Personal Preserve Program (PPP)

The Personal Preserve Program (PPP) is your personal invitation to re-wild outdoor spaces by creating diverse backyard habitats. The mission of this voluntary program is to support the creation of thriving island ecosystems and peaceful oases that foster a sense of connection, community and joy. By strengthening the diversity of native plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife that are at the heart of a healthy ecosystem, we aim to find ways that nature can thrive in human environments and on private property.

Throughout the spring, summer, and early fall, the PPP will endeavor to provide educational events that enhance our knowledge of ecology- based landscaping and facilitate the implementation of the goals of this program. In addition, we hope to provide opportunities for social interaction and sharing the successes and challenges of participants with others.

Shrink your lawn . Use native plants . Remove invasives . Use water wisely

What is the PPP?

Key Elements of a Personal Preserve:

The process of creating a personal preserve, also referred to by conservationist, Doug Tallamy, as a Homegrown National Park, has three key elements: to (1) shrink your lawn, (2) incorporate native plants, and (3) remove invasive plants. On Lummi Island, where our access to water is tied to a shared aquifer that is only replenished through rain, we have added a fourth key element:(4) use water wisely.

By developing your own personal preserve, you will be part of an island-wide effort to enhance wildlife habitats by planting native trees, shrubs and flowers, removing invasive plants, and utilizing water conservation strategies. The program is voluntary. It is not a legal designation and it does not place restrictions on how you can use your property.

Why is Your Participation Important?

Invertebrates, including bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies, as well as birds, reptiles, and amphibians take on the job of pollinating plants. Pollinators worldwide are in decline, losing numbers to threats like pesticide poisoning, habitat loss, and disease. Native plants have been increasingly displaced by non-natives and invasives. Native plants, which have co-evolved with insects, birds, and other wildlife, are the foundation of the food web. By replacing some areas of lawn with beneficial plants, planting natives, removing invasive plants, and using water wisely, you will be creating a habitat where insects, birds, and wildlife can thrive (and yes, humans as well!).

Whether your participation involves big changes or smaller ones, every step taken toward increasing the number and diversity of native plants will benefit the insects, birds, and other wildlife here on Lummi Island. Every action taken matters and collectively, we can have a significant impact!

What are the Potential Benefits of Participation?

More birds, pollinators, and wildlife in your yard
Fewer invasives spreading across the island over time
Lower maintenance (less mowing and watering)
Better soil and water health on your property
More resilience to drought and changing conditions
Improved water retention and less runoff
Connected habitat across properties creating “green corridors” for wildlife
Being part of a coordinated, island-wide effort

The purpose of this guide is to inspire you in setting goals for creating or enhancing your own personal preserve and to provide useful information and resources to support you in achieving those goals. While there is an extensive listing of resources, do not let that overwhelm you. It is not intended that you will use all of the resources in this guide, but rather select only those that are of interest or relevant to your particular situation and needs.

To that end, this guide includes:

Some Considerations Before You Begin
Videos for Inspiration
Frequently asked Questions for Each Goal and Resources for Answers
Additional Gardening Practices that Support Insects, Birds, and other Wildlife
A Listing of Volunteer Mentors to Contact with Questions Not Answered by the Links
A listing of island landscape and garden contractors should you need to hire additional help
Recommended Reading for those who want to learn more

Purpose of the PPP Action Guide:

Some Considerations Before You Begin:

