What the heck do I do with all these leaves? (The questions everyone asks) Estimated read time: 5 minutes Maybe you’ve heard that leaving your leaves is better for nature, but you’re not sure why or where to start. You’re not alone. Most of us grew up believing that a tidy yard meant a clean […]
Leave the Leaves: Why Less Cleanup Means More Life Read More »
The new Wildr Score from Homegrown National Park and Plan it Wild helps you measure your impact and celebrate the nature you’ve brought home. Fall is a great time to take stock of your outdoor space. Maybe you planted a tree, added native plants, or changed how you care for your yard—every step makes a
Introducing the Wildr Score: A New Collaboration with Plan it Wild Read More »
Sunbridge Sets the Model as the First Homegrown National Park Community St. Cloud, Florida By Tim Snyder, Executive Director Est. Read Time: 5 minutes I remember the first time I read Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy. I closed the book feeling fired up: Let’s get started. But when it came time to actually start,
Sunbridge: A Community for Living Read More »
Yes, the Era of the American Lawn Is Over. Here’s What Comes Next. On August 30, The New York Times published a guest essay with a bold declaration: “The Era of the American Lawn Is Over.” The piece reflects what so many of us already know, that the vast, manicured lawns blanketing America have become
The American Lawn Is Over. Read More »
Est. Read Time: 5 minutes This summer, we launched the very first Mosquito Bucket Challenge—a simple, pollinator-safe way to reduce fogging without harming biodiversity. And what a response it was! From decorated buckets to community giveaways, you showed just how creative and passionate this movement can be. Your suggestions are already sparking ideas for how
Mosquito Bucket Challenge 2025 Read More »
This story comes from Hannah Monroe, part of the Homegrown National Park community. Est. Read Time: 5 minutes How Motherhood Ignited Creativity and Community Like many of us during the early days of the pandemic in 2020, I needed a healthy outlet for my overwhelming stress. Gardening seemed to be helpful for other people I
Planting Possibilities Read More »
You’re Invited! Night Magic: Marvels of the Dark with Bestselling Author Leigh Ann Henion Artificial light is disrupting the natural cycles of nearly every living creature on Earth, yet it hasn’t received as much attention as other forms of pollution. 🌗 What you’ll take away: Learn which light bulbs and fixtures help wildlife and your
From Garage to Grassroots It started in a garage. Not with machines or blueprints, but with bags of native seed, hand-printed labels, and a simple belief: If people had better access to native plant seeds, they’d plant them. Jim Carras, a board member of Homegrown National Park®, wasn’t setting out to start a nonprofit. He
Volunteer Spotlight: Jim Carras Read More »
Celebrating World Firefly Day with Homegrown National Park® Think back to summer evenings from your childhood. Warm air. Bare feet in the grass. Tiny sparks drifting through the dark, blinking in gentle rhythms. Fireflies were part of the magic, a quiet reminder that nature can be full of small wonders. These days, though, many of
Bringing Back the Night Lights: Fireflies and the Power of Small Changes Read More »
By Tim Snyder, Executive Director Est. Read Time: 5 minutes One of those first warm spring days, I was sitting around with my 15- and 16-year-olds, just talking. Nothing formal, just one of those rare moments when the conversation flows and you realize they’ve actually been listening. We started chatting about Homegrown National Park®: native
This Is How Change Begins Read More »