Resources
Below are links to our collaborators’ websites and informational sources for further reading. This list is forever a work in progress- we are always adding to it as we discover new organizations!
Indiana Resources:
Favor Native: A frequent collaborator with NPU- provides native-heavy, invasive free landscape design and coaching services. Custom landscape designs are available, as well as pre-planed designs at a reasonable price for those who are just getting started or have limited space!
Geist Nursery: Easily recognizable to NPU veterans as the host of our public sales! A family owned and operated garden center that offers residential landscaping, hardscape design, DIY consultation, and all the accoutrements such as plants, mulch, soil, and garden decorations.
Root & Twig LLC: A certified arborist with a focus on sustainable tree planting, care, and removal. Services include Tree Consulting, Diagnostics and Remediation, Preservation, Risk Assessment, Inventory and Mapping, and Planting. Not a landscape designer, but will install plants! Based in Fishers.
Sugarbush Ecological Consulting: "Whatever your growing area, from pots on a balcony to acres of rural landscape, we would love to help you contribute to conservation." Coralie Palmer, oft known locally through her work with INPS, is offering Landscape Design and Coaching, and Ecological Consulting! NPU has collaborated with Coralie in the past, and are happy to feature her consultation as a resource!
Sanctuary Native Landscapes: “Sanctuary Native Landscapes is a different kind of landscape company. We focus on working with nature—designing specifically with native plants from Indiana and the Midwest.” Offers Landscape design, installation, and invasive species removal. Operates out of northeast Indiana, but “is able to support clients throughout Indiana on a case by case basis.”
Golden Tree: Arborist that offers consults on care, health, and pruning of trees, as well as tree removal, risk assessment, and team training.
Contact: goldentreeindy@gmail.com (317-296-3335)
Indiana Native Plant Society: A true hub of information for native Indiana flora! Their website alone is a wealth of knowledge with good reads for beginners and experienced planters alike, but they also offer member benefits, regional chapters, a variety of educational programs including garden tours and hikes, and volunteer opportunities.
Wild Ones Greater Indianapolis Chapter: “We promote environmentally friendly, sound landscaping to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities across the United States.” Regular events include guided hikes, in-person and online educational opportunities, and volunteer opportunities.
Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP): Hamilton County’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)! HIP works to “unite land owners and managers, organizations, and citizens in the battle against invasive species and the damage they cause across the county.” We can get behind that! Their website contains invasive specific information and info on how to train and volunteer for the HIP Strike Force.
State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management: Indiana’s Invasive management hub that supports county-level CISMAs (like HIP above!). Their website offers educational info, videos, program info, volunteer opportunities, and a landowner toolkit to aid in identifying invasive species and assistance with control efforts. They also provide a list of local resources by county!
Indiana Nature: “…an ever-expanding educational initiative dedicated to celebrating and protecting Indiana’s heritage.” Particularly notable for it’s extensive index of reference material pertinent to Indiana, including a fantastic (still in progress) index of Indiana moth and butterfly species!
Hamilton County Urban Conservation Association: “Think Habitat, Not Grass.” Dedicated to conservation and restoration of habitat in Hamilton county, Indiana. Created in response to rapid habitat loss as a result of development, HCUCA focuses on providing information and support to those looking to restore habitat in our fiercely suburban area. Website contains information on different kinds of habitat/plantings, why native species are important, and tips on attracting wildlife.
Indy Urban Acres: “… has grown from a single site harvesting 15,000 pounds of produce to four sites harvesting 60,000+ pounds of produce. All IUA produce is donated and distributed to community partners that serve households and individuals who experience food insecurity throughout the year. IUA has year-round professional farm staff who use regenerative farming practices to grow healthy food while improving the soil and local urban ecosystem.” An excellent initiative from The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis, Indy Urban Acres also grows plants on site for their yearly fundraiser plant sale- which includes veggies, herbs, and native species! A great source for plants in Indianapolis!
