From Landfill to Pollinator Paradise: Rewilding a forgotten space

About this episode

The episode discusses the transformation of a capped landfill in Indian Lake, New York, into a pollinator meadow through creativity and ecological practices.

How can creativity, collaboration, and ecological know‑how turn even the most unlikely landscapes into thriving habitats for pollinators and people? We visit Indian Lake, New York, where a capped landfill is being transformed into a vibrant pollinator meadow. Kristina Hartzell and Kailey Maher from ADKAction share how this innovative project began, what they’re learning from early test plots, and why native plants are key to restoring biodiversity on disturbed land. We also explore the role o...

People in this episode

Host: Jacy Meyer

Guests: Kristina Hartzell, Kailey Maher

Topics covered

• rewilding
• pollinator habitats
• biodiversity
• landfill transformation
• native plants

Keywords

• pollinators
• ecological restoration
• landfill
• native plants
• biodiversity
• habitat creation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ADKAction

Places: Indian Lake, New York

More episodes of The Bee's Knees

• When the Buzz Stops: Europe’s Wild Pollinator Collapse · June 1, 2026 · 17 min
• Finding the Unseen Bees: Take Action This World Bee Day · May 18, 2026 · 18 min
• Gut Check for Urban Bees: Hidden pollinator pressures in cities · May 4, 2026 · 13 min
• A Wild Bee Squeeze: A study in bee conservation · April 6, 2026 · 17 min
• RePollinate: Hands-on Help for Native Pollinators · March 16, 2026 · 15 min
• How Pesticides Endanger Wild Bees · March 2, 2026 · 11 min