1000 Monarchs
Donation protected
The 1000 Monarch project is the realization of a plan to implement and energize the creation and rehabilitation of habitat for Monarch Butterflies. This project began in the summer of 2018 and was responsible for the planting of nearly 300 Milkweed plants as well as site preparation for the upcoming 2019 garden season. 1000 Monarchs will be working in conjunction with established conservation organizations by providing educational resources to folks interested in this endeavor, and by reporting critical data into a national system of science data helping to track the successes and shortcomings of this campaign. Feel free to contact us at [email redacted] or in the comment section of this campaign with any questions or suggestions. Thank-You! Follow our progress on Facebook. Coming Soon...
Monarch Butterflies are in peril of extinction! due to loss of habitat.
This plea, is for the now and future story of the Monarch Butterfly ( Danaus Plexippus) and our children and grand children . Monarch butterflies historic range consists of the greater part of North America, from Mexico to southern Canada and from coast to coast. The North American Monarch population was established approximately 20,000 years ago and has been successful for the greater part of that time. In the mere decades since the beginning of the industrial revolution and particularly with the rise of industrial scale agriculture and sprawling human populations, the habitat of these magnificent creatures and other pollinator species has lost too much of their former range, from summer breeding grounds to over wintering sites in CA.
Monarch butterfly habitat has been reduced to critically low total mass. Mitigation of this issue is essential for the recovery and future success of the Monarch butterfly, as well as for other pollinator species, including the bees that pollinate our food crops.
Monarch Butterflies are exclusively reliant on native species of Milkweed ( Asclepias) plants for reproduction. Monarch butterflies can successfully only lay their eggs the leaves of Milkweed plants with the host Milkweed plant providing the only food Monarch larva (caterpillars) eat.
Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each year to overwinter in the warm Mexican winters, returning north each spring to breeding grounds, where a fascinating life cycle of generations of Monarchs will mate, lay eggs and feed on the nectar of pollinator plants native to the region . These butterflies are dependent on nourishment to complete their journey to over wintering sites in Mexico. Habitat disturbance and destruction has inhibited this journey and diminished their food sources.
Loss of habitat caused by land development, including, large scale agricultural practices, residential and commercial encroachment as well as fossil fuel extraction sites needs to be addressed through reclamation and the creation of habitat.
My goal is to engage, gardeners, both professional and home gardeners, artists, conservationists, businesses and corporations to engage through social media , sponsorship programs, as well as personal hands on involvement, from monetary investment to planting habitat on your property and/or becoming a certified Monarch "Way Station", while adding thousands of milkweed and native perennial pollinator plants from the northern rocky mountain region to the southern intermountain regions. Creating a migratory bi-way for Monarchs.
Funding for this project will pay for: ( 2019 garden season)
1) Milkweed plants and plugs
2000 milkweed plants ( purchased and planted)
2) Milkweed Seed ( native species by zone)
Sold and given to homeowners at farmers markets and
businesses.
Planted in reclamation areas by volunteers and sponsor
businesses and corporations.
3) 2- hand held computers for use in;
Field site evaluations
Monarch monitoring records
Office and general project management issues
Social Media
4) Internet Web building and maintenance
5) Monarch Butterfly Gardeners Field Guide
This will be a manual for professional gardeners and will be
used to initiate Monarch Butterfly gardens with clients and
will be available for free at local plant nurseries.
6) Educational and other print materials
Posters and pamphlets
"Citizen Science" forms for gardeners and homeowners
Time is of the essence in funding for this program.
First spring orders to nurseries producing Milkweed starts are due soon for May delivery and planting. The window for shipping these delicate plugs is small for most regions, this can happen for only 3-4 weeks in spring and 5-6 weeks for fall planting. Preparing native milkweed seed for spring planting requires 4-6 weeks of refrigeration prior to planting.
The time is now to kickstart this program!
A world without Monarchs would be less vibrant, and to me, unimaginable, I encourage any one who sees this plea to do something even if you do not fund this project. Plant a Milkweed seed, support others who are engaged.
The Monarchs will thank you and enhance your life too!
Thank You,
1000 Monarchs -Together we can do this!
Monarch Butterflies are in peril of extinction! due to loss of habitat.
This plea, is for the now and future story of the Monarch Butterfly ( Danaus Plexippus) and our children and grand children . Monarch butterflies historic range consists of the greater part of North America, from Mexico to southern Canada and from coast to coast. The North American Monarch population was established approximately 20,000 years ago and has been successful for the greater part of that time. In the mere decades since the beginning of the industrial revolution and particularly with the rise of industrial scale agriculture and sprawling human populations, the habitat of these magnificent creatures and other pollinator species has lost too much of their former range, from summer breeding grounds to over wintering sites in CA.
Monarch butterfly habitat has been reduced to critically low total mass. Mitigation of this issue is essential for the recovery and future success of the Monarch butterfly, as well as for other pollinator species, including the bees that pollinate our food crops.
Monarch Butterflies are exclusively reliant on native species of Milkweed ( Asclepias) plants for reproduction. Monarch butterflies can successfully only lay their eggs the leaves of Milkweed plants with the host Milkweed plant providing the only food Monarch larva (caterpillars) eat.
Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each year to overwinter in the warm Mexican winters, returning north each spring to breeding grounds, where a fascinating life cycle of generations of Monarchs will mate, lay eggs and feed on the nectar of pollinator plants native to the region . These butterflies are dependent on nourishment to complete their journey to over wintering sites in Mexico. Habitat disturbance and destruction has inhibited this journey and diminished their food sources.
Loss of habitat caused by land development, including, large scale agricultural practices, residential and commercial encroachment as well as fossil fuel extraction sites needs to be addressed through reclamation and the creation of habitat.
My goal is to engage, gardeners, both professional and home gardeners, artists, conservationists, businesses and corporations to engage through social media , sponsorship programs, as well as personal hands on involvement, from monetary investment to planting habitat on your property and/or becoming a certified Monarch "Way Station", while adding thousands of milkweed and native perennial pollinator plants from the northern rocky mountain region to the southern intermountain regions. Creating a migratory bi-way for Monarchs.
Funding for this project will pay for: ( 2019 garden season)
1) Milkweed plants and plugs
2000 milkweed plants ( purchased and planted)
2) Milkweed Seed ( native species by zone)
Sold and given to homeowners at farmers markets and
businesses.
Planted in reclamation areas by volunteers and sponsor
businesses and corporations.
3) 2- hand held computers for use in;
Field site evaluations
Monarch monitoring records
Office and general project management issues
Social Media
4) Internet Web building and maintenance
5) Monarch Butterfly Gardeners Field Guide
This will be a manual for professional gardeners and will be
used to initiate Monarch Butterfly gardens with clients and
will be available for free at local plant nurseries.
6) Educational and other print materials
Posters and pamphlets
"Citizen Science" forms for gardeners and homeowners
Time is of the essence in funding for this program.
First spring orders to nurseries producing Milkweed starts are due soon for May delivery and planting. The window for shipping these delicate plugs is small for most regions, this can happen for only 3-4 weeks in spring and 5-6 weeks for fall planting. Preparing native milkweed seed for spring planting requires 4-6 weeks of refrigeration prior to planting.
The time is now to kickstart this program!
A world without Monarchs would be less vibrant, and to me, unimaginable, I encourage any one who sees this plea to do something even if you do not fund this project. Plant a Milkweed seed, support others who are engaged.
The Monarchs will thank you and enhance your life too!
Thank You,
1000 Monarchs -Together we can do this!
Organizer
Barbara Earnest
Organizer
Livingston, MT
