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Pollinator Habitat Program Announces Expansion to Pennsylvania

 ​     The Bee and the Butterfly Habitat Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting high-quality pollinator habitat, has announced that they are now offering their Seed a Legacy program to landowners in Pennsylvania.
     Started in 2017, the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund’s Seed a Legacy program identifies opportunities to establish critical pollinator habitat to help honey bee and monarch butterfly populations thrive. The program provides landowners that have two or more acres with free NextGen seed mixes along with one-on-one technical guidance to ensure the success of the habitat. To date, the nonprofit has successfully established over 500 pollinator projects on 4,000+ acres across a 12-state region.
     "The Seed a Legacy program started in twelve core Midwest states because those states provide critical habitat for beekeeping and eastern monarch butterfly population recovery," states Elsa Gallagher, Habitat Program Director. "As we looked to expand outside of that region and make an even bigger impact, Pennsylvania came to the top of our list. The state has huge potential for creating quality pollinator habitat. Plus, we've already seen a lot of interest from landowners here."
     Beekeepers benefit tremendously from the NextGen seed mixes that the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund utilizes. These state-specific mixes are formulated for optimal pollinator health and lead to better outcomes for honey bees, including healthier, stronger beehives, increased honey production and increased annual survival. A recent research project completed by Dr. Clint Otto (US Geological Survey, Jamestown ND), shows the differences in pollinator use and in floral abundance between several habitat types, including The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund's NextGen seed mixtures.

     "We are very excited about expanding our efforts into Pennsylvania," says Gallagher. "We are on a mission to make each acre the best it can be for pollinators, and we are counting on you to help us make that happen!"

​     If you are interested in learning more about the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund's Seed a Legacy program and applying for free seed, register HERE for our free webinar being held on November 14th at 8PM EST.