Butterflies, Botany, and Business: Art Borups Corners Launches “Milkweed to Market” in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario
What do you get when you cross a community garden, a papermaking workshop, and a mission to save the monarch butterfly? You get “Milkweed to Market,” an exciting new community-driven initiative taking root in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario. This innovative arts entrepreneurship, research and community recreation project is turning public greenspaces into living laboratories, proving that environmental conservation can be hands-on, highly creative, and a whole lot of fun.
A Lifeline for the Monarchs
At the heart of the project is the humble milkweed plant. While some might see it as just another wild weed, for the monarch butterfly, it is absolute real estate perfection. Milkweed is the sole host plant for monarchs, meaning without it, these iconic orange-and-black beauties simply cannot reproduce. So, by planting milkweed patches along park edges and flower beds, the community is rolling out the green carpet for these vital pollinators while actively restoring local biodiversity.
From Soil to Studio
But the project doesn’t stop at gardening! “Milkweed to Market” follows a unique seasonal cycle that blends ecology with arts-based entrepreneurship. In the spring and summer, community members will get their hands dirty planting and tending to the milkweed patches. Come fall, the harvest begins, but not for eating. Participants will gather the plant fibres and learn the ancient, tactile art of papermaking. By winter, this handmade milkweed paper will be transformed into beautiful, artisanal products like greeting cards, ready for local sale.
It’s a full-circle journey from wild seed to creative enterprise.
Citizen Science in Action
Beyond the blending of art and agriculture, there is some serious science happening at the Art Borups Corners Land Lab and the Dyment Recreation Hall community complex. The project empowers locals to become citizen scientists. Tracking plant density and observing pollinator activity, the community is gathering important baseline data while making our park and greenspaces beautiful.
This grassroots research is also especially timely, helping to fill environmental monitoring gaps in the region and aligning directly with global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for climate action (SDG 13) and life on land (SDG 15).
A True Community Effort
It takes a village to raise a butterfly! This vibrant program is made possible through a powerhouse collaboration featuring The Arts Incubator Winnipeg, Art Borups Corners, Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Local Services Board of Melgund, and the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Get Your Hands Dirty
Whether you are a seasoned green thumb, an aspiring artist, or just someone who really loves butterflies, “Milkweed to Market” is looking for enthusiastic participants, supporters and collaborators. The project invites everyone to join the seasonal workshops, volunteer in the gardens, or support the initiative by purchasing the community’s handmade paper goods.
For more information on how to get involved, donate, or check out the seasonal schedule, visit the project online or reach out to the team at info@artsincubator.ca. Let’s make Melgund Township the monarch capital of the north!
About the Author
