Conservation@Home
Conservation@Home is the ultimate everyone-can-do-something program! Anyone from a gardening newbie to an experienced Master Gardener can make a positive impact on their local ecosystem through their yard or container garden.  Â
The negative impacts of climate change have started to show all over the globe. There are manageable actions we can take to mitigate these issues in our own green spaces, no matter the size. It starts with you making earth-conscious choices in your home landscape design. Replace some turf grass with beautiful and drought-resistant native plants, install a rain barrel or two, and reduce or eliminate your chemical use.
GETTING STARTED
And if you are interested in working your way towards Conservation@Home certification, we can help identify which items on our Conservation@Home Certification checklist to implement next.Â
Please note: due to staff capacity, we are only able to schedule consultations within DuPage, Will, Kane, and Kendall Counties. If you fall outside of these counties, check our regional partners to see if there is an organization that runs the Conservation@Home program near you.Â
Our Conservation@Home yard consultations have ended for the season. We will open our request form once again in Spring 2026 – dependent on the weather and when spring starts to arrive in our area. Stay tuned!
GETTING CERTIFIED
If you already have an attractive and functional yard that conserves water and provides habitat for birds, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife, you deserve some recognition for your efforts! Â
We’ll certify your yard as an environmentally-friendly landscape through our Conservation@Home program and give you a sign to post proudly. This helps spread the word on how beautiful conservation can be and tends to create conversation among neighbors who want to know how they can get a sign their own sign. Before you know it, yard by yard, you’ve brought more nature to your neighborhood and created your own wildlife corridor.Â
A $50 minimum donation ($25 for current members of The Conservation Foundation) is requested for certification. (See benefits of joining the Conservation@Home program below).Â
Benefits of Joining Conservation@Home
Benefits of Joining Conservation
@Home
We think directly helping nature in your neighborhood is the best reward from joining Conservation@Home, but there are other benefits to joining the program:
- Complimentary yard consultation by The Conservation Foundation staff. We’ll visit your yard to give you advice and ideas on how to reach certification.
- Conservation@Home sign upon certification to display in your yard and let others know that you’re helping the environment, right at home.
- Conservation@Home newsletters sent right to your inbox, full of sustainable gardening tips, interesting native plant info, and invites to Conservation@Home programming.
- Access to native plants. Many native plant nurseries only sell to retailers and not direct to consumers—we can help get access to these plants that most people cannot.
- Facebook Group of likeminded people who are also transforming their home landscape. Here you can share photos, stories, and native gardening advice.Â
- Support for The Conservation Foundation’s mission to preserve and steward nature locally, where you live and work. You get a 1-year membership to The Conservation Foundation when you join the Conservation@Home program.
Wherever you are in the process of creating an environmentally friendly yard, you can join the Conservation@Home program!
Interested in getting involved in the Conservation@Home program, but your yard isn’t ready to be certified yet? No problem! You can join the program and start receiving the program benefits listed above.
Conservation@Home Photos