You will determine which goals to pursue. There are no minimums, requirements or pledges with the PPP. Every action taken has value. Your individual circumstances, such as the amount of time available, physical abilities, resources, personal priorities, and the size and level of development of your outdoor space will be factors in the choices that you make.
Where to begin? First, assess what plants already exist in your landscape and how you are already managing your site. You may be surprised to find that you already have many native plants and are doing many things that promote the welfare of wildlife and protect our water resources. Questions you may wish to consider:
- What trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants do I already have that are native? (Not sure how to identify native plants? See Goal 3: FAQ #2 below.)
- What non-native plants are growing here? Of those, which are considered invasive, and more specifically, noxious weeds? (Please note that just because a plant is a non-native does not necessarily mean that they are considered detrimental or classified as noxious weeds. See Goal 2, FAQ #3 to identify noxious weeds of concern in our area.)
- Do I have lawn that is not being used for outdoor activities and might provide space for native plantings?
- Could I use water conservation strategies more effectively? (See Goal 4: FAQ 2 to see a variety of water conservation strategies.)
- Where are there potential opportunities for adding native plants in new or existing beds?
- Are there species that I want to attract to my property, such as birds, native bees, caterpillars, butterflies, moths, etc.?
- Are there additional personal goals that I would like to achieve?
Each site is unique. The island has a variety of diverse ecosystems from dense forests to open meadows, and marine waterfront. Identifying key characteristics of your space (sun exposure, soil type, topography, soil moisture levels, etc.) can help you to select the “right plant for the right place”.
Start small. Changes can be accomplished over time. Breaking your rewilding goals into smaller projects,implemented over time, will help to keep things manageable. Given time, concepts and plans have an opportunity to change and evolve along with the changes in your landscape. Set your own goals and proceed at the pace that is right for you.
If you are planning to make more comprehensive changes, begin with a master plan. An overview, based on your end goals, can help to coordinate the various elements and to determine the sequence of implementation. Be sure to check out the links listed for planning below.
Don’t let lack of gardening experience deter you! In addition to the resources listed to answer the FAQs, please note the PPP Mentors listed. These are experienced and knowledgeable individuals who have graciously volunteered to share their expertise. If you have unanswered questions, they are here to help.
There are options for projects that may be physically challenging. Help is available! For your convenience, we have provided a list below of island landscape and gardening contractors who are available for hire. Please note that this is not a complete listing, but rather individuals who indicated availability.

Videos for Inspiration:

FAQ

Goal 1: Shrink Your Lawn

Why should I consider shrinking my lawn?
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt8qspvW4FY
What are some techniques for removing turf?
- http://www.homegrownnationalpark.org/shrink-your-lawn
- https://green2.kingcounty.gov.GoNative/Article.aspx?Act=view&ArticleID=36&PgNum-1 *(This takes you to the first of 5 pages. Click on the page bar at the bottom of each to move on.)
- www.gardenprofessors.com/how-to-get-rid-of-your-lawn
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlNg2wTIqIU *(A demonstration of a backyard makeover from start to finish.)
How can I convert some of my lawn to meadow?
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN994t8nSgE (Inside America’s Healthiest Yards: Filippe Hoogland’s Meadow Magic.)
- https://northwestmeadowscapes.com/pages/planting-advice (“How To Plant A Meadow”: Comprehensive and helpful advice to anyone wanting to create a wildflower meadow or convert lawn into meadow.)

Goal 2: Remove Invasive Plants

Why should I remove invasive plants and noxious weeds?
- www.wnps.org/invasive-species
What is the difference between an invasive plant and a noxious weed?
- https://cob.org/services/environment/restoration/invasive-species
How can I identify invasive plants and noxious weeds common in our area?
- https://whatcomcounty.us/930/Noxious-Weed-Fact-Sheets (Very comprehensive lists of noxious weeds for Whatcom County. Click on the plant name for photos and detailed information, including management strategies).
- https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/class-b-noxious-weeds (Great Resource! Photos of class b noxious weeds. For A or C, click the list at the top of the page. There is also a button to click on if you need help in identifying a noxious weed.)
How do I remove and safely dispose of invasive plants and noxious weeds?
- http://www.homegrownnationalpark.org/remove-invasive-plants/
- https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/pdfs/Noxious_weed_disposal_2012-1.pdf ( Noxious Weed Control Board brochure on disposal.)

