How to Get Your Garden Certified as a Wildlife Space
Get Recognized for Your Contribution to Sustainability
Photo credit: National Wildlife Federation
Establishing a kitchen garden and a surrounding border garden with native plant species can be a rewarding way to connect to and work with nature in your landscape. When you maintain and care for your space in a way that is sustainable, you’re contributing toward better environmental practices — and there are few things more worthwhile.
Moonflower Kitchen Gardens can even guide you through the process of getting your yard certified as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Foundation.
We’ll cover the application cost, which serves as a donation on your behalf to support wildlife and wild habitats across the United States. The National Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit and one of America’s largest, most-trusted conversation organizations.
Even if you’re not interested in getting a Certified Wildlife Habitat® designation for your space, the five requirements are general best practices for a productive kitchen garden that’s healthier for you and the planet.
1. Food Source
Your garden’s native plants can provide a good source for a variety of wildlife — this can be flowers with pollen or grasses that produce seed heads. You can also supplement natural food sources with feeders so that there are as many sources as possible for birds, bees, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and more throughout the year.
2. Water Source
Provide a fresh, clean and maintained source of water for animals and insects — this can be a birdbath or the addition of natural materials upon which water from rainfall can puddle and collect for bathing, breeding and drinking.
3. Places to Take Cover
All wildlife need places to shelter from the elements, seek protection in from predators, or take advantage of to hunt prey. Your surrounding property landscaping or space can serve this purpose, or nearby shrubs, logs, leaves or other vegetation can meet this requirement.
4. Places to Raise Young
Provide planted or protected places where animals and insects can reproduce and protect and raise their young. Think of where they may nest, burrow, dig or settle in.
5. Follow Sustainable Practices
Commit to maintaining your garden and yard in natural ways to ensure soil, air and water say healthy and clean. This means no spraying herbicides, fungicides or insecticide chemicals that are harmful for wildlife — and for you. Find ways to work with nature to ensure the balance of beneficial garden insects outcompete those that you’d categorize as pests. Don’t use synthetic fertilizers that will cause runoff on your property. Use organic methods to grow your garden, like compost or worm castings.
Moonflower Kitchen Gardens Can Help
Ready to get started but not sure how to take the first step in setting up a kitchen garden with a native plant and pollinator friendly space? Contact Moonflower Kitchen Gardens today for a consultation — you’ll be proud of the difference your garden can make for you and for the wildlife landscape in your community.