ENGL 111 Theme: Urban Farming - Indianapolis

Monarch Watch is a comprehensive resource on monarch butterfly conservation. It provides detailed information on monarch life cycles, migration patterns, and how to support monarchs through habitat restoration and planting milkweed. The site also offers programs to track monarch migration.

This organization focuses on protecting invertebrates and their habitats, including monarchs. The site offers a wealth of resources on how to create butterfly-friendly habitats, plant native species, and protect monarchs from various threats. They have specific guidelines for conservation efforts involving monarch butterflies.

Monarch Joint Venture is a collaborative effort to protect monarch populations through research, education, and habitat restoration. The site includes information on monarch biology, migration routes, and how to support their conservation in both rural and urban areas.

Journey North is an educational project that tracks the seasonal migrations of various species, including monarch butterflies. It’s a great resource for students and anyone interested in following real-time data on monarch migration patterns.

NWF provides broad information on pollinator conservation, including bees, and runs the “Garden for Wildlife” certification program. Offers step-by-step advice for creating pollinator habitats at home or in schools.

This organization promotes the health of pollinators through conservation, education, and research. They publish free planting guides tailored to different U.S. eco-regions, run Pollinator Week, and support farmers, city planners, and gardeners in creating bee-friendly environments.

This campaign advocates for bans on bee-harming pesticides like neonicotinoids and supports organic farming. They also offer consumer guides to help people choose bee-friendly products and support pollinator-safe gardening.

This nonprofit actively promotes the role of bees in cities by creating urban bee sanctuaries and supporting community farms and gardens. Their Sponsor-A-Hive program places bee homes in urban farms, school gardens, and food deserts. Offers practical insights into supporting native bees in food-producing spaces.

Led by Dr. Gordon Frankie, this lab studies native bees in urban environments. The site includes plant recommendations for urban farms and gardens, case studies of successful urban pollinator habitats, and downloadable resources for creating bee-friendly food-growing spaces.

The AHTA is the leading organization dedicated to horticultural therapy, which uses gardening as a treatment modality for improving mental and physical health. The site provides scientific research, practitioner training, and case studies on how gardening supports mental health across diverse populations.

The RHS shares science-based benefits of gardening for mental health, including reports on reduced stress, improved mood, and greater life satisfaction. They also explore the role of gardens in hospitals and therapeutic environments.

Thrive is a UK charity using gardening to bring positive change to people living with disabilities, mental health issues, or long-term health conditions. Their site features inspiring stories, guides, and toolkits for therapeutic gardening programs.

An interdisciplinary platform exploring urban ecology, The Nature of Cities regularly features articles on the mental health impacts of urban gardens, green infrastructure, and biophilic design. Great for in-depth, global perspectives on green cities and well-being.

GreenThumb supports over 550 urban gardens in New York City, many of which are linked to mental health, education, and food justice initiatives. The site includes a calendar of workshops, many of which relate to stress relief through gardening.

The Edible Schoolyard Project offers hands-on garden-based learning programs for children and youth, emphasizing food systems, sustainability, and healthy eating. Their network includes urban school gardens across the U.S. where children can engage with growing their own food in the city environment.

GrowingGreat is a nonprofit that provides garden-based education programs for children. They help schools, community gardens, and youth centers integrate gardening into the curriculum, with a focus on environmental stewardship, nutrition, and physical activity.

KidsGardening is a comprehensive resource offering gardening curriculum, grants, and toolkits for educators, parents, and community leaders to engage children in urban gardening. Their resources focus on teaching kids about ecosystems, sustainability, and the benefits of eating homegrown produce.

Based in New York City, The Green Guerillas are committed to transforming vacant lots and urban spaces into community gardens, where children and youth are directly involved in the gardening process. Their initiatives emphasize the positive effects of outdoor work on kids' development, from learning new skills to building community pride.

Youth Urban Gardening Concept in a form of handbook offers a selection of creative, ecological, sustainable and economical forms of planting and gardening in urban environments from the selected countries.