A 2019 study found that, worldwide, 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction. Another survey found that up to 60% of the insects that pollinate crops in New York State are at risk of disappearing—the rusty-patched bumble bee already has.

When Woodstock resident Georgia Asher attended a lecture by entomologist E.O. Wilson a few years ago and learned about the threats to insects, she decided to act. With the help of the Woodstock Land Conservancy, she organized a film showing and a series of Zoom presentations on how to save insects by creating pollinator pathways.

That grassroots effort has since flourished. Today, more than 200 gardens are mapped as part of the Woodstock Pollinator Pathway, a local offshoot of the national initiative encouraging gardeners to plant native species that sustain bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators. By linking yards and gardens across neighborhoods, the pathway creates continuous habitat where insects can feed and reproduce—offering a lifeline for species in decline.