Goal 3: Incorporate Native Plants

Why are native plants so important?
- https://www.audubon.org.content/why-native-plants-matter (Includes both text and a 4 minute video with Doug Tallamy.)
- http://homegrownnationalpark.org/get-started-planting-native/
How do I know which plants are native to our area?
- https://homegrownnationalpark.org/ecoregion-finder/(Put your zip code in to find the most impactful native plants for your area.)
- https://green2.kingcounty.gov/GoNative/Plant.aspx?Act=list Listings of native plants by categories. Tip: Click on the plant name to see a picture and details about the plant.)
- https://www.greatplantpicks.org/search/results (Click on plant name to see photo and additional information.)
How does my site affect plant section and placement?
- http://green2.kingcounty.gov/GoNative/plan.aspx?Act=list (An index of a variety of resources & articles to guide your planning.)
- https://homegrownnationalpark.org/planting-native-trees-and-shrubs/ (Great advice for planning for native trees and shrubs.)
- https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/yard-and-garden/native-plant-guide-western-washington.pdf(A very comprehensive guide to creating a master plan for a landscaping makeover. Downloadable pdf.)
- https://greatplantpicks.org/searchnav (Really great source for finding plants for specific site conditions or desired characteristics.)
- https://www.cloudmountainfarmcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GardeningwithPNWNatives.pdf(Good guide for finding the right plant for the right place. Includes many drought tolerant listings.)
- https://www.savingwater.org/wp-content/uploads/Guide-Choosing-the-right-plants.pdf. (“Choosing the Right Plants for a Beautiful, Trouble-Free Garden”: Another comprehensive guide to planning and implementing a native plant based garden.)
How can I create a holistic design for my outdoor space that provides spaces for human activities and plants to benefit humans, insects, birds and other wildlife?
- http://www.homegrownnationalpark.org/design-a-native-plant-landscape/ (A great place to start designing your PPP.)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er30sTUBJV4(“Designing Gardens for Birds” with Heather and Zoe Evans. The title is a bit deceiving. This is a 90 minute interactive video which walks you through the elements of designing a master plan for your site that provides spaces for outdoor activities and utilizes native plantings for the benefit of humans, birds, insects, and other wildlife.) *Also, check out the 6 links listed above under “How does my site affect plant selection and placement.
How do I plant trees and shrubs and shrubs to ensure that they will survive?
- http://homegrownnationalpark.org/planting-native-trees-and-shrubs/
How can I determine the composition of my soil? (Sandy, clay, loam, etc.)
- https://theecologycenter.org/how-to-test-your-soil/
What are the recommendations for soil testing?
- https://extension.wsu.edu/whatcom/hg/soil-testing/ (Click: “Soils Testing For Home Gardeners”, located just below the picture of the handful of soil, for recommendations. Click “Local Labs Soil Testing” of find a local lab. Tap on the video for how to take a soil sample.)
- https://www.finegardening.com/article/5-easy-ways-to-test-your-garden-soil-ph-at-home (At home ways to test your soil ph.)
How do I select plants that attract and benefit insects, birds, and other animals?
- https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds
- https://www.audubon.org/native-plants/best-results?zipcode=98262(Enter your email and zip code for a list of plants for our area which can attract specific birds.)
- https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Small-Space-Wildlife-Gardening?_ga=2.97500637.319805732.178869561-1550985338.1768869560 (Tips for planting natives for wildlife in small spaces.)
- www.wnpskoma.org/pollinator-gardens/ (Landscaping for bees)
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9363-native-plant-picks-bees (Native plants to attract bees.)
- https://xerces.org/blog/they-go-with-everything-even-small-patch-of-native-wildflowers-makes-difference. (Planting native wildflowers. Links to additional related articles at the bottom of the page.)
What plants are deer resistant?
- https://green2.kingcounty.gov/gonative/Article.aspx?Act=view&ArticleID=18
Where can I find seeds for wildflowers native to my area?
- https://northwestmeadowscapes.com/collections/species-for-the-northwest-alaska-and-beyond (Great selection at reasonable prices with helpful information for each type of plant.)
Where can I find native plants in my area?
- https://www.audubon.org/native-plants/local-resources?zipcode=98262#location-anchor
- https://wnps.org/native-gardening/sourcing (Some cautions and good advice for ensuring that what you buy is actually native to our region. Click on “Native Plant & Seed Source List” for a list of vendors. You have to find the local ones from the 7 page list.)
- *Watch for local native plant sales in the spring and fall. The Whatcom Conservation District, Komo Kulshan Chapter of the WA Native Plant Society, and WSU Master Gardeners hold semi-annual or annual sales locally and are much less expensive than commercial vendors.
Can I propagate native plants myself?
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ACfzMhkUdw&t=484s (“Propagative Native Plants from Seeds”: Long, but covers how to collect, clean, and store seeds as well as how to propagate plants.)

Goal 4: Use Water Wisely

Which native plants are drought tolerant?
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9697-incorporating-pacific-northwest-native-plants-your-water-wise-landscapes
- Also: see Goal 3: Plant Diverse Natives; Question 3. How does my site affect plant selection and placement? Several lists include drought resistant plants.)
What are some strategies to minimize the need for watering or water plants water wisely?
- https://mastergardener.wsu.edu/priorities/water-conservation-tips/(“Water Conservation:Our Shared Responsibility”: Tips on effective watering strategies, and plant selection, as well as a short video explaining how strategic use of native plants can benefit water retention and soil enhancement.)
- https://www.savingwater.org/lawn-garden/ (The index on the left provides a variety of related topics such as how to choose the “right plant for the right space”. A short video explaining how strategic use of native plants can benefit water retention and soil enhancement is provided.)

