Prairie Pocket Gardens: Hesston's Liveable Landscapes

Prairie Pocket Gardens is a Community Wildlife Habitat certification project that is part of National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat™ Program. Prairie Pocket Gardens take the basics of this program — providing food, water, cover and places to raise wildlife young — from the individual backyard to multiple locations throughout our community.

Prairie Pocket Gardens benefit our entire community of people, plants and wildlife through the creation of sustainable landscapes that require little or no pesticides, fertilizers, and excess watering. Prairie Pocket Garden landscapes help keep water and air resources clean. They are healthier for people and the environment. and they are less resource-dependent than conventional landscapes. Prairie Pocket Garden landscapes can serve to beautify our community areas and give our residents pride in our neighborhoods. They also reconnect us to our prairie land heritage. The Prairie Pocket Garden project multiples this positive effect by creating habitat areas in backyards, schoolyards, corporate properties, community gardens, parks, and other spaces. It can also involve projects such as stream cleanup, invasive plant removal and plant and wildlife rescues.

How does it work?

Prairie Pocket Gardens is a registered project with the National Wildlife Federation. Certification is point-based and is granted when a registered project has earned sufficient points. The point system is flexible and is based on an individual community's size and available resources. Registration of multiple private backyards and public spaces plays a pivotal role in Hesston's certification. Certification is renewed each year as Prairie Pocket Gardens achieves its post-certification goals as established by the Habitat Team.

As a certified Community Wildlife Habitat, Hesston will receive a certificate, and join the ranks of just 15 Wildlife Habitat Certified communities nationwide; and Hesston will be Kansas' first certified community!