Pollinator habitat plot installed at Charger Mine entrance by Pike Co. SWCD
Pike County SWCD, through funding from a Clean Water Indiana grant, has partnered with Solar
Sources, Inc. to install a pollinator habitat plot at the Charger Mine entrance along Highway 61 south of Petersburg. The one-acre plot features native pollinating flowers & plants to attract and increase pollinating insect and animal activity in the area.
These hard-working insects and animals help pollinate more than 75% of our flowering plants, and nearly 75% of our crops. Often we may not notice hummingbirds, bats, bees, beetles, butterflies, and flies that carry pollen from one plant to another as they collect nectar. Yet without them, wildlife would have fewer nutritious berries and seeds, and we would miss many fruits, vegetables, and nuts, like blueberries, corn, soybeans, squash, and almonds - not to mention chocolate and coffee - all of which depend on pollinators.
Solar Sources donated the plot of land at their entrance for this project with Dave Howell of Covey Rise Enterprise preparing and planting the site. The first steps included spraying to kill the current grasses growing. This took time or two to accomplish. The site was then tilled and planted with an NRCS approved mix of native grasses & pollinating plant. In the future, the SWCD will look at installing bee boxes for honey production as it could take up to two years for the plot to become established enough with pollinating plants to sustain a bee colony.
The public is welcome to visit the site and enjoy the pollinator activity once established. The SWCD would like to pass on a huge thank you to Solar Sources, Dave Howell and the NRCS for their assistance in making this pollinator habitat plot happen too.