Seeds of Hope
Donation protected
Seeds of Hope
Mission:
Hi everyone! I am Cammy Freed, a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist partnering with Hope United Methodist Church in Ephrata Pa with the dream to transform the public fields behind the church into a biodiverse pollinator habitat in Spring 2019. The 1.5 acres of fields are located directly along the Ephrata Rail-to-Trail and are open to the public to explore. When transformed, will provide educational opportunities and excellent wildlife habitat. We have a special mission to provide as many native host plants as possible for butterflies including milkweeds for monarch butterflies.
Once established in Summer 2019 educational outings will be conducted by a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist for all ages to explore insects, plants, bats, owls and birds. All events are free and open to the public. Parking is available in the back lot for pollinator garden explorers and Rail-to-Trail users. Stop by and check out the fields and the Rail-to-Trail.
How you can help:
Please consider donating to the project, and sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, email and text message. Every donation and share makes a difference!
How Funds will be spent:
All funds are directly deposited into a designated Hope United Methodist Church account and will only be used for this project. First the field will be prepared with a rototiller for optimal planting. Minimal funds will be spent in this step as we will only need to buy fuel for the rototiller. In April a native seed mix will be planted in the interior of the fields. Approximately $1000.00 will be used towards the native seed mix. The remaining funds will be spent on plant plugs. The plugs will be planted close to the Rail-to-Trail for fast establishment. Successful pollinator habitats have a variety of native plants densely planted. Flats of plants will be purchased and delivered to the field for planting in May-June. Any additional funds raised will be used for ongoing educational events held in the fields. Examples of future event purchases include supplies for each person to build a bluebird box and monarch tags.
Volunteering Opportunity:
When the plants are delivered in the spring 2019, a planting event will be held and volunteers are welcome to come help plant. This page will be updated with an exact date once we have the delivery information from our plant supplier.
Benefits of this pollinator field:
Free educational opportunities for the public to learn about native plants, bats, owls, birds and insects
Plants are chosen to provide successive blooming all season
Creates habitat for wildlife
Free monarch tagging events end of summer 2019 held by a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist.
Native plants attract more native pollinators helping the bees and plants thrive
The addition of plants will help with storm water management and help prevent water runoff
Preventing storm water runoff helps keep the Chesapeake bay clean
Donations:
$5.00 - Beetle - will buy 1ounce of seeds for understory cover
$25.00 - Wren - will buy 1 tray of grasses that birds use for nesting material
$50.00 - Humming bird - will buy 1 tray of Wild Bergamot for humming bird food
$100.00 - Monarch - will buy 1 tray of orange butterfly weed for Monarch caterpillars
$200.00 - Bat - will buy 1 bat box and pole
$500.00 - Regal Fritillary - will buy 6 trays of violets
Mission:
Hi everyone! I am Cammy Freed, a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist partnering with Hope United Methodist Church in Ephrata Pa with the dream to transform the public fields behind the church into a biodiverse pollinator habitat in Spring 2019. The 1.5 acres of fields are located directly along the Ephrata Rail-to-Trail and are open to the public to explore. When transformed, will provide educational opportunities and excellent wildlife habitat. We have a special mission to provide as many native host plants as possible for butterflies including milkweeds for monarch butterflies.
Once established in Summer 2019 educational outings will be conducted by a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist for all ages to explore insects, plants, bats, owls and birds. All events are free and open to the public. Parking is available in the back lot for pollinator garden explorers and Rail-to-Trail users. Stop by and check out the fields and the Rail-to-Trail.
How you can help:
Please consider donating to the project, and sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, email and text message. Every donation and share makes a difference!
How Funds will be spent:
All funds are directly deposited into a designated Hope United Methodist Church account and will only be used for this project. First the field will be prepared with a rototiller for optimal planting. Minimal funds will be spent in this step as we will only need to buy fuel for the rototiller. In April a native seed mix will be planted in the interior of the fields. Approximately $1000.00 will be used towards the native seed mix. The remaining funds will be spent on plant plugs. The plugs will be planted close to the Rail-to-Trail for fast establishment. Successful pollinator habitats have a variety of native plants densely planted. Flats of plants will be purchased and delivered to the field for planting in May-June. Any additional funds raised will be used for ongoing educational events held in the fields. Examples of future event purchases include supplies for each person to build a bluebird box and monarch tags.
Volunteering Opportunity:
When the plants are delivered in the spring 2019, a planting event will be held and volunteers are welcome to come help plant. This page will be updated with an exact date once we have the delivery information from our plant supplier.
Benefits of this pollinator field:
Free educational opportunities for the public to learn about native plants, bats, owls, birds and insects
Plants are chosen to provide successive blooming all season
Creates habitat for wildlife
Free monarch tagging events end of summer 2019 held by a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist.
Native plants attract more native pollinators helping the bees and plants thrive
The addition of plants will help with storm water management and help prevent water runoff
Preventing storm water runoff helps keep the Chesapeake bay clean
Donations:
$5.00 - Beetle - will buy 1ounce of seeds for understory cover
$25.00 - Wren - will buy 1 tray of grasses that birds use for nesting material
$50.00 - Humming bird - will buy 1 tray of Wild Bergamot for humming bird food
$100.00 - Monarch - will buy 1 tray of orange butterfly weed for Monarch caterpillars
$200.00 - Bat - will buy 1 bat box and pole
$500.00 - Regal Fritillary - will buy 6 trays of violets
Organizer
Cameala Freed
Organizer
Ephrata, PA
