About the Project

The Hudson Valley Pollinator Project was born from a shared vision between Orange Environment, a leading environmental advocacy organization in Orange County, and the Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, one of the region's most beloved agricultural destinations.

We are the only project in the country giving away free milkweed at this scale — currently growing more than 4,000 native milkweed plants to put directly into the hands of Orange County residents who want to convert their turf grass lawns into living habitat for monarch butterflies and other declining pollinators.

Together, we recognized that the declining populations of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators posed a serious threat — not only to our local ecosystems, but to the agricultural heritage that defines the Hudson Valley.

Our project focuses on free milkweed distribution, educating the community on how to transform turf grass into pollinator-friendly food sources, reducing pesticide use, and building a network of pollinator corridors that connect gardens, farms, and wild spaces across the region.