The Conservation Foundation has formed a helpful program called Conservation @ Home. This program is an extension of our existing homeowner education and watershed protection efforts, and encourages and recognizes property owners that protect and/or create yards that are environmentally friendly and conserve water. This includes planting native vegetation, such as prairie and woodland wildflowers, trees and shrubs, creating butterfly and rain gardens, and removing exotic species of plants.

Whether you are starting from a grass lawn, or have existing natural areas, such as a creek,wetland or wooded area, the Conservation@Home program can help you make it more attractive to wildlife and help you retain precious rainwater.

At the core of environmentally friendly landscapes is the use of native plants. Native plants are those species that were present locally when the first settlers arrived. These beautiful plants grow natural and need no watering or fertilizers. Once established, native plants thrive on their own and do especially well during drought conditions. Their deep roots hold the soil, allow water to filter down deep into the ground where it belongs, and because they "evolved" here, they attract dozens of species of beneficial wildlife like butterflies and songbirds.

Loss of open space and wildlife habitat and dirty rainwater runoff are the leading causes of environmental degradation in our developed areas. If we can replace some of this lost habitat in our yards, then we can reduce some of the negative impacts of development and have cleaner water in our neighborhoods.

There are numerous examples in our area where native landscaping is a resounding success. In fact, we know of hundreds of homes we have visited over the years that already provide natural area protection. The butterfly garden planted in front of The Conservation Foundation's office is an example of Conservation@Home.

Yards with native landscaping reduce local flooding and clean pollution from rainwater before it reaches our rivers, lakes and ponds. Native planting can be incorporated into any landscape style and provides a healthier backyard environment for your family to enjoy. Conservation@Home forwards the Foundation's mission of protecting open space and cleaning up our rivers, provides conservation education, and engages homeowners to "think globally and act locally."

So, whether it's creating a butterfly or rain garden using native landscaping, using organic fertilizers, or removing invasive plants from your property, every little thing we do on our properties makes a difference in cleaning up our water, providing natural habitat and creating healthy landscapes for people and wildlife.