This Earth Day, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board announced that the Town has received $10,000 from the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District to offer rebates to residents who grow native plants in their landscapes.

The program offers eligible residents up to $350 per household when they purchase native plants to replace lawn grass or plants in an existing garden.

“Native plants play a critical role for our local pollinators and wildlife because they provide the resources pollinators require to survive,” DeSena said. “Many pollinator habitats have been lost to development, but this program helps residents use their own backyards to create a haven for wildlife. It’s rare to get the chance to help your environment and your wallet at the same time, and I strongly encourage residents to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”

For the past three years, this rebate program has helped create 70 new native plant gardens throughout North Hempstead. The gardens are designed for more than just beauty, as they help provide food, shelter, and nesting resources for the declining species of pollinators.

The town has again taken the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge this year, and these gardens are vital in efforts to conserve this iconic species.

Native plants also provide other benefits like extensive root systems that absorb polluted stormwater and carbon dioxide, low maintenance requirements, do not need fertilizer, and are drought tolerant once established.

To qualify for the program, residents must complete an application that includes the proposed garden size, a native plant species list, photos of the planting location(s), and a basic garden layout.

Funding is limited, and applications that meet the requirements will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until October 1 or until funding is exhausted. For more information and details on how to apply, please visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/sustainability.