Last Saturday at Longview Farm was one of those days that will stick with us for a long time.
After months of planning, clearing, and preparing the soil, we finally planted our pollinator habitat! It took a lot of work to get there. There were site walks, soil prep, seed sourcing, and plenty of conversations about what would grow best here and why. On planting day, all of that work came together in just a few hours.
Hundreds of thousands of seeds in minutes
Once the ground was ready, the planting itself went fast. In just a few minutes, we spread hundreds of thousands of pollinator seeds across the habitat. Watching the field go from bare soil to fully seeded so quickly was a little surreal. It was a good reminder of how much a small group can get done together after doing the prep work.
We also planted the pollinators alongside winter flax. Flax comes up quickly and acts as a cover crop. It protects the pollinator seeds through the colder months while they settle in. That means we should start seeing green very soon, and we’ll keep sharing updates as things grow.
Teaching the next generation
My favorite part of the day was the kids. We got to show them how seed germination works: what a seed needs to sprout, why some seeds wait for the right conditions, and how this one field will feed bees, butterflies, and birds for years to come. Their questions were great, and seeing them get excited about something that won’t bloom for months was a real highlight.
Thank you to every volunteer who showed up, got their hands dirty, and helped make this happen. This habitat belongs to all of you.
Meanwhile, in the gallery…
The same day we planted, we also opened Longview Farm’s 3rd Annual Holiday Exhibit.
Every holiday season, the gallery turns into a market-style exhibit. It’s filled with original work in many sizes, mediums, and price points. This year we’re showing art from 28 local artists and makers who belong to the Chester County Art Association, Haverford Guild of Craftsmen, Aston Mills Arts, and West Chester University’s Student Design Club, along with several individual artists. We’re especially excited to welcome WCU student artists this year!
If you’re starting to think about holiday gifts, this is a great place to find something meaningful and one of a kind. Everything is ready to take home the day you buy it, and every purchase supports a small business and the local arts community.
Exhibit details:
The Holiday Show runs November 7th through Christmas Eve
Second reception: Saturday, December 5th, with live acoustic music
BYOB and potluck-style, so bring a dish or snack to share if you like
Come back this winter
The barn is worth more than one visit this season. Stop by to watch the pollinator habitat start to grow under its flax cover, then come inside to find a gift from a local artist. Supporting local art this year is a gift twice over: once to the person who receives it, and once to the artist who made it.
We’ll see you at the barn.