OLD FORGE — The Old Forge Library, 220 Crosby Blvd., is hosting two programs Wednesday, May 24 to inspire patrons to start growing.

Anyone who wants to learn more about how they can use their green thumb to help pollinator species with Sawyer Bailey and Lisa Salamon, of ADKAction, at 11 a.m. for a conversation about the Adirondack Pollinator Project and pollinator species conservation. Attendees will receive free wildflower seeds and the chance to win pollinator friendly native plants. 

The Adirondack Pollinator Project is a partnership initiative led by ADKAction.org, with help from The Wild Center, the Lake Placid Land Conservancy, Local Living Venture and Common Ground Gardens in Saranac Lake.

Their mission is to build awareness, knowledge and understanding about the global and local importance of pollinators across the Adirondack region, and empower people to take individual and collective action to help pollinators thrive.

The library is going to grow gourmet mushrooms and guests can learn how with an informational session as their “mushroom garden” gets started.

Local mycologist Tommy Hugh will explain the whole setup at 4 p.m. in a public program to inspire others to explore the world of mushrooms and appreciate the natural wonders that surround us in the Adirondacks.

Hugh’s journey of discovery started with watching videos and studying mushroom identification guides to learn which mushrooms found in the area were edible and which were not.  

“I still lacked the confidence to know for certain whether a mushroom was safe to eat. That’s when I realized the best way to be certain was to grow them myself,”  Hugh said.  

His experience in setting up a small mushroom garden at home led him to a project for the Inlet Community Garden on the grounds of the Inlet School campus. He looks forward to meeting others who may have an interest in growing mushrooms and sharing his knowledge. 

As always, library programs are free, appropriate for all ages and open to the public.

Note: This article was updated on May 23, 2023.