Into to Backyard Rewilding Workshop

Written By HCSWCD Staff
A butterfly visiting a purple coneflower

Are you tired of spending every weekend mowing, watering, and fertilizing a lawn that gives nothing back? Or maybe you've already started planting native species and want to take your yard's ecological impact to the next level. Either way, this workshop is for you.

“Intro to Backyard Rewilding”


Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) is hosting a public event, Intro to Backyard Rewilding, featuring local experts who will walk you through everything you need to know about transforming your outdoor space into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.

Event Details:

  • Date: Wednesday, July 8th

  • Time: 10am-12pm

  • Location: Franklin Community Center, 34 Main Street, Franklin, Maine

  • Register for workshop here or call 667-8663

What Is Backyard Rewilding and Why Does It Matter?

Grass lawns cover roughly 2% of all land in the United States, making them the most heavily irrigated monocrop in the country, one that uses up to 10 times more pesticide than conventional agriculture. Meanwhile, habitat fragmentation continues to push wildlife, pollinators, and native plant communities out of the places they've always called home.

Backyard rewilding is a direct response to that problem. Inspired by the work of ecologist Doug Tallamy and his Homegrown National Park initiative, the idea is simple: by reducing lawn cover and introducing native plants and habitat features, everyday homeowners become active participants in restoring ecological connectivity, one backyard at a time.

The benefits go beyond wildlife. Deep-rooted native plants filter groundwater, stabilize soil, support a rich underground world of microbial life, and sequester carbon. And once established, they largely take care of themselves.

Agenda

  • What is Backyard Rewilding?

  • The Conservation Landscape Certification Program

  • Native Plant Information - How to Choose, How to Plant

  • Native Plant Site Design Techniques

  • Rewilded Backyard Maintenance

  • Programs, Services & Next Steps with HCSWCD

We will close out the event by walking through the tools and services HCSWCD offers to help you actually move forward:

  • The Backyard Rewilding Program - Free site visits where HCSWCD staff evaluate your property (small lot or woodlot), discuss your goals, and help you map a path forward.

  • Conservation Landscape Certification - A checklist-based certification that recognizes landowners who are providing wildlife habitat, practicing soil and water conservation, controlling invasive species, and more.

  • Landscape Design Technical Assistance - Site sketches, species recommendations based on your specific conditions, and guidance on where to source plants.

  • Free Soil pH Testing - A simple starting point that helps you understand what you're working with and opens up new ways of seeing your yard.

Resources

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is a good fit if you:

  • Are curious about native plants and don't know where to start.

  • Want to reduce lawn and increase biodiversity but feel overwhelmed by the options.

  • Have already planted some natives and want to deepen your ecological impact.

  • Are ready to stop spending your weekends maintaining a lawn that doesn't support the wildlife around it.

  • Want to connect with local experts and programs that can support you beyond the event.

You don't need to be ready to rewild your entire yard. Even one or two well-chosen native plants can make a meaningful difference. This workshop will give you the knowledge, the confidence, and the local connections to take whatever step makes sense for you.

We hope to see you there. For questions, contact Aidan Meidenbauer at ameidenbauer@hancockcountyswcd.org.

HCSWCD Staff
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