Who should I contact if I have questions?
You can contact Stefanie Steele, stefanie.steele@xerces.org, with any questions about our Detroit Pollinator Habitat Kit Program.
How do I participate in the Xerces Habitat Kit program?
Project partner proposal forms for the Detroit pollinator habitat kits will be available on February 9, 2026. The form asks for information about where the kit will be planted, size of the area, and plans for site preparation, management, and maintenance, as well as plans for pesticide risk mitigation and outreach opportunities, if applicable.
What is required of all selected kit partners?
All selected kit partners are asked to:
- Have good communication with Stefanie - she is here to help, so please feel free to reach out!
- Complete and return your Project Partner Collaborative Agreement (PPCA) that outlines all requirements prior to picking up the kit.
- Prepare your site for planting your habitat kit plants - remove current vegetation, and we recommend laying down mulch (woodchips or weed-free straw) to cover your habitat area to minimize weeds.
- Pick up your kit plants on time at the designated location, or inquire about other reasonable accommodations.
- Until the kit plants are in the ground, water plants daily and keep them out of full sunlight to decrease stress.
- Plant your kit plants within 2-4 weeks of receiving them (highly recommended for best survival success, but we understand delaying for periods of drought or other events).
- Once the kit is planted, you must complete the provided planting notification form (PNF) to let us know your kit is planted and share a few photos.
- In the summer of the same year, you are invited to an optional habitat kit partner gathering.
- In the winter of the following year, you are asked to complete a final project report in a survey provided to you to provide more detailed information on the success of the planting, such as plant survival numbers, photos of plantings, comments on pollinator visitors, and outreach activities.
How many pollinator habitat kits can I request?
Interested partners may request 1 or 2 kits, but kits will be limited based on the number of project proposals received. Please let us know if you require a certain number of kits for your proposed project to be successful.
If I was an awarded kit partner in a previous year, am I eligible to submit another project proposal this year?
Yes, previously awarded kit partners from 2023-2025 may submit a 2026 project proposal, but please note that quality project proposals from first-time habitat kit partners will take first priority. This program receives more interest than kits available, and not all who submit a proposal will be awarded a kit.
What plants are in the kits?
Please see the above list of the tentative plant species, and other information will be available soon. The final plant list may minimally change as species are substituted/omitted depending on nursery availability.
How much space do I need for a kit?
For one kit, you will need approximately 300-350 square feet in total. See the plant list for the approximate size of each plant species. For herbaceous species, we recommend planting at 12-18 inch spacing. This closer spacing allows the plants to establish more densely and better out-compete weedy species that may otherwise pop up in the empty space between plants.
When will the kits be available?
We are planning for kits to be available around the last weekend of May 2026 - more details soon.
How do I get my kit?
Kits will be transported from Wildtype Native Plant Nursery and available for pick up at Keep Growing Detroit in Detroit, MI. More details to follow for recipients.
Can I have the kit delivered to me?
It is strongly preferred that habitat kit partners pick up their kits from Keep Growing Detroit. Partners that are unable to pick up their habitat kit can submit a special request to see if delivery is available.
Can I purchase a kit on my own?
No, unfortunately, these kits are not available for public purchase.
How did you decide what plants to include in the kits?
Plants were chosen to provide a diversity of foraging and host plant resources for native pollinators and beneficial insects (predators of common crop pests) on Detroit urban farms and gardens throughout the growing season. Feedback from past kit partners was taken into consideration, such as a preference for certain species or including more plants that could also be used by people. Other considerations that determined species selection included plant availability, as well as Detroit’s unique urban environment: plant suitability of urban soils, drought tolerance, and plant heights (~ 4 feet and shorter). Numerous sources were also consulted, including the Xerces Society’s Great Lakes Pollinator Resource Center (native plant lists, habitat installation guides), ERA Tool, Bill Schneider with Wildtype Native Plant Nursery, Mary Jamieson with Oakland University, and MSU’s Michigan Pollinator Initiative.
Can I get technical assistance for creating a pollinator habitat, preparing for planting, and maintaining my kit?
Yes! We are happy to help as best we can within our capacity. You may contact stefanie.steele@xerces.org with questions about your project and for advice on how to ensure that your project will be successful. You can also find a variety of informational materials on our website. Please review the What Makes a Successful Habitat Kit Proposal and Planting document, and the planting guide for our Detroit Urban Ag Pollinator Habitat Kits.
In-person assistance with your habitat kit site prep, planting, and management is also available on a limited basis, based on staff capacity - current and past kit partners are welcome to inquire with Stefanie!
Can I use my habitat kit(s) in projects for which I am receiving financial assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or another federally funded agency?
No, at this time, Detroit Pollinator Habitat Kits cannot be used to complete habitat work that a federal agency has funded, such as the NRCS.
If you want to learn more about NRCS programs or apply for financial assistance from the NRCS, please contact your local service center in Ann Arbor, or reach out to Stefanie Steele (stefanie.steele@xerces.org) for help in connecting with the appropriate conservation planner at the NRCS.
I do not live in Detroit or the Metro Detroit area. Am I eligible for a kit?
At this time, we are providing kits to selected partners who will be planting them in the defined priority sites in Detroit and the surrounding Metro Detroit area. If you are just outside of the Metro Detroit area, please contact Stefanie to see if your site is applicable. If you are located outside of Michigan, we also have habitat kit programs in other regions of the U.S., and over time, we hope to expand the Xerces Society Habitat Kit Program to further parts of the country.
How can I support the Xerces Habitat Kit program?
The Detroit Pollinator Habitat Kits are possible thanks to the generosity of Xerces Society donors, members, and federal grant agreements with the USDA. Find out how you can support the Xerces Society at xerces.org/donate.
