November 2, 2021

St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood grants, which support locally-led efforts to increase residential habitat for at-risk pollinators throughout the state.

Demonstration Neighborhoods are community projects intended to enhance pollinator habitat in key corridors, raise awareness for residential pollinator protection, and showcase best practices. Organizations overseeing a demonstration neighborhood work with local residents to install four types of beneficial planting practices: native pocket plantings, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, pollinators lawns and pollinator meadows. Interested organizations can apply on behalf of their organization or on behalf of a group of partners who plan to work together to establish a demonstration neighborhood.

“Demonstration Neighborhoods bring Minnesota communities together around a shared goal to protect pollinators,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “High interest in the Lawns to Legumes program tells us Minnesotans care deeply about this issue, and we’re excited to support additional partnerships working to create pollinator habitat.”

Eligible applicants include cities, counties, soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, nonprofits and tribal nations. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 3, 2022.

How to apply: Instructions can be found here on BWSR’s website.

For more information on Lawns to Legumes, see BWSR’s website.

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BWSR is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. BWSR's mission is to improve and protect Minnesota's water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners