Did You Know... You can get up to $400 for planting a native pocket garden?

October 1, 2024 by Kristi Rorah

     The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources' (BWSR) Lawns 2 Legumes program is a great benefit for homeowners looking to create pollinator-friendly habitats in their yards. Coordinated in partnership with Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water and Metro Blooms, this initiative empowers individuals to make a tangible difference in supporting Minnesota’s native pollinator populations by transitioning traditional lawns into diverse plantings of native flowers and legumes.

     At the heart of the Lawns to Legumes program is the recognition that our lawns hold great potential to provide critical food sources and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. By replacing water intensive, monoculture grass with vibrant, nectar-rich plants; adding a rain garden; or creating a native prairie pocket planting, homeowners can transform their outdoor spaces into thriving pollinator habitats. This not only beautifies the landscape but also plays a crucial role in sustaining the delicate balance of our local ecosystems.

     Whether you're interested in creating a rain garden or want to convert your lawn to a more pollinator-friendly “bee lawn”, the Lawns 2 Legumes program offers comprehensive resources and guidance from planning through completion to make the process easier. Currently, the program provides reimbursable cost-share funding of up to $400 for the purchase of seeds, plants, and some supplies to qualifying homeowners. Each spring and fall, BWSR selects a new group of participants to take part in the program. Application deadlines and information is available here: https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/apply/

     What will the city and the neighbors say? A native pocket planting can be very intentional and contained. The planning resources and guidance provided by BWSR, Blue Thumb, and Metro Blooms are incredibly helpful in creating a pollinator-friendly space while still keeping your yard looking neat and tidy.

     Although unrelated to Lawns 2 Legumes, we completed the installation of a native pocket garden here at the SWCD office in May. If you’d like to see how it’s growing, stop by anytime to check it out!

     Find out more about Lawns 2 Legumes here: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l

Posted In: Did You Know Series