Save Monarch Butterfly and Restore Habitat

* For 2023 donations please do it here: https://gofund.me/8643b81e

On this Earth Day, in the year 2021, we dedicate the restoration and preservation of our INWOOD BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY

Monarch Waystation #24820

www.facebook.com/inwoodbutterflysanctuary

Since the moment we arrived in Inwood, it has been a great joy to be surrounded by such extraordinary parks of original growth trees, beautiful gardens with numerous species of plants and flowers, attracting bees, butterflies, migratory birds, and diversity of wildlife unique to the Northeast. With enormous gratitude, we've engaged our children in this experience of nature, and encouraged them to become knowledgeable and appreciate the importance of taking care of our environment, which we strive to preserve and protect for their future. And at this time, their future and the health of our natural environment have never been more threatened.

Many of us already seek to lessen our carbon footprints. We shop locally and in general, try to take care of our surroundings. We may already be aware that many species of plants and animals suffer from the destructive impact of habit loss, pesticide use, human encroachment, and way too many forms of pollution. One species increasingly at risk is a very important pollinator close to our hearts, the beloved migratory Monarch Butterfly, whose population has plummeted by as much as 90% in one year in some regions. Legislation is currently pending to list them as an Endangered Species with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They are truly at risk.

Children are born with interest and attraction to what makes nature so special, wonderful, and unique, and we have a responsibility to foster their fascination with all living things, even the smallest of creatures, such as bugs and caterpillars. We want for them to understand, not fear, little wiggly things, bees and butterflies, and teach them that these pollinators are crucial to the health of the planet and the survival of all life, especially such a vital part of the food chain. 

With all this in mind right here in Inwood, we were disappointed by the lack of interest in our requests to get the NYC parks department to set aside space to create a monarch waystation where native plants needed by the monarch butterflies would be protected. Just as we began to introduce our children to the beauty and miraculous life cycle of monarch butterflies, we were horrified to see park staff unwittingly cut down the native common milkweed in Isham Park. Soon we came to know this was not an isolated oversight, that other native milkweed locations have been ripped out or paved over, or even worse sprayed with herbicide by Amtrak. This couldn’t be more harmful to monarchs as common milkweed is their exclusive host plant. Unfortunately it's the only plant monarchs will lay eggs on and for reasons that help assure the survival of the caterpillars, it's the only plant they can eat.

It is no surprise that people who have lived here for more than a few years have noticed the sudden disappearance of this once commonplace butterfly. We used to see hundreds of them in the summer, but despite the development of the beautiful flower gardens that currently surround us, one feels lucky to see an occasional one or two. This habitat loss has had a direct impact on a species that relies on numbers to survive, one that already has a low survival rate in the wild due to natural predation. Add in the impact of global warming and careless human interventions along their migratory route, and it's not difficult to see their plight as truly dire at this time. In doing our part we are committed to protecting the monarchs and bringing them back to Inwood. The survival of all of us depends upon this.

Our first action was to secure a location to establish a registered monarch workstation and garden sanctuary in Inwood on the grounds of the old Good Shepherd convent on the corner of Isham and Seaman. In our first two years, the initiative has become much more than a garden that provides habitat and protection for monarchs as we raise them from eggs in a butterfly hutch where the entire monarch lifecycle can be observed close up by anyone. Not only have we raise and released hundreds of butterflies, but we've also engaged the community, in particular the children, who've been given the unique opportunity to adopt a caterpillar and foster a butterfly, which they care for through the miracle of metamorphosis and the moment of transformation when the chrysalis opens to reveal a butterfly that will join a mystical migration thousands of miles back to Mexico.

Your financial support will enable us to maintain our butterfly sanctuary, purchase essential materials, annual and perennial nectar plants and flowers necessary to the survival of monarch butterflies (according to Monarch Watch Waystation requirements). It will also fund our unique personalized educational outreach to invite local families to foster caterpillars and raise butterflies initiative. We are helping save an important pollinator species through inspiring environmental consciousness in our children, the future caretakers of our planet. We have given presentations at Good Shepherd and Dos Amigos schools where children got to handle and release monarchs.

Our mission has expanded to support various strategic outreach initiatives. We have distributed hundreds of milkweed plants for school and community gardens in the area, Riverdale and Washington Hts. and this year we are already in discussion to take this pilot project citywide! We have the interest and support of Cardinal Timothy Dolan to introduce the butterfly sanctuary concept to church gardens around the city. Saving the endangered monarch butterfly is a full-time commitment to advocacy, education, and outreach. Join us in helping maintain our garden. Help us network and make calls to encourage schools, churches, and community gardens to establish waystations. 

Please visit our page at www.facebook.com/inwoodbutterflysanctuary to see inspiring stories and testimonials from members of this community. Please message us if you'd like to pitch in or participate in any way!

Keith, Adriana & Volunteers

Inwood Butterfly Sanctuary

(646) [phone redacted]

[email redacted] accepts Paypal donations.