The City of Rochester is partnering with Blue Thumb to host a Resilient Yards Workshop about rain gardens, native plantings, and creating pollinator habitat. The workshop is structured in two parts: first an online, self-paced course followed by a virtual, live one-on-one session with a landscape designer.  The landscape designer portion is scheduled for September 20^th between 6-8pm.  The workshop is listed with a cost of $15, but Rochester area residents can attend for free by using code rochester22. Register by visiting https://bluethumb.org/events/

When you register, you’ll be invited to prepare for your one-on-one session by watching some online modules, at your convenience, that cover resilience, site assessment, rain gardens, native planting, designing with trees and shrubs, planting for pollinators, turf alternatives, and other topics to help you create a healthier yard. During the live webinar, a landscape design expert will follow up on the material in the modules through one-on-one sessions.

“This is a great opportunity to work with an expert and plan your native garden project for the 2023 planting season, then gardeners will be ready to apply for funding opportunities provided by the City and the State for residential gardens” said Stephanie Hatzenbihler, Environmental Education Specialist with the City of Rochester.

You’ll also learn about ways you can fund your garden project through the Rochester Garden Grants and the Lawns to Legumes individual grants. The Rochester Garden Gardens program is accepting applications from October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 for garden installations during the 2023 growing season. Rochester’s grant program offers a $1000 reimbursement for awarded projects. 

Rochester residents can receive more support, up to $350, through the State’s Lawns to Legumes program which is accepting applications now through January 18, 2023. Lawns to Legumes invites Minnesotans to convert residential yards to pollinator habitat and provides resources to help residents do this including financial support, coaching, and pollinator habitat education.

“Rochester residents have an opportunity to access funds through both Lawns to Legumes and the city’s Garden Grants program.  Community organizations and schools that aren’t eligible for Lawns to Legumes can apply for Rochester Garden Grants to do this important work,” said Hatzenbihler. Eligible gardening projects are those that create pollinator habitat, increase the amount of stormwater soaking into the ground, creates awareness of the benefits of native gardens, and encourages others to create gardens for pollinators and clean water using best practices.