Apply to join
Bees on the Block:
a collective planting project!
Deadline extended: November 1, 2025
What if our yards and parkways supported more pollinators?
We're recruiting 4 blocks in Evanston to join our research project and grow native plants your front lawn and parkway
alongside your neighbors.
Bees on the Block:
a collective planting project!
Deadline extended: November 1, 2025
What if our yards and parkways supported more pollinators?
We're recruiting 4 blocks in Evanston to join our research project and grow native plants your front lawn and parkway
alongside your neighbors.
Planting Overview
🌱 Welcome! Join your neighbors in turning front yards and parkways into thriving native habitat. Each participating household will host two small plots where we’ll test the survival of two planting treatments: plugs in the front yard and seeds in the parkway. We'll explore ecological outcomes of the plants and people's experiences growing them. No gardening experience needed. By joining, you’ll contribute to socioecological research, support pollinators (including the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee!), and help grow a more biodiverse city - block by block.
PARKWAY =
the grassy strip of land between the sidewalk and street
(aka hellstrip, tree lawn, boulevard, & more)
Experimental design in process
We’re in the process of refining the experimental design. Final instructions will be shared before participants are selected. Applying is not binding - you’re welcome to opt out if you change your mind.
Time commitment:
November 2025 - November 2027
Minimal required involvement:
• Provide space and care for the plantings (see timeline below)
• Participate in a 2 interviews and 2 surveys (outlined in "Research Activities")
• Optional - Help recruit neighbors if you're able
Beyond that, your level of involvement is entirely up to you!
You'll have optional opportunities to:
• Join workshops
• Participate in community science and data collection
• Grow more free native seeds in your front or back lawn
Fall prep:
We’ll prepare one 5 ft x 5 ft patch for planting in your front yard (about the size of a sidewalk square). We’ll suppress the grass using free cardboard and mulch (a method called sheet mulching).
January seeding:
In January 2026, we’ll seed native plants in your parkway. We’ll mark the area, likely with hardware cloth, to give your seedlings a safe space to grow. We’ll provide the seeds and help with setup for free. You’ll just need to water and mow.
Spring plugs:
In spring 2026, we’ll bring between 10-20 free native plugs for your prepared patch along with a yard sign. You’ll just need to plant and water them.
Research activities:
Libby may occasionally check in on your plants, interview you twice (in winter/spring 2026 and fall 2027), and ask you to complete a few short surveys.
Considerations:
Time to establish
Native plants may take time to establish, especially from seed. You might not see flowers in the first growing season because the plants are busy building strong roots below the soil to support long-term survival.
Potential spreading and self-seeding
Some species may grow beyond their original planting area as a part of their natural life cycle. For many gardeners, this signals ecological success. For others, it may feel unwelcome. If that’s the case, weeding is always an option.
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FAQs
How many neighbors need to participate?
We hope to have at least 5 households per block. We’d love your help spreading the word, and we’ll support you in encouraging your neighbors to sign up.
What if I don’t have a parkway?
That’s okay! If your household doesn’t have a parkway, we may be able to seed a patch in your front yard, if you're open to it.
Why native plants?
Native plants are essential to our urban ecosystem, and even small flower patches can make a difference! When grown without chemicals, they can sequester carbon, purify water and air, reduce stormwater runoff, improve soil health, create habitat, and provide foraging resources for pollinators (including the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee).
What did we learn in the greenhouse?
Before launching this block-wide planting project, we tested 40 native plant species in a greenhouse experiment at the Chicago Botanic Garden. We sprinkled seeds into pots of turfgrass and we were amazed - 34 out of 40 species grew in the grass pots and 20 species had more seedlings in turfgrass than in bare soil!
These findings suggest that some native species may serve as lawn alternatives! Now we’re testing them outdoors to see how they perform in real neighborhoods. Parkways may be ideal spots to create habitat corridors for pollinators, and growing native plants from seeds may be an easy, effective way to do it.
How does this contribute to research?
We know that replacing or enhancing turfgrass with native plants benefits the environment, and the more people who participate, the greater the impact. But few studies have explored how entire blocks or neighborhoods can plant together. We hope this project can serve as a model for collective action and inspire more communities to grow native plants together. By testing planting methods and engaging blocks, we’re examining both ecological outcomes and the social dynamics of shared stewardship.
What are habitat corridors and stepping stones?
Pollinators like bees and butterflies need more than isolated patches of flowers - they need connected pathways to forage, nest, and move between populations.
Habitat corridors are continuous stretches of native plants that link green spaces across neighborhoods, helping pollinators travel safely and maintain genetic diversity.
Stepping stones are smaller patches, like home gardens, that act as mini pit stops, giving pollinators food and shelter as they move through urban areas.
Together, these plantings create a network of support for wildlife, even in densely populated places like Evanston. Your yard can become part of that network!
Community science
You’ll have optional opportunities to join workshops and participate in community science. Topics will include collecting data, using iNaturalist, and identifying the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (and maybe even spotting one in your garden!). We can also help organize gatherings with your neighbors and other participants if you’d like.
What happens if I'm not selected to participate?
If your block isn’t chosen this year to receive free plants through this project, we might have more opportunities in future years - stay tuned via our newsletter and Instagram account. We also still encourage you to organize your block to buy and grow native plants! We’ll share our favorite species, nurseries, and strategies, and you can join our workshops. We may invite you to complete short surveys and upload photos of your plants and pollinators to iNaturalist. Your efforts will still contribute to conservation and to our research.
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Additional questions?
Libby will follow up about your application and answer any questions then. In the meantime, feel free to reach out:
Libby Shafer - Student Researcher, PhD student
[email protected]
or
Rebecca Barak - Principal Investigator, PhD
[email protected]