Additional Gardening Strategies that Support Insects, Birds, and other Wildlife:

Use “integrated pest management” strategies to prevent problems and avoid chemicals which may be toxic to insects and wildlife:
(Integrated pest management is an ecologically friendly and common sense approach to managing insects, diseases, weeds, and other pests of the landscape.)
- https://skagitmg.org/integrated-pest-management/ (“Thoughtful Pest Management Methods that Protect Pollinators and Your Plants”good overview of integrated pest management.)
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/dont-panic-manage-garden-pests-smart-safe-strategies (“Don’t Panic: Manage Garden Pests with Smart Safe Strategies” focused primarily on insect management.
- https://extension.wsu.edu/king/mg-home/gardening-resources/tip-sheets/tip-sheet-9 (“Pest and Disease Control” Lists chemical free control methods.)
- https://jjgardencenter.com/pest-free-gardening-natural-ways-to-keep-bugs-and-critters-away-from-your-plants/ (“Pest-Free Gardening: Natural Ways to Keep Bugs and Critters Away From Your Plants”)
- https://xerces.org/blog/protect-pollinators-at-home-alternatives-to-herbicides (“Protect Pollinators at Home: Alternatives to Herbicides”)
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9155-how-control-slugs-your-garden (“How to Control Slugs in Your Garden” Excellent advice on controlling slugs.)
Use products which are certified safe to use whenever possible:
- https://www.omri.org/lists-and-standards/using-omri-listed-products (This is the Organic Materials Review Institute which evaluates products which companies wish to verify as organic, based on USDA guidelines. If certified, companies are authorized to use the OMRI seal on that product. This is where you can verify whether a product which has the OMRI seal is actually listed. Lists are kept as up to date as possible.)
Provide habitat for insects and other wildlife and protect pollinator wintering places:
- https://xerces.org/bring-back-the-pollinators ( Some ways to provide pollinator nesting sites.)
- https://xerces.org/leave-the-leaves. (Skip raking the leaves in the fall and spring.)
- https://xerces.org/blog/dont-spring-into-garden-cleanup-too-soon (Delaying spring clean up until insects have hatched out.)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRTKzEJGq5s&list=PLw5ECZ9L-aOMfJ3uPsduLY-JY7Cujwu_r&index=11 (What grows here, stays here.)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGvAHHm4alo&list=PLw5ECZ9L-aOMfJ3uPsduLY-JY7Cujwu_r&index=9 (Add a water feature.)
Make your home bird friendly:
- https://www.audubon.org/magazine/seven-ways-make-your-home-more-bird-friendly

PPP Volunteer Mentors:

Barbara King: Certified Master Gardener. Contact her by email at: brfking@aol.com
Alika Herreschoff: Native plants and the intricate interrelationships between pollinator species, plants, and the greater contexts of ecological systems in which they play a role. Also willing to do occasional site visits. Contact him by text at (832) 525-9393.
Robin Richardson: “ I have been gardening on Lummi Island for 38 years, at home and professionally. I have planted many native trees and shrubs on my property. I like to take a wide, long range look at planting and soil health.” Contact her by text at (360) 255-3227.
JoAnn Philpot: Native bees, honey bees, and other pollinators. (360) 303 4546
Thurid Clark: Vegetable, fruit, and flower gardens. Rewilding small areas. (360) 758-2884
Nancy Simmerman: Rain catchment systems. (360) 758-2489
Scott Josiah: Native trees and shrubs-selection, planting, soils, deer protection, pruning, and care. Email: sjosiah2@unl.edu
Meredith Moench: Pollinator insects and associated plants and cycles. (360) 441-1798

Landscape and Garden Contractors:

Please note this listing is for convenience. It does not imply LIHT endorsement. It is also not a complete listing. You may be aware of others who serve the island.

Nicole Nielsen: Weeding, including blackberries and hauling away accumulated debris. (360) 306-4823
Katy Scherrer: Ecological Design and Planning, Landscape Architecture. Other: Native Plant and Seed Sales, Custom Seed and Meadow Mixes. Phone: (360) 927-0208 Website: https://www.katyscherrerlandscapedesign.com
Oscar Hernandez: Oscar’s Lawn and Yard Cleaning: Planting, plant removal, weeding, pruning, and trimming. Garden debris haul away. Can also deliver gravel and soil. (360) 927-7665
Kevin Castellanos: Landscaping, pruning, and trimming. (360) 296-4547