Registration for the 2025 program open now through 3/21!
See below for more details about this year's program.
MISSION
The mission of the Native Plant Backyard Challenge (NPBYC) is to promote native plants in central Ohio by recruiting households to transform a portion of their yards into native habitat. The challenge works to ensure that participants become ambassadors for native plants in their community.
OVERVIEW
We challenge YOU to introduce native plants in your yard! In 2021, Grange Insurance Audubon Center (GIAC) and Columbus Audubon (CA) teamed up to create the Native Plant Backyard Challenge. To date, over 580 households have taken the challenge spanning 47 zip codes across Ohio. The annual program provides resources for new and returning households who would like to transform or further develop their outdoor spaces with native plants. The NPBYC includes community events, educational workshops and presentations, giveaways, and more throughout the year!
REGISTRATION
New Challenge Participant - $35.00
Returning Challenge Participant (must have participated in 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024 challenge) - $30.00
*Those registering also have the option to become a Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Columbus Audubon, National Audubon Society member as an individual or family. Click here to become a member! Already a GIAC, CA, NAS member - contact Allison Clark at allison.clark@audubon.org to check your membership expiration date and renew easily online.
2025 TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Links to RSVP for each event, including location and timing, will be sent to participating households after they register for the program.
Kick-off
Sunday April 6th
Join us at Grange Insurance Audubon Center to kick off the 2025 NPBYC! Local environmental, gardening, and native plant focused organizations will be tabling this event. Michael Keeler of Ohio Native Concepts LLC will be providing a brief "Native Plants 101" presentation, and each participating household will be able to pick up this year's official toolkit! The kick-off is a fantastic opportunity to engage with community organizations, learn more about native plants, and pick up some useful resources!
Native Habitat Site Preparation, Craig Toothman Franklin County Pollinator Pathway
Saturday April 12
Learn more about native habitat site preparation with Franklin County Pollinator Pathway! This presentation will help you consider your site conditions and what needs to be done in order to plant a healthy, flourishing native garden.
Advanced Matrix Planting, Michael Keeler Ohio Native Concepts LLC
Thursday April 24th
RETURNING PARTICIPANT ONLY. This advanced workshop for returning participants will explore the matrix planting approach to garden design. Join Michael Keeler of Ohio Native Concepts LLC to learn how to strategically select plants to grow together in a garden space.
Native Plant Sale
Sunday May 4th
The native plant sale provides participating households with an opportunity to purchase some of the native plants that they want to include in their garden! Multiple vendors will be selling a wide selection of plants at Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
Community Backyards "Rain Gardens", Nicole Tabit Franklin Park Conservatory
Saturday May 24th
Limited registration, Maximum 50 participants.
This is a Community Backyards approved workshop! To learn more about Community Backyards, visit the website here.
Why are rain gardens so important? Discover how rain gardens can reduce runoff, support local biodiversity, and enhance your landscape's resilience to climate challenges. A Franklin Park Conservatory Educator will guide you through the basics of implementation, from the site assessment and design needs; while considering which plants to select, and how to create a vibrant and eye-catching landscape design with them.
Native Food Forests, Sean McKay Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Sunday June 1st
Sean McKay will be giving a lecture on native food forests at the Farm on the Hilltop! This presentation will focus on what a food forest is, the effects it can have in an urban environment, permaculture, and what native plants can be incorporated in central Ohio. Sean is the Farm Education Coordinator at Mid-Ohio Food Collective's Farm on the Hilltop with a wide range of experiences and education in horticulture, urban farming, landscape design, community outreach, and activism. He's passionate about sharing his love of the natural world and empowering people to grow their own food.
Native Tree Gifts, David Williams Wild Ones Columbus
Wednesday June 18th, 5:45-7pm
There are so many things that trees provide throughout the year. Whether it be shade, nuts, seeds, sap, or leaves. Learn about the cultural significance of a handful of these species from which we can look forward to receiving their gifts in the coming months. Whether it be Spicebush, Maple, Hickory, Serviceberry, or everyone’s favorite Pawpaw.
Native Habitat Site Maintenance, Craig Toothman Franklin County Pollinator Pathway
Saturday July 19th
Learn more about native habitat site maintenance with Franklin County Pollinator Pathway! This presentation will help you consider what management practices can be incorporated into your site throughout the year.
From Lawn to Meadow Using Seed, Nick Hirsch Keystone Landscapes
Saturday August 16th
Do you have a section of lawn that is never used or that you're tired of mowing? This presentation will walk you through the benefits and steps of converting a section of traditional lawn to a native meadow/prairie using seed, a more affordable approach in comparison to purchasing nursery stock. The discussion will cover site assessment, site preparation techniques, seeding, and vegetation management.
Garden Tour
Sunday August 24th
On August 24th, community members and challenge participants will be opening up their native garden spaces for you all to explore, as well as connect with other local native plant gardeners and enthusiasts! Touring participants will be able to visit multiple local gardens on a come-and-go basis throughout the day.
End of Challenge Celebration
Sunday September 7th
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*If you are interested in participating in the upcoming 2025 NPBYC but the fee may be cost prohibitive, please reach out to Fiona McCarthy (GIAC Engagement Coordinator, Stewardship) at fiona.mccarthy@audubon.org to request to be placed on our sponsorship wait list. Sponsorship inquiries will be filled as sponsorship opportunities arise. You will be notified via email as soon as your request can be filled.
*If you are interested in sponsoring a household, there is a ticket option on our registration page that allows you to purchase a ticket for another household. To be clear, by purchasing this ticket option you will ONLY be sponsoring a household to take part in the challenge and will NOT be a participant yourself. If you would like to participate in the challenge AND sponsor a household, you will have to purchase both a regular ticket and a sponsorship ticket. If you purchase a sponsorship ticket and there is no household to claim it, the payment will act as a donation to the challenge and the center.
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Thank you to our community partners!
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NPBYC? Please contact Fiona McCarthy, GIAC Stewardship Engagement Coordinator, at fiona.mccarthy@audubon.org.
How you can help, right now
Volunteer
Whether you have a little time once in a while or are looking for something more regular, we've got an opportunity for you! We couldn't carry our mission forward without great volunteers!
Membership
When you join us, you become a member of the National Audubon Society, Columbus Audubon (CA), and the Grange Insurance Audubon Center (GIAC)! Memberships start as low as $30!
Donate
Gifts to the Grange Insurance Audubon Center help support the work of educating children and adults, connecting people with nature and maintaining our conservation facility.
