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St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for the Lawns to Legumes program, which aims to increase residential habitat for at-risk pollinators across the state.

Two types of grants are available:

Individual Support Grants: Lawns to Legumes offers a combination of workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. Minnesota residents can apply to be reimbursed for up to $350 in costs associated with establishing pollinator habitat in their yards. Funding decisions and all notifications will be emailed in March for Spring 2020 installations.

How to apply: Apply online at Blue Thumb’s website

“These funding and education opportunities empower Minnesotans to proactively work to protect the pollinators we all rely on,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said.

Demonstration Neighborhood Grants: Local governments, tribal governments and nonprofits can apply for grants through a Request for Proposals (RFP) to establish community projects intended to enhance pollinator habitat in key corridors, raise awareness for residential pollinator protection, and showcase best practices. Eligible applicants include soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, cities, counties, non-profits and tribal governments. Applicants can request to be reimbursed for between $20,000 and $40,000 per demonstration neighborhood. Applications will be accepted through January 10.

“Demonstration neighborhoods will encourage collaboration among communities to make a difference for our at-risk pollinators across the state,” Jaschke said.   

Organizations overseeing a demonstration neighborhood will 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.

How to apply: Instructions can be found in the RFP on BWSR’s website.

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