See the list of Eligible Expenses and Acceptable Vegetation. To summarize, 70% of your $350 grant must be used to purchase native plants and vegetation. 30% of your grant can be used on other expenses such as contractor work, renting equipment, mulch, etc. Please make sure you are not purchasing a cultivar or hybrid of a native plant.

Search for your plant on minnesotawildflowers.info.

If you do not find it on there, it probably is not a true native plant. You can also prevent purchasing cultivars and hybrids if you build your plant list off of our plant list resources on our website.

If you are really unsure about a few plants, you can email us at the helpline, but we do not have the capacity to go through your entire list.

After your project is completed, you will need to fill out this form.

You will need your before and after pictures and your receipts. If your receipt does not list the scientific name, please take photos of your plant tags so we can identify the plants.

It would be best if you had plants that bloom in every season to ensure pollinators have habitat year-round, so we recommend aiming for 12 different native plants. There is no minimum size or number of plants you need to have.

Your match can be monetary or in-kind time. The in-kind time includes all the work you put into your project. This includes planning, site prep, attending a workshop, and the installation of your project.

Work done by contractors may qualify for reimbursement as long as the services fall under the list of eligible expenses. The resident must be approved for the grant before any expenses can be requested for reimbursement. Keep in mind, 70% of the grant must be used on native plants and trees/shrubs. Only 30% of the grant can be used on contractor services. This includes design work, site prep, and installation.

You can email us at L2Lhelp@bluethumb.org and we will remove you from the list. 

At this time, we are not awarding second grants until everyone who applied has received one. Thank you for your interest! We hope you will still continue adding pollinator habitat to your space.

Unfortunately, no. We are only allowed to reimburse you for receipts containing eligible expenses that are dated on or after the date of your notification.

We ask for your patience when waiting for reimbursement. Our team personally goes through each entry and reviews it for approval. As the timeline gets closer to the deadline, there will be a longer delay in getting requests approved. After requests are approved, checks are written and sent out.

Our team carefully goes through each receipt and image to determine the reimbursement amount. It is your responsibility to make sure your items are eligible for reimbursement.

Yes! You can plant in multiple areas as part of the grant. Just make sure it is clear in your photos where you added the new additions. Your existing garden does not have to be native, but all new additions under the grant must be.

Yes, as long as you can show all projects in your before and after photos. You can only submit a maximum of 4 before and 4 after photos.

Yes. Please indicate on your receipts which portions of your project you are requesting Lawns to Legumes reimbursement.

No, but every grantee who completes their project receives a free sign when they are reimbursed.

We recommend wire or mesh nets and cages to prevent them from reaching your plants.

Check out our Native Plants Nurseries & Retailers list!

No, but plantings must be Minnesota native species, sourced from 175 miles from one’s location, or closer (with exceptions mentioned here).

Yes! Feel free to add any plants you want; however, non-natives plants won’t be reimbursed (exceptions are mentioned here).

Yes, Lawns to Legumes plantings can be started from seed. Please use a native seed provider who does not treat seeds with harmful insecticides like neonicotinoids. And note that native plants from seed may take 3–5 years to fully establish.

You can sign up for emails here.

You should let your local government know of your new habitat. We ask all project participants to agree to maintain their plantings for at least three years to the extent possible. In the event that a resident sells their If you sell your residence, we ask that you communicate the intent of the landscape with the new resident and let us know you are moving so we can also share information about its importance and how to manage it with the new owner.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has a RPBB fact sheet.

The Monarch Joint Venture has many monarch resources on its website.