Jamaica pollinator garden honors past, brings ‘life to the landscape’

JAMAICA — About 25 volunteers, between the ages of 11 and 83, dug into dirt over the course of three work days to help make the Jamaica Community Pollinator Project a reality.  

A solo effort started in 2021, soon after Jacki Brown moved into the house that adjoins the town-owned lot on Water Street. 

“The lot was overgrown and I thought it would be good to do something nice to commemorate the four homes lost in 2011 to Tropical Storm Irene, on the 10th anniversary,” she said. 

Homes belonging to Brett and Jodi Morrison, David Kaneshiro, Karen Hardy, and Tracy Payne and Julia Genatossio, were destroyed during the storm. The town took over ownership of land after a 2014 buyout mandating no development occur on the property. 

In the early summer of 2021, Brown tilled a 300-foot stretch of land. She also spread manure and planted wildflower seeds. Read More 

Updates will be provided at facebook.com/jamaicapollinators.