The Conservation Foundation launched the
initiative Conservation
@ Home as
an extension of its homeowner education
and watershed protection efforts. It encourages
and recognizes property owners who protect
and/or create yards that are nature-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 plant species.
Read the brochure below and see how you can
participate and get your yard certified as a
Conservation @ Home property.
Visit the Conservation section, starting
on Page 8, of the
Online Guide for stories about what
homeowners in the Fox watershed have
done on their property
Native prairie and woodland
plants evolved in this climate and are better
suited for the cold deep freeze, the spring
rain, and the hot drought conditions that we
experience here in northern Illinois. This makes
them easier, and more cost-effective to
maintain. By using native plants, you can
eliminate the need to use lawn chemicals and
fertilizers that might infiltrate our water
sources. Native plants also require little to no
watering. They also have the added benefit of
attracting wildlife such as birds and
butterflies creating attractive, interesting
spaces.
Deep-rooted native plant species are also better
equipped for stabilizing soil and preventing
erosion, slowing stormwater runoff, restoring
water to the aquifer, and removing pollutants
from stormwater runoff. This can improve our
local water quality, and reduce damages from
stormwater. 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.
In addition to these environmental and economic
benefits of native plantings, these landscapes
are aesthetically pleasing. They offer richness
of texture and changing color. Even in the
winter, the colors of native prairie grasses,
seed pods and other plant materials are more
interesting than brown turf grasses and
unrelieved expanses of snow. This also offers
outdoor recreation and education opportunities.
Illustration of Native Plants Room System and
how deep they go:
Daily Herald feature
about The Conservation Foundation
and the Conservation @ Home program: (wait for after short
commercial)
A Citizen's Guide to
Preserving the Fox River
in Illinois
