Backyard Conservation: Simple Ways to Help the Environment at Home

At Greater Good Charities, we know that good multiplies. Big change starts small, and when we all pitch in, we can accomplish great things for our communities and our planet. To protect our environment for generations to come, we’re all going to have to do our part!

If you follow our environmental work, you’re probably used to seeing conservation on a massive scale, whether that’s thousands of acres purchased for land preservation or large coastal cleanups that protect our shorelines. But did you know that anyone can be a conservationist?

This Earth Month, change can start with YOU. You don’t need to travel to Argentina to research native species or construct wildlife crossings in Mexico. You can help the environment right where you are! In honor of Earth Month, here’s how you can become a backyard conservationist.

What is Backyard Conservation?

Your backyard is more than just an extension of your home. It’s a small part of our larger environment! That means, from the comfort of your own backyard, you can conserve natural resources, protect wildlife, and support the overall health of our planet.

From making small changes as a consumer to taking steps to improve the soil health of your years, you can turn your backyard into just one piece of a better, greener world.

What Can You Do to Become a Backyard Conservationist?

• Start Planting: Gardening is a great way to promote a healthy ecosystem in your backyard. This goes beyond planting trees. You can also learn about native plants in your area, which will help protect pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and bats.
• Make Your Backyard a Safe Space for Wildlife: Your backyard is an ecosystem that may provide food and shelter to bees, insects, birds, and other small wildlife. Aside from planting native plants, you can put up a bird feeder, build a bee water station, or install a small bat house.
• Make Small Changes: There are small swaps you can make every day to help conserve resources and protect our planet, such as replacing single-use items, switching to LED bulbs, recycling, composting, and line drying your laundry.
• Get Involved in Your Community: Remember how big changes start small? One of the best ways to become an environmental steward in your own community is by spreading the word. Volunteering, supporting local farmers, and educating your friends and neighbors are all great ways to be an environmentalist in your community.

Need More Help to Get Started?

Right now, Greater Good Charities is hosting a 30-day Backyard Conservation Challenge in honor of Earth Month! As part of this challenge, we've created a list of 30 activities anyone can do to help the environment—and they aren’t limited to Earth Month! Check out our digital toolkit to learn how you can be a backyard environmentalist all year round.