This week and next volunteers will converge at a meadow entrance of Pacheco Valle on Alameda del Prado south of Nave Drive to plant hundreds of milkweed plants secured through a partnership composed of the Marin County Parks and Open Space District, the Rotary Club of Ignacio, the Rotary Club of Novato, and Rotary District 5150.
Every fall, as temperatures begin to drop, monarch butterflies from as far north as Canada begin to migrate south to warmer climates. The monarch is the only known butterfly to make a two-way migration as birds do. Thanks to the flow of air currents, the monarchs make their annual journey south in 1 generation, but it takes 3 to 4 generations to make their journey back north. The butterflies are threatened by climate change and drought and need support more than ever. In July 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the migratory monarch butterfly as “endangered.”
As monarch butterflies migrate through Marin County, environmental groups and supporters are trying to make their visit here productive for both the local ecosystem and their remarkable multi-generational journey.
As pollinators, the monarch butterfly migration provides an invaluable service that is essential for many ecosystems to survive according to the Nature Conservancy. It is thanks to pollinators that we have many flowers and dietary staples that we enjoy here in Marin County.
“Our Rotary Club of Ignacio (in southern Novato) wanted to make a difference.” Jay Dicker, co-chair of the Club environmental committee said. “By partnering with the Marin County Parks and Open Space District (Greg Reza, volunteer program coordinator) and providing funding from our Club and the Rotary District, we were able to make this effort possible.”
The Rotary Club of Ignacio contributed $3,500 of their District 5150 designated funds allowing the Marin County Parks and Open Space District to purchase sheet mulching supplies and cultivate more than 600 native milkweed plants for this project. The Rotary Club of Ignacio and the Marin County Parks and Open Space District are providing volunteers and are recruiting volunteers from other local Rotary clubs in Marin County as well as other ecological-minded residents who live near Pacheco Valle. The County Parks and Open Space District is recruiting Master Gardeners and Open Space volunteers to assist as well.
“I want as many volunteers as possible,” Dicker added. “With 600 plants we can’t have too many volunteers.”
Dicker is asking volunteers to contact him at 415-215-0331, or by email at jay.dicker@gmail.com to sign up for either a 9-Noon shift, 9-Noon shift,Thursday, December 8 or a 9-Noon shift, Tuesday, Dec. 13th. Bring some gloves and wear clothes and boots you don’t mind getting dirty.
“We’ve prepped the ground earlier for the planting, but with all the rain we know the meadow will be muddy.” Dicker said. “We got 25% of the milkweed plants planted on Tuesday (Dec. 6); we got 425 more.”
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