Pollinators are a vital part of terrestrial ecosystems. Unfortunately, many species are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease. One way to help protect pollinators is to create pollinator-friendly habitat for these important animals. In strategizing how best to do this, we realized that a great way to expand our capacity to create habitat was to work with partners who already have interest in and experience with habitat restoration work. Thus, the Xerces Society Habitat Kit program was born! This unique program offers carefully selected, native and regionally appropriate plant materials directly to our partners for shovel-ready projects. The program started in California, where we created climate-smart habitat kits with a special emphasis on monarch butterflies. We are now expanding the program to further parts of the country.
Xerces’ Habitat Kit Program
We are currently offering habitat kits in three regions of the United States. Please see below for details.
California Monarch and Pollinator Kits
This unique program offers carefully selected, native and regionally appropriate plant materials directly to our partners for shovel-ready projects. We started the kit program in California, where we created climate-smart habitat kits with a special emphasis on monarch butterflies.
Kits are available for those interested in partnering with Xerces to create pollinator habitat on working lands or public lands in many parts of the state. Interest forms for our 2022 California Habitat Kits will be open from March 1 - April 15, 2022.
Santa Fe Pollinator Kits
Kits are available for residents interested in creating pollinator habitat in their yards and representatives of public spaces (libraries, schools, parks, etc.) interested in installing pollinator habitat demonstration gardens in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Interest forms for our 2022 Santa Fe Habitat Kits will be open from May 1 - June 30, 2022.
Northeast Monarch and Pollinator Kits
In 2022, Xerces Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kits (Northeast) are available for projects located anywhere in the state of New Jersey or within the city limits of Philadelphia, PA.
Please complete the Project Partner Interest Form by April 29, 2022.
Habitat kits can be used to create or enhance monarch and pollinator habitat on a variety of project sites. Examples include, but not limited to, working lands, urban farms and gardens, parks, nature centers, schools and campuses, and community spaces. Kits are not available for home/private gardens.
Learn More About Previous Habitat Kit Projects
On the Xerces Blog
Supporting Community Efforts to Create Monarch and Pollinator Habitat in California
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – September 2019
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – December 2020
New in Santa Fe: Pollinator Trail and Habitat Kit Program
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – June 2021
In the Media
North Schuylkill students prep pollinator garden (Yahoo! News, US; 4/22/21)
Barnegat Bay Partnership Creates ‘Jersey-Friendly’ Pollinator Garden at Ocean County College (The SandPiper, N.J.; 6/16/21)
Burlington County park becoming new haven for migrating monarch butterflies (South Jersey Local News, N.J.; 6/25/21)
Columbia Land Conservancy creates pollinator garden at Greenport Conservation Area (Hudson Valley 360, N.Y.; 7/6/21)