Vegetables gardens are not the only productive gardens available for you to grow. Take the first steps to convert some of your space into a pollinator garden. Take full advantage of the resources made available by the Xerces Society, including their Pollinator Resource Center, which shares garden profiles by region. For more regional planting advice, try our Best Tomatoes to Grow by Zone article, or Best Plants by Zone from Grit Magazine, our sister publication.

The pollinators aren't "disappearing," they're being adversely affected by a combination of factors  of modern development. What's harming our pollinators, and what can we do to protect and conserve them? Pollinator Protection Resources for Market Farmers Learn about tried and proven Real Organic Methods from real organic farmers in our series produced in partnership with the Real Organic Project. Learn more about the importance of hedgerow habitat preservation in this blog from the Xerces Society.  

So you want to support pollinators, but you don't have a garden plot: what can you do? We spoke to three experts about the opportunities for how to support pollinators outside of an in-ground garden. With options for apartment dwellers and renters, community organizations, consumers, and businesses, there's a way for everyone to participate in restoring habitat for monarch butterflies and other native insects. Organic Pest Control Options Agricultural fields aren't the only places where pesticide use endangers pollinators. Manage pest pressures organically with strategies for integrated pest management using these resources from Mother. Best Organic Pest Control (For the Worst Pests Where You Live) Integrated Pest Management Primer Garden Bugs: Pests vs. Beneficial Insects Pollinator Resources Want to get involved in community conservation projects for pollinators? Follow up with these great projects mentioned by our guests. Bumblebee Watch Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper iNaturalist Proposal for Monarch Butterfly Protection Under Endangered Species Act Monarch Migration Tagging Monarch Watch Community Science Initiatives Mayor's Monarch Pledge Monarch Rearing Kits for Homes & Classrooms Free Milkweed for Schools, Educational Nonprofits, and Habitat Restoration Monarch Botanika Shop

Prioritize pollinators in your garden design! Flowers are often classified as "ornamentals," but native flowers and milkweeds are invaluable components when it comes to feeding and breeding sites for bees, butterflies, flies, and more. Learn how to find productive pollinator plants to add to your garden plan. Pollinator Plant Resources Xerces Society's List of Bee-Safe Nursuries Monarch Watch's Milkweed Market Foraging for Pawpaws Growing, Marketing, and Cooking Pawpaws

How can you get your neighbors on board with your pollinator project? Start the conversation with legitimizing programs like a Monarch Waystation sign and invite your community to become involved in pollinator conservation. Build Your Pollinator Habitat Register your Monarch Waystation Register Habitat with Homegrown National Park Share Native Plants with Your Neighbors: Free Plant N Garden Stand

Support monarchs in your garden with this primer for how to grow milkweed. Learn how to find or grow your own supply of milkweed, whether in ground or in pots, and how to keep your butterflies safe from Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, or OE. Milkweed Growing Resources Monarch Watch's Milkweed Market Milkweeds by Bioregion Milkweed Profiles Native Seed Starting in Recycled Containers

Do you live in the Mid Atlantic United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the Great Lakes region of the United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the Southeast United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the Northeast United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the North Central Plains region of the United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the South Central Plains region of the United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the Southwest United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in the Pacific Northwest United States? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.

Do you live in California? Start your pollinator garden this season with some planting recommendations for nectar sources. If you're ready to take a deep-dive into pollinator garden creation, check out these resources from the Xerces Society's Pollinator Resource Center.