Nicolas Forestell of Pollinator Powerworks Wins Award

Nicolas has been a driving force for the Pollinator Powerworks (PPW) organization, a small multi-generational group dedicated to augmenting a pollinator pathway through the greater Newburyport area.. PPW partnered with 10 individuals and the River Valley Charter School to plant native pollinator gardens in yards and on the school property, totaling approximately 3,000 square feet. PPW is also partnered with the Conservation Commission of Newburyport to convert a hay field on Colby Farm Lane to a pollinator meadow. Volunteers created a list of native plants which Nicolas edited and expanded, based on his extensive knowledge of native north shore, MA plants. We created sample garden plans for small, medium, large, wet, and shade native pollinator gardens and launched a web page on our parent organization site.

Nicolas contributed to an op-ed for the Newburyport News which helped PPW find local gardeners and supporters interested in this cause. https://www.newburyportnews.com/opinion/commentary-planting-a-garden-can-help-save-the-planet/article_88349646-850c-11ec-8f68-4b14955a79ac.html. After this op-ed was printed, we received many emails. Nicolas responded to each respondent and organized a meeting with each interested party. He has spent countless hours designing people’s pollinator gardens. Over $2500 was raised through the PPW web page. He has spent the spring prepping garden space, delivering plants, and planting gardens.

Ellie Volckhausen, who nominated Nicolas, states, “Nicolas has shown up for every activity, bringing his passion for pollinator gardens and native MA plants. Nicolas has literally gotten his hands dirty and has removed hundreds of square feet of sod, weeds, and invasive plants. He has taught the members of our group, our gardeners, and a group of 4th and 5th graders at the River Valley Charter School best practices for planting, creating water wells, and mulching. He has taught us all a lot about native MA plants, as well. He is by far the most knowledgeable of our group! He is an impressive 17 year old and I think everyone involved in Pollinator Powerworks and ACES would be proud to see him acknowledged for how he’s gone above and beyond in his volunteer work. Nicolas is a Junior at Newburyport High School who moved to Newburyport from San Francisco in 2019. He enjoys spending time outside hiking and observing plants and wildlife, taking pictures, observing the weather, and gardening with native plants. His native plant garden is slowly expanding and has successfully attracted lots of pollinators and other wildlife.”

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