Garden Genius: “Our mission is to educate, inspire and empower you to plant native and keystone wildflowers in your garden.” Offers grow kits for easy to grow keystone native species. Particularly useful for replacing the old ‘marigold in a solo cup’ school exercise with environmentally friendly native perennials. Teach kids about plants and native species at the same time!
Indiana Land Conservancies:
Central Indiana Land Trust: CILTI focuses on land conservation, restoration, and public outreach in central Indiana. Their website is awash in beautiful imagery, features an easy to use map that shows which of their preserves are open to the public, volunteer opportunities, and has a frequently updated news section with articles on their happenings and general conservation in central Indiana.
The White River Alliance: “…improves and protects water resources throughout Central Indiana. We are an alliance of diverse interests and organizations that work together to steward the River and its watershed.” Their website features a plethora of water quality focused educational resources including a podcast, info about programming, events, and volunteer opportunities. Home page features up to date water level and water contamination levels for the White River, excellent for checking conditions before water recreation!
Indiana Land Protection Alliance: “…a vibrant network of nonprofit land trusts and conservancies that have protected more than 158,000 acres throughout the state. These rare natural habitats, farms, forests, cultural sites and other special places inspire curiosity. Together, we preserve Indiana’s heritage, enhance quality of life for Hoosiers and reveal surrounding natural communities…” Their website features info about publicly accessible preserves, resources on land protection, news and event info, and membership opertunities.
Sycamore Land Trust: A non-profit conservation association and accredited land trust that protects land in the southern half of Indiana. “Stewardship of our nature preserves includes restoration projects to improve natural habitat, and building and maintaining trails for free public use. Sycamore now protects 121 properties totaling 10,319 acres in southern Indiana.” Their website includes information on native plant gardening, their Environmental Education Program, and outreach such as their ongoing wildlife camera project.
Red-tail Land Conservancy: This nonprofit’s mission is “to preserve, protect, and restore natural areas and farm land in east central Indiana while increasing awareness of our natural heritage.” Their focus is on preserving remnant habitat and restoring disturbed land in Delaware, Henry, Madison, Randolph, and Wayne counties. Website offerings include landowner resources, volunteer opportunities, and guides to their publicly accessible nature preserves.
Regional Resources:
Indigenous Landscapes: A spearhead of the Native Plant Agriculture movement, Indigenous Landscapes has an active Facebook page and email list that focuses on education about native plant communities. A their self-published books are available on their website, as well as a plethora of free articles about native species and ecosystems. Based out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Arc of Appalachia: “The non-profit Arc of Appalachia was founded in 1995 as a grassroots organization. Since our inception we have raised over sixteen million dollars for forest conservation. We currently steward twenty preserve regions, operate two visitor centers, and teach forest literacy courses. The Arc works to accomplish forest preservation by buying forested land in key botanical “hotspots” and then slowly expanding those forests in size as funds for land procurement allow, allowing the woodlands to naturally age and diversify. We teach about our forest heritage to inspire a global conservation ethic.”
Illinois Wildflowers: A remarkable compilation of information on and photos of species found in Illinois. Information on what insects host on plant species is particularly difficult to find elsewhere, and was invaluable in the research for NPU’s species listings. The website can be difficult to navigate, but plugging in a desired species in a search engine with the phrase “Illinois Wildflowers” yields quick results.
Farther Afield:
The Xerces Society: A California based non-profit that focuses on invertebrate conservation through habitat restoration, with an emphasis on pollinators and outreach. A common name in the world of insect conservation, with good reason! Their website offers educational resources such as articles and free downloadable texts, webinars, and volunteer opportunities.
Monarch Watch: An organization dedicated to the study and restoration of monarch butterflies. If you want to learn about monarchs, raising caterpillars, milkweed plants, monarch waystations, or tagging and tracking monarchs, their website is an excellent resource. Look also for free classroom teaching material, and opportunities to receive free milkweed seeds!