Participants and staff from our Older Adult Center joined The Bee Conservancy team for a hands-on gardening day on May 11, enhancing garden spaces at Queensbridge Houses with native plants and pollinator-friendly features. Volunteers planted native flowers in the Riis community garden as well as a nearby garden within the development, creating welcoming habitats for bees and other pollinators while strengthening shared spaces for residents to enjoy. The effort highlighted the power of community-driven action, bringing residents and partners together to support a healthier local environment.
This gardening day is part of a broader effort led by The Bee Conservancy in partnership with NYCHA, the Queensbridge Residents Association, Community Mediation Services, Riis Settlement, and other community stakeholders to expand pollinator habitats at Queensbridge Houses. Together, partners are working to establish native flowering plants and develop a long-term plan that empowers residents to care for and enjoy these gardens. By fostering environmental stewardship and community engagement, this initiative aims to ensure that residents can benefit from thriving, sustainable gardens for years to come.

