Ocean-Friendly Gardens
Table of Contents
Introduction
The main focus of an ocean-friendly garden is to reduce run off from erosion and chemical use, which are two major threats to wildlife throughout out watersheds and all the way to our oceans.
By using landscaping design that helps retain nutrients and soil you save soil while protecting wildlife.
By reducing or eliminating fertilizer use, and by avoiding chemical pest control, we can reduce the number and size of dead zones affecting our waterways, lakes, bays, and coastlines.
The guiding principles are CPR:
Conservation
Permeability
Retention
Ocean Friendly Garden Tour - Los Angeles, CA
3:39 minute video shows how simple ocean-friendly design can be. This particular examples uses xeriscaping in place of a traditional lawn, which means less chemicals are needed, plus little to no irrigation, which both saves water and electricity.
Considerations
Resources
Clean Water Tips "Easy ways we can all stop wasting and polluting water."
Making the Connection Between How we Care for Our Yard and the Health of Our Local Waterways includes "Steps you can take at home to be make your yard more Ocean Friendly".
Nature-Friendly Gardening
Gardening for Nature Recovery Poster (PDF) "The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has teamed up with We Have The POWER to bring you these 11 simple actions you can take to support wildlife in your outdoor space – whether it is a window box, balcony, garden, or allotment or community green space."
Tools & Apps
Groundworks
Greener LAND "This tool helps you decide which landscape interventions are best suited towards landscape restoration for the landscape you operate in. Start by selecting the characteristics of your landscape on your left." Methods listed here can help reduce erosion and run off in your area that would otherwise negatively impact ocean life.
Biodiversity
Bee Score: Flower Finder "Select the flowers you have in your garden, then hit continue to find out your current bee kind score. If you’re not sure exactly which plants you have, try clicking the filters on and off to help identify the bee-friendly flowers in your garden." This is hosted by and for UK residents, so you won't get a bonus for "native species" if you live outside the UK, and might see your local natives listed as "non-native" or get an "invasive penalty" even if those plants are fine where you live, but this is still a fun and educational resource.
Europe
UK
Bee Score: Flower Finder "Select the flowers you have in your garden, then hit continue to find out your current bee kind score. If you’re not sure exactly which plants you have, try clicking the filters on and off to help identify the bee-friendly flowers in your garden." This is hosted by and for UK residents, so you won't get a bonus for "native species" if you live outside the UK, and might see your local natives listed as "non-native" or get an "invasive penalty" even if those plants are fine where you live, but this is still a fun and educational resource.
Programs
North America
USA
Surfrider: Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) "sustainable landscaping and education program that provides beautiful, inexpensive and natural solutions to reduce polluted runoff and support resilient coasts."
Organizations
North America
Canada
Pollinator Partnership Canada "is a registered charity dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems through conservation, education, and research."
USA
Wild Ones "promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy, and collaborative action."
Minnesota
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization "works to protect and improve water quality, habitat and natural resources in an urban watershed that drains directly into the Mississippi River. We are a joint-powers local government unit and one of approximately three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area."
Maps
International
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Europe
UK
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
North America
USA
Stormwater Management and Restoration Tracking (SMART) Tool (Interactive) Tool tracks storm water management practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed which spans, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
Grants & Funding
Europe
UK
National award schemes There are a number of key organisations offering grants and advice to community based projects e.g.
Big Lottery Fund "Groups can apply to us for funding under £20,000, or over £20,001, depending on what they want to do."
Heritage Fund "We fund projects of all sizes that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage."
Grow Wild UK "Bringing people together to value and enjoy wildflowers and fungi"
North America
USA
Missouri
Prairie Garden Grants Program "Gardening and other conservation groups, parks, schools, and other entities in Missouri and immediately surrounding states are invited to submit proposals to MPF’s Prairie Garden Grants Program. In 2024, MPF would like to award several grants to help fund the establishment or improvement of prairie gardens or plantings. Grants will not exceed $800 each. Those with smaller projects are encouraged to apply as well. Matching funds are not required, but proposals with secured matching funds may be evaluated higher than others."
Oceana
Australia
Western Australia
Native Plant Subsidy "Native plants provide natural food sources and shelter for native animals, are water wise and can help cool your home naturally. To help you create a waterwise garden, the City of Cockburn offers native plant subsidies to both residents and schools."