Create your own backyard habitat!

Ever wonder what kinds of plants and birds used to live on the piece of land upon which your house now rests? What kind of habitats existed before some builder cut down all the trees, bulldozed all the plants, and dropped a ton of concrete, wood, and shingles on the land? Well we may not be able to go back and see, but there are things you can do to try and restore the part of your property your house is not consuming to a more natural state. The United States Department of Agriculture has created a web site focusing on conserving our natural resources (including wildlife habitats). On this site you can find some handy helpful hints you can use to turn your backyard from the usual suburb square of grass to a green, natural, wildlife habitat.



Find the Wildlife Habitat Guide here: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/WildHab.html

Or an alternative guide here:
http://www.eartheasy.com/play_bkyd_wildhab.htm

FREE Money and a Clean Environment!

By landscaping your backyard with rain loving native plants not only will you be increasing the value and attractiveness of your home, but the city will give you money!

A discount program, Clean River Rewards, available to Portland homeowners – whether they build a rain garden, disconnect their downspouts or employ other storm water management options.

Based on a sliding scale, the incentive could mean a full discount of the on-site storm-water management charge on Portland residential utility bills – currently $5.88 a month. ($70.56 a year!)

Amber Clayton, Clean River Rewards technical assistance program coordinator, says 13,000 Portland residents have signed up for the discount thus far. So why haven't you?

READ MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS HERE!