Community Profile

BIDDEFORD

BIDDEFORD, ME

Martin Grohman

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Since 2021, Biddeford Community Gardens in partnership with the City of Biddeford, has committed to helping save the Monarch Butterfly by preserving existing native habitat and creating new habitat on publicly owned lands. Our pledge also includes educating the public about the importance of the Monarch and how together, we can implement positive, healthy changes in the way we do things. such as eliminating the use of pesticides/herbicides, that will greatly improve the Monarch's chances for long-term survival.

Community Spotlight

Monarch at Williams Court

Each year, we continue to add wildflowers and native plantings to each of our four community gardens.

Action Items Committed for 2025

Communications and Convening ▸

Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.
Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters , other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation.
Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
Launch or maintain an outdoor education program(s) (e.g., at schools, after-school programs, community centers and groups) that builds awareness and creates habitat by engaging students, educators, and the community in planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats program and Monarch Mission curriculum).
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
Host or support a monarch butterfly festival that is accessible to all residents in the community and promotes monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed / landscaping ordinances (if applicable).
Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Martin Grohman	2025	3/10/2025		View Pledge
Mayor Martin Grohman	2024	2/1/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Alan Casavant	2023	2/18/2023	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Alan Casavant	2022	2/25/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Alan Casavant	2021	4/27/2021	Signatories	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report