Welcome to the Signs of Life Project
ART for ALL’s Signs of Life celebrates nature, in particular pollinators, and encourages eco-friendly practices.
How we cultivate our yards matters!
Pollinators are essential for a healthy ecosystem, playing a vital role in the reproduction of many plants, including food crops.
But they are facing dangerous population declines due to pesticide use, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Even a small plot of pesticide free green with pollinator friendly plants strengthens and sustains our local pollinators, and other beneficial insects.
People are invited to make signs to display in their yards.
You can also buy signs on our website.
Many of the signs will be displayed during the Cooler Concord Climate Festival on April 20th, in front of the Concord Library.
Some will become part of a scavenger hunt in West Concord, leading up to Spring into West Concord Festival on May 18th.
Some will be on display in the backyard of Fowler Library, by their pollinator garden.
Where the signs will go
How to get involved
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Donate
Funds are needed for supplies, communications and overhead. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. See our Donations page for online and mail-in options. Write to us at hello@villageartroom.com for questions.
Art for All is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Art for All must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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Buy a Sign
Art for All artists and members of the high school art club, ArtReach, and members of our community have been working on signs to sell. All proceeds benefit the Public Works program of Art for All, bringing opportunities for meaningful, creative engagement to people of all abilities and circumstances in our community.
Shop our signs here!
How can I make difference?
The Signs of Life project has a focus on all pollinators because of their profound importance in the ecosystem. They help flowers, fruits and vegetables reproduce. The average person in our suburban communities can make a significant difference in a few easy ways. Mass Audubon suggests that you:
Plant native and beneficial plants
Mow less of your lawn or raise the mower to a higher setting to let violets and other small flowers remain.
Minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides, which kill pollinators and the plants they rely on.
Buy or build a bee hotel, a structure for bees to nest in: many garden centers are starting to carry them.
For more information, check-out the resources listed below.
Resources to learn more:
Write to hello@villageartroom.com if you have additions for our list
Native Plants for Sustainable Landscaping
The Town on Concord, MA has published a handy brochure about pollinators featuring a native plant bloom guide by season
The Power of Pollinators
Mass Audubon has published a guide about different types of pollinators in Massachusetts, from native bees to beetles to hummingbirds called The Power of Pollinators.
Native Plantings
The Concord Land Conservation Trust also has resources and workshops for incorporating native plantings into landscaping
Local business that removes invasives
The website includes lots of good information and links:
The Backyard Invasives Project
Visual Guide to Creating a Pollinator Garden
The USDA Forest Service has published a user-friendly, guide to creating pollinator habitat. Their website also contains a clear and concise list of recommendations for attracting pollinators
Concise Pollinator Planting Guide
The Xerces Society has published a set of pollinator planting guides for various US regions, including the Northeast. These guides list key pollinator plants by bloom season and summarize principles of attracting pollinators.
Longer Pollinator Planting Guide
The Pollinator Partnership has also published a set of pollinator planting guides for various US regions. For Massachusetts, check out Eastern Broadleaf Forest and Adirondack.