History

It all began four years ago with a meeting around a kitchen table…

…where else are so many great ideas hatched?

A small gathering of soon-to-be dear friends and collaborators sat over soup and sandwiches, discussing how best to help gardeners get started creating habitats beneficial for wildlife, in their own backyards. So many people were interested in improving their habitat, yet found it difficult to figure out exactly what to do. Where does one begin?

Nine months later, we rolled out a certification program, complete with a logo, a website, and a step-by-step guide outlining simple actions. Two of the founding four volunteered their time to visit yards, helping people decide on and prioritize their small, manageable steps.

That first summer, 18 gardens were visited, countless invasive plants identified, and thoughtful suggestions made for adding site-appropriate native plants to increase biodiversity and benefit wildlife.

Another winter brought frequent meetings, refinement of resources to ensure the very best guidance, and the realization that the program needed more boots on the ground. Enter the Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Volunteers! Training sessions followed, with outstanding naturalists sharing their knowledge and practical tips.

The next summer, 134 gardens were visited, and actions were taken in 134 backyards to benefit wildlife.

Winter came again and, remarkably, it was almost busier than summer. We now had firsthand insight into what our Master Gardener Volunteers most needed during site visits. There is so much to know and so much to remember, having something in-hand to jog one’s memory would make all the difference. The rush began to develop a simple, practical field reference for Master Gardeners to use during visits with gardeners in their yards. By the summer of 2025, nearly 264 gardens later, the program had proven its value. Our volunteers are knowledgeable and equipped to help gardeners on their journey to restoring habitats and creating ecologically beneficial spaces for wildlife.

Always tweaking, always improving, NMB now has a model ready for other organizations to replicate throughout the state of Ohio. After visiting more than 400 gardens to date, we are capturing data on the improvements being made. We can now truly demonstrate that your garden will make a difference.

If your organization is interested in carrying the Nature in My Backyard program into your community, please contact us at natureinmybackyard@ohionativeplants.org.