POLLINATING POSSIBILITY w/Lucile Morehouse

Lucile Morehouse is a 14 year old environmental activist from Choctaw County, Oklahoma who has created a 4-H environmental service project called ‘Lucile’s Pollinator Project’. As part of the project she writes and receives donations to create pollinator seed packets to give away for free. Her project has planted 100,188 square feet of pollinator seeds in 32 different states.

TANITH: Lucile, I love so much that you created Lucile’s Pollinator Project at the age of 11! What made you come up with the idea?

LUCILE: My mom was a beekeeper when I was growing up. She was really big into nature and everything. And we actually had a couple beehives and I'd always go with her to her beehive groups and their meetings. As we attended beekeeping classes, I learned how important bees were for the environment at a young age. I wanted to help since there seemed to be fewer pollinators. I started to think of what they needed to survive. The answer was a diverse diet to ward off starvation and disease. I then took it to the next level and created my project. I think that's where it really started my love for pollinators.

TANITH: You have already reached over 584,933 people through television, radio, newspaper, seed distribution, and workshops, and have started to do public speaking around the subject of pollinators. What are your plans to expand your reach?

LUCILE: I want to do more local projects, and I want to do more speaking as well. We actually were just at a a garden show, and I had such an amazing experience with everyone, and got to talk about my project. I really felt like I reached a couple people through that. And so I just want to get out of my local area and try to go international even more. I am going to continue to do everything that I am doing now but through my new partnerships and new relationships, I have been expanding my reach to new groups. My goal is to get more seeds out to more people.

TANITH: In addition to your project you are also taking an online Pollinator Steward Certification course. What does the course involve and how will it help you to grow?

LUCILE: The Pollinator Steward Certification course is held by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC). They teach about the importance of pollinators and how to protect them. One thing that I have learned is that honeybees are domesticated. Meaning they are taken care of by humans. They are not as critically in danger as our native bees, that have no one to look after them. If we create habitat for them and give them food through native plants, they have a better chance of survival. I am learning about bats, ants, and birds that all have a hand in pollination. I am taking this information I am learning from The Pollinator Steward Certification course and educating children throughout Oklahoma on the importance of helping them and educating them on the critical role they play in natural resource conservation and agriculture. I even hosted zooms to the Idaho School of the Deaf and Blind and STEM innovators in New Jersey. I love teaching the knowledge that I have and learning more from experts in the field.

TANITH: You were recently recognized as a finalist at the 2024 Global Youth Awards for the Environmental Change Category and have since become an ambassador for Legacy Project. How does it feel to be recognized by an international charity for the work you are doing?

LUCILE: I never, ever imagined that something like having a passion for pollinators, can become so big. It is humbling to be recognized for my efforts to conserve pollinators. I have been blessed to become a Global Change Ambassador and hope that another children can be inspired by my project and go and create something that they are passionate about.

TANITH: This year you will be giving away 2,000 pollinator seeds and 1,000 common milkweed seeds for Monarch Butterflies. What is the story behind the project, and how can people support it?

LUCILE: The reason the project started was because we're in the middle of the Monarch migration pattern, and we always see them here when it's their time to come by. We wondered why they never stopped by this time and then through the program, we found out it's because there's way less common milkweed in the Midwest. That was the reason and so we knew need to do something about that. That's where our idea for the milkweed came from. Our idea was to get donations, create pollinator seed packets, and give them out for free. I started with a grant and have since been able to grow my project every year to help through education, seed distribution, and connecting with other people. I created a Facebook page where you can follow my journey to help the pollinators: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088769383393&mibextid=LQQJ4d

In addition, I also have on my Facebook “Pollinator Pledge” a donation link to PayPal. It takes .86 cents to create a seed packet. We are trying to get 5000 people to sign for our pledges. My project has been made possible through donors who find a need for pollinators in their future. Through the donations and grant writing, I can fund next year’s project. If you cannot donate, please share my Facebook page. This project has been through grassroots efforts, and I appreciate any support at any level.

I love whenever people do get their seed packets and plant them and send pictures of the flowers. That is my absolute favorite thing. We had a woman in Alaska send us pictures. And even from so far away in the United States, the seeds were able to grow up there, so I know it's going to be able to grow down here. And It's absolutely amazing to see.

TANITH: You are clearly very passionate about the work that you are doing! What advice can you give to other young people that are also passionate and want to make a difference?

LUCILE: No matter how old you are, you can make a difference. For example in our local club, we have this little boy, and he helps out so much. His older siblings do 4H and so he comes to the meetings a lot. He's helped me do so many things, and it just goes to show that even though you're young, doesn't mean you can't make a difference by helping out.

Start with an idea and bounce it off a couple of adults. Then figure out how to fund it and execute it to completion. You do not have to do it every year. Start with something small, like planting a garden in a nursing home. See if someone can donate plants and get your friends together for the big event. These moments when you give back to your community are so fulfilling. Do not wait for someone to come to you, go out and make things happen and be the change you want to see in your future. Because we are the future and this is our earth that we need to help heal. ​∎