Garden for Wildlife
Why should I garden for wildlife and register my yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat?
It's fun! You'll attract beautiful songbirds, cheerful butterflies and other interesting wildlife to your yard. Watching wildlife can be fun for the whole family.
It's relaxing! The natural environment of your habitat will provide a peaceful place to relieve stress and unwind, day or night.
It makes your yard more attractive! Replacing a barren lawn with beautiful wildflowers and other native plants will increase the appeal of your property and will provide a nurturing place for wildlife.
It fosters and supports wildlife all year! Habitat restoration is critical for wildlife where commercial and residential development has eliminated most natural areas. Wildlife especially need your help during the cold winter months.
It benefits the environment! Gardening practices that help wildlife, like reducing chemicals and conserving water, also help to improve air, water and soil quality throughout your neighborhood.
It rewards you! The National Wildlife Federation will recognize your dedication to creating a place for wildlife in the modern world. When your habitat is certified, you'll receive a handsome, personalized Certificate of Achievement suitable for framing, recognizing your yard as part of the National Registry of Backyard Wildlife Habitat sites. With your permission, the National Wildlife Federation will also send a prepared press release to your local newspaper announcing your certification.
It expands your gardening knowledge and lets you share your love of wildlife with others! Once certified, you'll receive a subscription to the quarterly newsletter, Habitats, providing you with a steady supply of tips and projects to maintain your Backyard Wildlife Habitat site year after year.
If your yard is certified by National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat site, you are eligible to receive a personalized certificate, a subscription to the National Wildlife Federation e-newsletter, Garden for Wildlife, receive a full year's membership in the National Wildlife Federation and a sign for your yard to demonstrate to your neighbors your commitment to wildlife conservation and the environment.
As soon as you certify your yard or garden space, you will automatically become a member of National Wildlife Federation with full membership benefits, including a year's subscription to the award winning National Wildlife magazine.
Certifying Your Habitat
Join the thousands of wildlife enthusiasts across the country that have been recognized for creating havens for neighborhood wildlife in their very own yards. These individuals have provided the essential elements for healthy and sustainable wildlife habitats and have earned the distinction of being part of National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program.
When you certify with your application fee of $15, you’ll receive all these great benefits:
A personalized certificate that recognizes your NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat™.
A free NWF membership which includes a full year’s subscription to the award-winning National Wildlife® magazine.
A free subscription to the quarterly e-newsletter, Habitats, full of insightful tips and information on gardening and attracting wildlife year after year.
Your name listed in NWF’s National registry of certified habitats…to recognize all you’ve done for wildlife.
And, once you complete your application, you’ll be eligible to purchase the “wildly” popular Certified Wildlife Habitat™ yard sign that shows your commitment to conserving wildlife.
All you need to do is provide elements from each of the following areas:
Food Sources. For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
Water Sources. For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
Places for Cover. For example: Thicket, rock pile, birdhouse
Places to Raise Young. For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
Sustainable Gardening. For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer
Get started today! http://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat