A program that encourages homeowners to plant local flora and rip out invasive weeds has certified more than 10,000 backyard habitats.
The Backyard Habitat Certification Program, run by Portland Audubon and the Columbia Land Trust, runs in “much of urban and suburban” Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties as well as Clark County, Wash. As more people turned to gardening during the pandemic, the program grew.
“It’s been super-busy for us,” program co-manager Susie Peterson told the Oregonian. “Since the pandemic, people have become very, very interested in gardening.”
The certification is available for anyone with less than a one-acre lot.
Check out Backyard Habitats if you’re interested in turning your backyard into a haven for some of the flora and fauna we’ve featured in the Urban Almanac. There’s a wait of several months for certification, which includes a visit from a technical expert and then a follow-up visit by a volunteer to certify the garden.
