Discover the vibrant world of Sustainable Saratoga’s committees, each dedicated to a unique aspect of community sustainability: Zero Waste, Urban Forestry, Land Use, Climate and Energy, and Pollinators. Whatever your passion, you’ll find a place to make a difference.

Part of our work focuses on reducing emissions from transportation, which is the leading cause of climate harming emissions in Saratoga Springs. In partnership with Skidmore College, we host EV Car and E-bike Shows that offer community members a chance to talk with EV and E-bike owners and dealers and view a variety of makes and models all in one place. We are currently supporting the City of Saratoga Springs Clean Energy Communities EV Campaign which educates residents about the benefits of owning electric cars and connects them with state and federal savings that can reduce the purchase price of EVs by as much as $9,500.

Buildings are the second largest source of emissions in the city. On our website you’ll find a comprehensive guide to reducing building emissions and home energy costs. The article has links to information on federal Inflation Reduction Act and state and utility savings opportunities that will help you reduce your energy bills as well as your carbon footprint.

This summer you will find us staffing Sustainable Saratoga tables around town including some Saturdays at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market and at the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Cars on Union event. We hope you’ll stop by to say hello and learn more about our work!

Visit the Climate and Energy Committee pages for more information on our work

Discover the vibrant world of Sustainable Saratoga’s committees, each dedicated to a unique aspect of community sustainability: Zero Waste, Urban Forestry, Land Use, Climate and Energy, and Pollinators. Whatever your passion, you’ll find a place to make a difference.

The Pollinator and Native Plant Committee is Sustainable Saratoga’s newest committee. Started at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2021, the committee is heading into its 4th growing season. You might know us through the No Mow May signs you see scattered around town this time of year.

Our signature event is our annual native plant sale, Pollinator Palooza, held this year on Saturday, June 1, from 10 to 3.  We sell indigenous flowering plants that act as adult and/or larval food sources for our native bees, butterflies, beetles and birds. Our committee members pot up the plants and grow them out for two months before we offer them for sale at the Palooza. Many other organizations like Saratoga Plan, Capital Region Wild Ones, and the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society have informational tables at the Palooza. Come and browse the offerings, listen to music from the Saratoga Springs High School fiddlers, and take home new, hard-to-find native plants for your garden.

Pollinator Palooza attendees shop for native plants and learn about protecting pollinators and their habitat

We also engage in community education, outreach and advocacy. We have a pollinator garden at the Children’s Museum at the Lincoln Baths, are planning a Hellstrip Heroes program and a Leave the Leaves campaign. We are trying to protect and promote biodiversity, encourage rewilding and native landscaping, and teach sustainable gardening practices. You can get more information and read some of our past gardening posts on Sustainable Saratoga’s pollinator web page HERE.

If you are a gardener or a wildlife enthusiast, come join us. We are always looking for new volunteers and new projects. You can reach out to us at pollinators@sustainablesaratoga.org.