UMF Campus and Community Garden certified “Pollinator Friendly” by UMaine Cooperative Extension

FARMINGTON, ME  (August 12, 2026)—Pollinators—bees, birds, insects and more—are the powerhouse of the ecosystem, and the University of Maine at Farmington Campus and Community Garden was just certified as a Pollinator-Friendly Garden by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

This distinction was spearheaded by Emma Towers, UMF senior from Jay, majoring in psychology and a dedicated student garden worker. She is joined in the UMF garden effort by Hayden Triance, UMF senior from Steep Falls, and a group of  student and community volunteers.

Towers loves her time in the garden, and as a commuting student found it a valuable connection to other like-minded students and the campus and community as a whole.

“Gardening brings a certain calmness to your life,” said Towers. “Even the winter season has you planning and preparing for spring.”

The certification is a multi-year process that is open to individuals, schools and businesses. It includes completing a pollinator training course and identifying the genus, species and native status of all potential pollinators in the garden. Participants are also asked to identify native plants in their gardens in each blooming season—early, middle and late. Participating gardens need a water source, types of pollinator shelter and a reduction of the use of pesticides.

Kate Garland, a horticulturalist and Master Gardener volunteer coordinator for Franklin County and Christine Meyer, Master Gardener volunteer provided professional guidance throughout the process.

According to Larry Tuttle, UMF assistant professor of geology and garden director, this certification brings a new awareness to the importance of pollinators to the campus and local community.

“You only have to look at the abundant produce we are able to offer to the community for free weekly through the growing season at the garden’s Harvest Hutch to see how valuable pollinators are to our lives,” said Tuttle.

The UMF garden is always looking for opportunities to engage with the community. They will be building a new handicap accessible raised garden bed and now feature a Little Library Box by the greenhouse where individuals can take a book/leave a book.

More on University of Maine at Farmington

A nationally recognized public liberal arts college known for its commitment to the creative arts, teacher preparation, the health arts and sciences, the environment, business and public service, UMF provides a challenging yet supportive environment to prepare students for both careers and further study. Located in the heart of Maine’s four-season outdoor recreational region, UMF is a welcoming, close-knit academic community that prepares students for enriching professional careers, engaged citizenship and an enduring love of learning.

# # #

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Image: https://farmington.edu/app/uploads/2026/08/RP256-048.webp
Photo Caption: (Left to right) UMF student garden workers Emma Towers and Hayden Triance join Larry Tuttle, UMF assistant professor of geology and garden director, with news of  UMF garden Pollinator-Friendly certification.
Photo Credit: UMF Image