Some of us are fastidious about the way our yards look, while some of us keep ordered chaos, and others of us just keep the grass cut. I keep ordered chaos with a small bit of grass in the front yard and open turf in the back. In my front yard, I use loads of native plants, which provide fuel for our native wildlife that I so love and enjoy watching. I have birdhouses and feeders to encourage nesting and feeding. I also supply simple water sources. With all the trees and shrubs in my yard and one of Signal’s great parks across the street, there’s lots of shelter. I do not rake my leaves away in the fall; instead I pile them into my natural areas, providing excellent habitat for lots of beneficial insects. I also try to use only natural pesticides and weed killers.
These simple and easy things meet the requirements to certify your yard with the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®. I bet you didn’t know how simple it is!
Do you have all the things you need to get your certification? Do you need to make a few changes? Making simple changes toward this goal will absolutely enhance your yard, attract more wildlife and make the neighborhood more attractive and valuable to our native wildlife, which in turn brings all the benefits they provide. It’s a win-win!
Getting your National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat certification is super easy! Just follow this link,
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify, and fill out the form. You can also Google search “National Wildlife Federation certify.”
On the National Wildlife Federation website, you can find information regarding native wildlife and plants in addition to a checklist to help you determine if your yard meets the requirements. A water source seems to be a barrier for some people, but don’t let this deter you. You can put down a basin, pan or other receptacle to hold water or set up a birdbath. This certification is not complicated, in fact it’s quite easy and a one-time deal. It’s not legally binding - just a good faith conservation effort.
On a larger scale, a group of Signal Mountain residents are making an effort to certify the entire 37377 zip code as a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat® with the National Wildlife Federation. It sounds like a massive undertaking, but it’s fairly simple. We are already making great progress toward the goal, but we need your help!
Certify your yard and help spread the word about our effort. Points for certification are earned for yards, parks, schools, churches, businesses and public spaces that meet the requirements and are registered. The size of the land does not matter. Certifying your yard creates a direct impact toward the accumulation of the points needed. Don’t forget to ask your neighbors to do the same! If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, let us know and we can send information to help with the process. Thrasher Elementary School has joined our effort by educating third-grders about habitats and their importance in our environment. The children are building trails, enhancing existing habitats and learning about the value of food, shelter and water to our wildlife neighbors.
So what’s the big deal? Why is certifying your yard as a wildlife habitat so important?
Well, it’s simple. Without wildlife, our environment becomes unhealthy, and when our environment is unhealthy, we humans are unhealthy. Wildlife holds the pulse of our environment by performing so many jobs for us that we don’t even consider - it keeps ecological balance. The least we can do is provide their basic needs - food, shelter and water in exchange for the massive amount of good wildlife provides. Pollinators literally are keeping humans alive as they pollinate the plants that produce our food. And remember, when you provide life needs for a chipmunk, you’re not only helping him, but you’re helping his predators.
Rethink how you view your yard. Don’t focus on the aesthetics of it, focus on the ecological function - the natural processes, products or services that it provides or performs for species and ecosystems.
With so many habitats being damaged, reduced or eliminated, it’s imperative we provide these critical refuges for resident and migratory species. “With habitats dwindling, every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing vital resources for wildlife.” National Wildlife Federation.
The National Wildlife Federation’s website states, “America’s experience with cherished landscapes and wildlife has helped define and shape our national character and identity for generations. Protecting these natural resources is a cause that has long united Americans from all walks of life and political stripes. To hunters, anglers, hikers, birders, wildlife watchers, boaters, climbers, campers, cyclists, gardeners, farmers, forest stewards, and other outdoor enthusiasts, this conservation ethic represents a sacred duty and obligation to protect and build upon our conservation heritage for the sake of wildlife, ourselves, our neighbors, and, most of all, for future generations.”
We are so blessed to live on Signal Mountain with a vibrant community spirit and fabulous wild spaces. Help us celebrate them!
Join us for a kickoff meeting to learn more about this effort to certify the entire 37377 zip code as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat® at the Mountain Arts Community Center (MACC) on July 29 at 9:30AM. Stop by and let us answer your questions.
Questions? Contact me at [email protected].
by Tish Gailmard
These simple and easy things meet the requirements to certify your yard with the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®. I bet you didn’t know how simple it is!
Do you have all the things you need to get your certification? Do you need to make a few changes? Making simple changes toward this goal will absolutely enhance your yard, attract more wildlife and make the neighborhood more attractive and valuable to our native wildlife, which in turn brings all the benefits they provide. It’s a win-win!
Getting your National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat certification is super easy! Just follow this link,
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify, and fill out the form. You can also Google search “National Wildlife Federation certify.”
On the National Wildlife Federation website, you can find information regarding native wildlife and plants in addition to a checklist to help you determine if your yard meets the requirements. A water source seems to be a barrier for some people, but don’t let this deter you. You can put down a basin, pan or other receptacle to hold water or set up a birdbath. This certification is not complicated, in fact it’s quite easy and a one-time deal. It’s not legally binding - just a good faith conservation effort.
On a larger scale, a group of Signal Mountain residents are making an effort to certify the entire 37377 zip code as a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat® with the National Wildlife Federation. It sounds like a massive undertaking, but it’s fairly simple. We are already making great progress toward the goal, but we need your help!
Certify your yard and help spread the word about our effort. Points for certification are earned for yards, parks, schools, churches, businesses and public spaces that meet the requirements and are registered. The size of the land does not matter. Certifying your yard creates a direct impact toward the accumulation of the points needed. Don’t forget to ask your neighbors to do the same! If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, let us know and we can send information to help with the process. Thrasher Elementary School has joined our effort by educating third-grders about habitats and their importance in our environment. The children are building trails, enhancing existing habitats and learning about the value of food, shelter and water to our wildlife neighbors.
So what’s the big deal? Why is certifying your yard as a wildlife habitat so important?
Well, it’s simple. Without wildlife, our environment becomes unhealthy, and when our environment is unhealthy, we humans are unhealthy. Wildlife holds the pulse of our environment by performing so many jobs for us that we don’t even consider - it keeps ecological balance. The least we can do is provide their basic needs - food, shelter and water in exchange for the massive amount of good wildlife provides. Pollinators literally are keeping humans alive as they pollinate the plants that produce our food. And remember, when you provide life needs for a chipmunk, you’re not only helping him, but you’re helping his predators.
Rethink how you view your yard. Don’t focus on the aesthetics of it, focus on the ecological function - the natural processes, products or services that it provides or performs for species and ecosystems.
With so many habitats being damaged, reduced or eliminated, it’s imperative we provide these critical refuges for resident and migratory species. “With habitats dwindling, every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing vital resources for wildlife.” National Wildlife Federation.
The National Wildlife Federation’s website states, “America’s experience with cherished landscapes and wildlife has helped define and shape our national character and identity for generations. Protecting these natural resources is a cause that has long united Americans from all walks of life and political stripes. To hunters, anglers, hikers, birders, wildlife watchers, boaters, climbers, campers, cyclists, gardeners, farmers, forest stewards, and other outdoor enthusiasts, this conservation ethic represents a sacred duty and obligation to protect and build upon our conservation heritage for the sake of wildlife, ourselves, our neighbors, and, most of all, for future generations.”
We are so blessed to live on Signal Mountain with a vibrant community spirit and fabulous wild spaces. Help us celebrate them!
Join us for a kickoff meeting to learn more about this effort to certify the entire 37377 zip code as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat® at the Mountain Arts Community Center (MACC) on July 29 at 9:30AM. Stop by and let us answer your questions.
Questions? Contact me at [email protected].
by Tish Gailmard