Building Biodiversity,
Block By Block
WORKING WITH SACA TO BUILD A SENSE OF PLACE FOR PEOPLE AND POLLINATORS
The mission of Lancaster’s Spanish American Civic Association (SACA) is to “uplift and restore marginalized communities through human, economic, and social services while supporting cultural identities”. For 50 years, SACA has been enhancing Southeast Lancaster’s health through various services. These include housing and commercial development, outpatient clinical services, behavioral health services, free senior meals, workforce training, and daily bilingual communication via our radio station and media center.
Waxwing is thrilled to contribute to SACA’s existing renewal process! With the community’s heartfelt vision at the center of the collective action, financial constraints have been obstacles. Waxwing expertise and supportive community grant funding bridges this gap by facilitating neighborhood urban greening initiatives, alongside residents. By working alongside SACA and their residents, we are collectively rebuilding a sense of place for people and pollinators through creating artful urban habitats.
WHY URBAN HABITATS?
Creating beautiful green spaces in urbanized areas is essential for human and other-than-human residents! Healthy habitats are deserving for all. Here are two ways that habitats help heal;
(1) Creating Corridors: With 85% of land privately owned, east of the Mississippi River, according to Douglas Tallamy of Bringing Nature Home, it is crucial that all underutilized spaces are part of the tapestry of recreating corridors for wildlife and green recreational spaces for human enjoyment that have been lost through development. Every square foot counts! For example; the act of planting butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) in biodiverse mini-meadows in a hot and dry hellstrip (this species’ happy place) to support the lifecycle and migration of the Monarch butterfly is one way to help to create corridors for wildlife.
(2) Human Health and Happiness: Several studies point to positively impacting mental health and mitigation of violence, along with building social strength, when city blocks are beautified with the calming and connecting potential of plants.
BUILDING BLOCK BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
Nature-based placemaking projects have ranged from designing/installing/stewarding native plant containers and transforming front rowhome plots and common spaces into vibrant mini-meadows and woodland native gardens. The native plants enhance the block's Monarch themed mural that reflects the diversity of life we are inviting on the block, along with the neighborhood's robust history.
Block party bilingual educational outreach to families, hands-on nature journaling for youth, and free ecological gardening workshops are ways that Waxwing creates avenues for environmental justice. These collective efforts have increased the vitality of underutilized urban spaces to bolster biodiversity, create beautiful natural spaces, mitigate social isolation, elevate standards of living for all, and produce desirable human health and poverty-related outcomes.
CLEAN & GREEN COLLABORATION
These achievements were made possible through the collaboration of various partners, aiding in cleaning and greening efforts on the main art garden corridor, Pershing Avenue in Lancaster city. Contributions include discounted potting soil, native plants, educational giveaways, mural supplies, repurposed feed tanks for planters, Tiny Cans, and volunteer hours; demonstrating the power of community collaboration. LCSWMA, KEEP PA Beautiful, PA Council on the Arts, Tractor Supply, Penn Waste, and many more partners have generously contributed to these elements of “clean and green” renewal.
Waxwing contributes 10% of our profits to this community and biodiversity building effort. Your support for Waxwing helps to bolster this project!
