By Brandon Sanchez
Since I started my residency at 50 Kent with Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many remarkable people. Whether it be through the Summer Music Series, The Parks Department, or The Williamsburg Pollinator Project. On my first day at 50 Kent, I met Jeff Hewitt, the leader of The Williamsburg Pollinator Project, whose work at 50 Kent has made a tremendous difference. I decided to ask Jeff about his project to get a better sense of the project as a whole.
I found Jeff working diligently with his hat and knee pads before the interview in the flower beds along the picturesque N11th side of Bushwick Inlet Park. Jeff said, “The inspiration to start this project comes from a need to do something locally to help the environment and to get teenagers involved in the community.”
The Williamsburg Pollinator Project, has achieved remarkable success in their efforts to revitalize and enrich this garden bed which is where his transformative project aims to create a thriving ecosystem that fosters the well-being of essential pollinators, particularly bees and encourages them to contribute significantly to the vital process of plant reproduction.
Jeff Hewitt
Jeff Hewitt first became involved in horticulture at the age of 13 when he joined an internship in California and continued to follow his interests in the field and learned more about gardening at Longwood Gardens.
The main objective of the project is to restore the previously neglected flower beds into a colorful and appealing home for pollinators. The effort attracts bees and other critical pollinators to the region by developing a broad array of flowers, providing them with a rich food supply and a friendly habitat. Pollinators are critical for the continuous development and reproduction of numerous plant species, including those that provide food for humans and wildlife alike.
The Williamsburg Pollinator Project also enlists the help of many local teens to assist in the upkeep of the park. Some of the teens who help out at 50 Kent have gone on to tell me, “It feels good to know that we are improving the ecosystem in our community, giving the public something to enjoy and get hands dirty”.
The project’s visual impact is evident in the stunning image provided below the paragraph, showcasing the abundance of blooming flowers. This mesmerizing sight is a testament to the efforts of the Williamsburg Pollinator Project and reminds us of the intricate relationship between pollinators, plant life, and the local community that helps them thrive. As with many things, these advancements in the flower beds did not come to fruition without a few headaches. “The park is overrun by weeds. It can be overwhelming at times and a lot still needs to be done in order to keep them at bay,” said Hewitt. “So much still needs to be done and we hope to one day have a park that supports butterflies, bees, and songbirds that is also beautiful for the community and meets the expectations of the public”.
Williamsburg Pollinator Project Garden at 50 Kent, Bushwick Inlet Park
