hillside Woods, and will help support pollinators to benefit both places.  Check out more photos and Cassie's project write-up here.

Pollinator Support at Zinsser Community Gardens

HHS students Marcus Gelman and Will Andrus have installed a raised-bed wildflower garden in Zinsser Park. With fencing, it can support flowers deer would otherwise destroy. Their garden was also made possible by a grant from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, and will draw pollinators to Hastings' Community Gardens. Check out more photos and their how-to description!

Sully Griffin and Victoria Lugomer-Pomper used their grant from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund to host a pollinator festival in Draper Park on September 14th. They created a fun forum for the public to learn about the importance of pollinators, with science experiments, games, face painting, seed giveaways and free ice cream. For photos and more, click here.

HHS student Lena Hobby used a grant from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund to expand native habitat by distributing seeds within the community and teaching people how to plant them.  The project consisted of researching, purchasing and distributing native wildflower seeds to local residents to plant in their own gardens and yards, and to plant some of the seeds in some of the large habitat restoration areas in the Village. The Eco Seeds project is an attempt to help to reverse the loss of our native habitat.  Read more here.

In the alley between Hastings Paint & Hardware and VFW park, Hastings resident and artist Emma Gelman has produced a tribute to pollinators to raise awareness and beautify the alley. The project thanks to a grant from the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund.  For more about Emma's mural, click here.

In December 2023, Hastings BOT has passed a new leaf blower law that is now in effect. This law limits gas-powered leaf blowers to fall months only, and limits all blowers to only one-at-a-time on every property one-half acre or less.  Click for more info, and for the door hanger translated into Spanish. You can copy the text, print and share.

See our talking points and itemized instructions for tips on how to negotiate an ecologically healthier yard with your landscaper. This doc is a good read whether or not you employ a service.  Read it here.

Our Newsletter Archive includes every issue. 😊

Get Involved

This map graphic illustrates a conceptual pathway that connects Hastings  to regional efforts, but each and every yard is important! 

Join with friends or neighbors to beautify and support pollinators on a Village-owned parcel.

See what Hastings Village and others in the northeast are doing. Hastings' pathway will help connect H2H - the Housatonic to the Hudson.

Image is a photo of actual flower petals, artwork by Helen Ahpornsiri

Add Me to the Map! - click to sign up

Add your garden, whether you are just beginning and looking for support or are stewarding a pollinator oasis. And, find neighbors who are planting native plants and going pesticide free!

Installing or expanding a garden is one of many ways to help the pollinator pathway project. Explore our resources, from quick-start guides to nursery sources and plant selection advice.

It's been over 50 years since Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring and the U.S. banned the use of DDT. A slew of killing chemicals have taken its place. It's like the mythological Hydra, whose very breath was poisonous: cut off its head, and two more grow back. However, there is no Hercules to slaughter this beast. It's up to us.

People have forgotten that applying yard and household chemicals is a cause of cancer and other diseases. What else would explain why the suburbs around New York City have the highest volume of pesticide applications in the state?  Their use serves no vital purpose and is a direct danger to the health of residents and local ecosystems. More.

Order a canvas tote, a No Mow May lawn sign, or our signature medallion. Check out our Swag page for order info.

Check out  upcoming events all around Westchester. Got one to list? Email us!