Earlier this year, the Trust received the exciting news that we had received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for their Lawn Conversion Program. This exciting funding opportunity allows the Trust to subsidize the cost of converting mowed lawns into meadows in our program area comprising Darby, Ridley, and Crum Creek watersheds in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Our goal is to convert 50 acres of lawn to meadow over the next three years. We are working with local government, homeowners associations, schools, churches, and private homeowners to achieve this ambitious goal.
Typical costs to convert one acre of lawn to a meadow can run $4-5,000. The grant will cover the majority of this cost for the landowner. The landowner will then be responsible for the follow up annual maintenance, which includes mowing once in the early spring and removing any invasive plant species that might pop up. The Trust will be a partner in the long run providing monitoring for the health and success of the conversion project. Funds will be available for reseeding installations as needed.
The benefits of losing the lawn and adopting a meadow strategy are innumerable. Benefits include reducing air and noise pollution from gas mowers, improving storm water infiltration of the property (mowed lawn is as about as permeable as pavement!), increased habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, cost savings from using less gasoline, water, and chemical fertilizers, and of course, knowing that you are contributing to combatting the effects of climate change.
RESOURCES | Article & Video
- Land trusts can play a larger role in re-naturalizing fragmented landscapes
By Tom Chase and Tripti Thomas-Travers - Lose The Lawn Video Presentation (Below)
