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Minnesota is home to more than 500 native bee species. Pollinators also include butterflies, moths, beetles and native flies. All play a key role in pollinating many food crops and native plants, but populations have significantly declined worldwide in recent years. Population decline can be attributed to habitat loss and lack of related nutrition for pollinators, as well as pesticide use and pathogens. Lawns to Legumes seeks to combat population decline by creating new pollinator habitat and habitat corridors that provide food sources and nesting space for pollinators. View some program accomplishments here.

Any Minnesotan individual who is an owner or renter of a residential property with outdoor space for planting is eligible to apply for a Lawns to Legumes grant. (If you only have a deck or patio, you can do a container planting!) Groups and organizations are not eligible for the Lawns to Legumes grant. Your local watershed district or soil and water conservation district may have other funding opportunities available to your group. You can also learn about the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources’ Pollinator Pathways grant for organizations.

Lawns to Legumes uses a weighted lottery system to select grant recipients. This system gives additional weight to applicants who live in priority habitat areas for the rusty-patched bumblebee and other at risk pollinators, and factors in geographic distribution to ensure all regions of the state are represented. Environmental justice and equity factors are also included in the ranking system to ensure that low income, minority and tribal communities are represented and prioritized among awarded recipients. The map below illustrates the factors used to weight applications.

The following are requirements of the Lawns to Legumes program. Lawns to Legumes grant recipients consent to these agreements upon confirming their grant award.

Timeline

I understand that if I am offered and accept a grant, my project installation will need to be completed by the deadline specified in my grant notification, to allow time for final grant reporting before the end of the grant period. I understand that only purchases made after receiving the grant are eligible for reimbursement.

Project Types

I understand eligible project types are limited to “Native Pocket Plantings”, “Pollinator Beneficial Trees and Shrubs”, “Pollinator Lawns” and “Pollinator Meadows”. Each is highlighted in Blue Thumb’s Grantee Guide. Due to their simplicity, native pocket plantings may be the best option for many participants.

Local Restrictions

I agree to ensure my project abides by local laws and ordinances. For example, if I intend to plant in a boulevard, I will follow my city guidelines, including applying for any necessary permit(s) and keeping my planting within height requirements. If I am a renter, I have received permission from my landlord to complete a planting project on the property.

Locally Sourced, Neonicotinoid-Free Native Plants

I agree to source my native plants and seeds from within 175 miles of my location and verify that plants are free from systemic pesticides, to the extent possible. Blue Thumb has a list of recommended native plant nurseries and retailers on the Grantee Guide.

Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement

I understand eligible expenses for reimbursement include native plants (with a few exceptions including eligible cultivars for trees/shrubs and pollinator lawn species), compost, mulch, edging, contractor installation or DIY equipment rental, delivery fees, and planters and raised bed materials (up to $100). A full list of eligible expenses is available on the Grantee Guide. Only eligible purchases made after I am notified of being awarded a grant qualify for reimbursement.

Reimbursement Request Requirement

I understand filling out the Reimbursement Request Form on bluethumb.org will be required for reimbursement, which will include uploading receipts and before/after photos, sharing project size information, and documenting a minimum of 2 hours spent on the project.

Available Resources

I understand that technical resources are available on the Blue Thumb Grantee Guide, Blue Thumb Resources page, and MN BWSR L2L webpage (bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l).

Signage

I understand signage will be provided for all projects that receive individual support, and will be mailed after my reimbursement request is approved.

Maintenance Commitment

I agree to plan for and follow through on the maintenance of my project. This includes watering and weeding. Weeding should occur at least three times per year: in the spring, mid-summer, and early fall. Pollinator lawns can also be mowed to control weeds. For the next two years, plants should receive 1 inch of water each week. In times of drought, water garden as necessary. After the first two years, plants will be established and able to withstand drought on their own. I understand my project must be located in an area free from pesticides to every extent possible. I will not apply pesticides to my project or allow anyone else to do so.

Email Communication

I confirm the email address I’ve provided is valid and in use. I understand that I am responsible for reading and responding (if requested) to emails sent to me in a timely manner. I acknowledge that failure to do so may result in removal from the program.

Lawns to Legumes is no longer rolling over applications from previous funding rounds. If you previously applied for the program and were not awarded a grant, you will need to reapply to be considered for Spring 2025 funding.

To give as many people as possible the opportunity to start a project, Lawns to Legumes can only award one grant per individual. However, your city or local soil and water conservation district or watershed district may have similar native planting grant opportunities! Our Partner Grants page lists some of those opportunities.

Lawns to Legumes is currently operating on a spring (January-July) and fall (June-November) funding round each year. If you don’t receive an award, you can reapply when applications open for the next funding round.

For free resources, you can check Blue Thumb’s Plan a Project page and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources website for information on native plantings for pollinators, how to design your project, and more.

Lawns to Legumes comes through the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and is funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), as well as the Minnesota General Fund. The US Fish and Wildlife Service also supports Lawns to Legumes. Blue Thumb manages the individual support part of the program.