2020-2021 Monarch Butterfly Report

Monarchs are in Danger of Extinction

Monarch Butterfly Report 2020-2021 | The News Isn't Good
At Vermont Woods Studios we were founded on an environmental mission: forest and wildlife conservation. We all grew up learning about monarchs in school. Now as adults we work to conserve their habitat here in Vermont and in Mexico where the butterflies over-winter (see above).  The 2020-2021 Monarch Butterfly Report shows we have a lot of work to do.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

How to Help Save the Monarchs

Why Do We Even Care About Monarchs?

How to Help Save the Monarchs | Vermont Woods Studios
If you visit us at Stonehurst you’ll notice our commitment to forest conservation. As wood furniture makers we’re mindful of our impact on nature. Since we all love monarchs (our state butterfly) we work to conserve their habitat both here in VT and in the Mexican forest where they over-winter (above). We’ve partnered with the non-profit, Forests for Monarchs FFM to plant trees & restore monarch habitat in Mexico. So far we’ve planted over 60,000 trees! Photo by Sue Sill.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

10 Tips for Saving the Monarch Butterfly

Last updated on September 15th, 2022 at 11:25 am

Saving the Monarch Butterfly | 2019 | Vermont Woods Studios
At Vermont Woods Studios we’re working on saving the Monarch Butterfly. As they leave VT on their annual migration to Mexico we share tips about how you can help monarchs avoid extinction. Hint: it’s all about the milkweed.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Save the Monarchs Tour 2019

Last updated on June 20th, 2019 at 11:40 am

Saving the Monarch Butterfly | Vermont Woods Studios
Monarch butterflies are a favorite species here at Vermont Woods Studios. They spend summers in Vermont and then migrate to Mexico for the winter.  We’re working to conserve their habitat in both places.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

VWS Monarch Update, 2018

Last updated on June 20th, 2019 at 11:46 am

Today is El Dia de los Muertos

Monarch Butterflies Roosting in Mexico | Vermont Woods Studios | Sustainable Furniture

I thought today would be a good day to update you on our VWS monarch conservation efforts. Every year, with an uncanny sense of timing, monarch butterflies complete their epic migration and arrive in Mexico on November 1st. Read More

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Are Monarchs Making a Comeback?

Last updated on June 20th, 2019 at 11:47 am

Monarchs Making a Comeback | Milkweed | Vermont Woods Studios
Two monarch butterflies taking nectar from the blossoms of a common milkweed plant. Thanks to Martin Langeveld who took this recent photo on Meadow Road in Vernon, VT. Are monarchs making a comeback in your neighborhood?

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

We’ll Miss You, Lincoln Brower

Last updated on June 20th, 2019 at 11:47 am

The Father of Monarch Research

Save the Monarchs Tour | Lincoln Brower | Jose Luis Alvarez | Peggy Farabaugh
Two years ago, Jose Luis Alvarez and I were inspired by Dr Brower to travel through New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, raising awareness about the plight of the monarchs. We spoke at Harvard, Yale, the Boston Museum of Science, the Philadelphia Zoo and a number of other venues.  Our last stop on the “Save the Monarchs Tour” was in Sweet Briar, VA to visit with Dr. Brower. What a pleasure.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Why a Furniture Store Cares About Trees & Monarchs

Monarch Conservation at a Sustainable Furniture Store
Today is Arbor Day so I thought we’d share our love of trees with you.  We’re planting at least 2 trees for every customer order in an effort to restore the monarch butterfly’s forested winter habitat in Mexico.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

The Hands That Hold the Future

Last updated on October 3rd, 2022 at 06:01 pm

Monarch Butterfly Workshop at Nature Camp in Hinesburg, Vermont
Eileen Ashe invited me to teach about monarchs at Nature Camp, sponsored by the United Church of Hinesburg, VT last week. Students made seed balls out of potting soil, clay and water.  We put milkweed and flower seeds in each ball and rolled them into sunny meadows where they’ll grow to produce habitat & food for monarchs next year.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Monarchs Are Rebounding & So Are We

Last updated on August 14th, 2018 at 12:03 pm

Monarchs Rebounding | 2017 | Vermont Woods Studios
We’ve seen dozens of monarchs this year at our Stonehurst showroom in Vernon, Vermont.  It’s exciting because last year we saw only a handful. On this World Nature Conservation Day it’s nice to report that things are on the upswing.

It’s Working!

Nature nuts and monarch lovers: your hard work of planting milkweed & nectar flowers is paying off.  Butterfly populations seem to be bouncing back this year after decades of decline.  It’s too soon to declare victory but many encouraging signs are out there.  We’ll have to wait for the official reports from Monarch Joint Venture but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.