Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home

Ready to support pollinators in your own yard—but not sure where to start (or what to do next)?

Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home is a free, guided program from Blue Thumb and Lawns to Legumes that helps Minnesotans create, expand, or care for pollinator-friendly spaces—step by step, and alongside a community of others doing the same.

What is Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home?

Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home is a five-month, do-it-together program designed to support you through every stage of a pollinator habitat project.

Whether you’re starting from scratch, adding to an existing garden, or maintaining a mature planting, you’ll receive guidance, resources, and encouragement to help your habitat thrive.

No grant required. Just your interest, your space, and a willingness to dig in.

Who is this for?

This program is for Minnesotans at any stage of their habitat journey:

Brand new—starting a pollinator planting for the first time
Expanding—adding to an existing garden
Maintaining—caring for and improving a mature native planting

If you have space for plants and want to support pollinators, you can participate.

Program Timeline

Sign-Up Starts May 2026: Join anytime during the open sign-up period.
Program Runs: June–November 2026: Receive guidance and participate in the cohort experience.

(Tip: Sign up early to start planning and site preparation!)

What you’ll receive

When you sign up, you’ll get access to a full season of support:

📬 Monthly Email Guidance: Step-by-step seasonal tips to help you plan, plant, and maintain your habitat from summer through fall.

🌐 Online Community (The Hive): Connect with other participants, ask questions, and share progress in a supportive space.

🧑‍🌾 Optional Coaching: Request a volunteer coach for personalized guidance (matched as capacity allows).

🎓 Webinars & Workshops: Join virtual and in-person events on topics like garden design, pollinator identification, seed collecting, and more.

🌿 Events & Resources: Learn about native plant sales, garden tours, and trusted tools to help you succeed.

Be part of something bigger

By participating in Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home, you’re contributing to a growing network of pollinator habitat across Minnesota.

Participants will be invited to:

Participate in this summer’s Garden Tour Day
Add their habitat to the statewide Bee Map
Share their story on the Lawns to Legumes Garden Gallery

Why Join?

Because creating habitat is easier—and more fun—when we do it together.

You’ll gain the knowledge, support, and confidence to take action for pollinators, while connecting with others across Minnesota who are doing the same.

Do I need to be an expert gardener?

Not at all! This program is designed for all experience levels.

Do I need a large yard?

No—small spaces, gardens, and partial-yard projects are welcome.

Is there funding assistance available?

This program does not include grant funding, but will focus on all the same technical support Lawns to Legumes grant recipients receive.

If you are interested in funding support, applications for Spring 2027 $400 reimbursement-based Lawns to Legumes grants will be open later this summer. Learn more and sign up to be notified when applications open on the Lawns to Legumes Apply page. If you participate in Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home, you are still eligible to apply for a Spring 2027 grant (if you have not received a Lawns to Legumes grant before).

When will I start receiving information?

You’ll receive monthly emails June through November, with tips timed to the season.