Countdown to Earth Day Tip #14: Go Native in Your Back Yard!
- There’s no need to wait until Earth Day on April 22 to start celebrating our planet and becoming more engaged in taking care of its precious resources. This is the second in a series of tips on how to “go green” in Kane County — 15 in all, one for every business day before Earth Day. Use them to tap into your inner eco-mindfulness and let your green spirit shine brighter than ever!
- This article was contributed by The Conservation Foundation.
Tip #14 – Go Native in Your Back Yard!
Want to really “go green” this year? Learn how to “go native” with a nature-friendly back yard.
Homeowners can learn how to transform their little patch of earth through The Conservation Foundation’s Conservation@Home program. Now is the perfect time to be planning your natural landscaping for the spring.
The Conservation@Home program shows homeowners how to use this native plants on their land to attract pollinators and other native wildlife into their backyards, and the program recognizes homeowners for environmentally responsible landscaping efforts.
The Conservation Foundation won’t sugarcoat it — Conservation@Home is a total pyramid scheme! It starts with you making some earth-conscious choices in your home landscape. Replace some turf grass with beautiful and drought-resistant native plants, maybe install a rain barrel or two and reduce or eliminate your chemical use. TCF is happy to offer some advice along the way, free of charge.
Now you have an attractive and functional yard that conserves water and provides habitat for birds, butterflies and other beneficial wildlife. You deserve some recognition for your efforts! The Conservation Foundation will certify your yard as an environmentally-friendly landscape through the Conservation@Home program and give you a sign to post proudly.
Then your neighbors get curious, and want to know how they can get a sign like that. Before you know it, yard by yard, you’ve brought more nature to your neighborhood.
Whether you are starting from a grass lawn or have existing natural areas on your property, the Conservation@Home program can help you make your yard more attractive to wildlife and retain precious rainwater by planting native vegetation, creating butterfly and rain gardens, using rain barrels and removing exotic species of plants.
Not only will you be contributing to a healthier environment and spending valuable outdoor time as a family, you’ll get to enjoy nature’s ever-changing cast of characters right outside your window. Click here to see several beautiful yards that have been certified.
Learn more at one of the upcoming Conservation @ Home workshops being held in the area:
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at Town and Country Library, 320 E. North St., Elburn
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 6 at Batavia Village Hall, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia
- 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. 6th Ave., St. Charles
- 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Aurora Public Library, 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora
- 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at the Aurora Public Library — West Branch, 233 S. Constitution Dr., Aurora
More details on the Conservation @ Home program and a full list of workshops can be found online here.
About The Conservation Foundation
The Conservation Foundation, celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2017, is one of the region’s oldest and largest not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organizations. Since it was founded in 1972, TCF has helped preserve nearly 33,000 acres of open space, restored and cleaned miles of rivers and streams, and educated thousands of kids by engaging them in nature and the outdoors.
Work is focused in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties to preserve and restore nature in your neighborhood. Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.