A new Benton County program is enlisting residents to convert small patches of yard — as little as 50 square feet — into habitat for pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
Nature Neighbors, a partnership between Greenbelt Land Trust and the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District, offers participants hands-on guidance, small grants and a step-by-step certification process. Organizers say the goal is to connect individual yards into larger wildlife corridors across the county.
Sara Roberts, community engagement coordinator with Benton Soil and Water Conservation District, leads outreach that includes public programs, K-12 field trips and one-on-one support for property owners.
“People don’t need a large property to make a difference,” Roberts said. “This program shows that even a small plot can create valuable habitat connections across neighborhoods and, ultimately, larger-scale wildlife corridors.”
Greenbelt Land Trust Executive Director Jessica McDonald said the partnership draws on a decades-long working relationship between the two organizations.
“By jointly stewarding this emerging community program, we are leveraging the strengths of both organizations and building a program that is lasting,” McDonald said. “By transforming urban spaces, even micro yards, into flourishing mini native habitats, we are creating habitat stepping stones that traverse our communities, enabling wildlife to move, adapt and thrive.”
The program focuses on replacing invasive plants with native species, improving soil health and building landscapes more resilient to drought and wildfire. Participants receive site visits, a habitat handbook and personalized recommendations, and those who complete the certification receive a yard sign.
Residents can also add birdhouses, water sources and pollinator features, Roberts said.
Mini scholarships and small grants are available to help offset the cost of plants and tools. A volunteer cohort that includes Oregon State University students can assist with installation and maintenance for participants who are unable to do the work themselves.
Roberts said the program addresses a gap she noticed years ago.
“When I first got into native plant gardening, there just wasn’t much support,” she said. “I remember doing all the research on my own and wishing something like this existed.”
Michael Ahr, executive director of Benton Soil and Water Conservation District, said the program expands the district’s conservation work to smaller properties.
“We’ve spent a lot of time working with private landowners on larger properties,” Ahr said. “Nature Neighbors gives us a chance to engage smaller property owners in that same work, especially when it comes to controlling non-native species and improving habitat. When more property owners take part, the benefits add up across the community.”
Nature Neighbors is modeled on the Backyard Habitat Certification Program in the Portland metro area and similar programs in Marion, Polk, Lane and Yamhill counties.
Jennifer Brown, Benton County sustainability coordinator, said the program aligns with county sustainability goals and supports stormwater management, biodiversity and climate resilience.
“The Nature Neighbors program helps people preserve and create habitat for pollinators, birds and other wildlife,” Brown said. “This program gives community members a meaningful way to make a difference.”
More information and enrollment are available on the Nature Neighbors website.