Residential Certification Application

Eligibility
Yard Ethic Residential Certification is available for residential properties within the city limits of Springfield, Missouri.

Is the property located within the city limits of Springfield?

Yes: eligible for certification.

No: not eligible for certification at this time but please feel free to join the Yard Ethic email list to receive occasional updates and information.

Pledge

I pledge to care for my yard in a way that supports a healthy community of people, plants, and wildlife. When controlling pests and unwanted vegetation, I will follow integrated pest management principles and use the least hazardous products needed. Invasive plants cause damage to the ecosystem and don’t provide high quality food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife. I will work to reduce invasive plants in my yard.

Name

First

Last

Address

Phone

Checkboxes

I want to join the Yard Ethic email list, and receive occasional updates and information.

Certification level desired

Gold

Silver

Silver Certification - complete three (3) of the following items:

Lawn Steward Soil Test Requirement: Participate in the Lawn Steward Soil Testing Program and receive organic nutrient management plan. Commit to “strive for 5%” organic matter.

Please list your soil’s % organic matter from your nutrient management plan. Describe your plans to maintain or improve the level of organic matter in your soil.

Rainwater Harvesting Requirement: Install and maintain a rainwater harvesting system (e.g. rain barrel or cistern) to collect roof runoff for non-potable use with a minimum capacity of 50 gallons.

Please list the system capacity in gallons.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your rainwater harvesting system.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Rain Garden or Bioswale Requirement: Build a rain garden or bioswale with native plants to manage stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces (e.g. roof or driveway). A rain garden is a shallow depression where water temporarily collects and is absorbed by the soil and plants. A bioswale is similar to a rain garden but is a linear swale that slows down and guides the water as it moves through the property, allowing some absorption to occur. Feature must be free of invasive species.

Please describe whether you installed a rain garden or bioswale, the approximate size, and the species and quantity of native plants installed. For the size, please provide the approximate square footage and depth.

Do not include invasive plants or trees. You can use the Grow Native plant database to find and select native plants.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your rain garden or bioswale.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Native Landscaping Requirement: Use native plants to landscape a minimum 100 square feet of yard. Plant a minimum of 4 native species, with at least 2 that are beneficial for pollinators. Does not include native plants that are common volunteers in lawns and are mowed as part of the lawn. Qualifying area must be free of invasive species.

Please describe the square footage of native landscaping and the species and quantity of native plants. Indicate which species are beneficial for pollinators.

Do not include invasive plants or trees. You can use the Grow Native plant database to find and select native plants. Fruit/nut trees qualify as well.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your native landscaping.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Tree Canopy Requirement: Tree canopy coverage of 15% of lot based on existing trees (invasive trees do not qualify) or planting native or fruit/nut trees to achieve 15% canopy coverage of lot at maturity.

In the field above, please provide the total % canopy and list the number and species of existing trees and the number and species of trees planted. Follow the steps below to calculate the total % canopy:

Make a list of existing trees in your yard and use the following steps to determine if you need to plant more trees to achieve 15% canopy coverage. Do not include invasive trees. Plant trees using right tree, right place principles. Use the Grow Native plant database to select native trees to plant. Fruit/nut trees qualify as well.
The canopy of a tree forms a circle. Find the radius of the circle by measuring in feet from the trunk of the tree to the edge of the canopy for existing mature trees (trees that are at least 20 years old) or use the expected mature canopy size for existing or planted trees that are not at maturity. Canopy size is listed as the “spread”. Find the spread of a tree. Divide the spread by 2 to find the radius.
Calculate the area of the canopy in square feet by entering the radius in feet into the following formula. Area = 3.14 x radius x radius. Repeat this step for each tree.
Calculate the total canopy of all trees by adding the canopy of each tree from Step 3.
Calculate the % canopy coverage of your lot by taking the total area of canopy from Step 4 and dividing by the area of your lot in square feet (1 acre = 43,560 square feet).

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your tree canopy.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Composting Requirement: Use a compost pile or bin for organic waste, including food waste, using proper composting practices and use the compost to add organic matter to the soil in your yard or garden.

Please briefly describe your composting system, what you compost (must compost food waste) and how you use the compost.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your composting system.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Gold Certification - complete five (5) of the following items, including Lawn Steward:

Lawn Steward Soil Test Requirement: Participate in the Lawn Steward Soil Testing Program and receive organic nutrient management plan. Commit to “strive for 5%” organic matter.

Please list your soil’s % organic matter from your nutrient management plan. Describe your plans to maintain or improve the level of organic matter in your soil.

Rainwater Harvesting Requirement: Install and maintain a rainwater harvesting system (e.g. rain barrel or cistern) to collect roof runoff for non-potable use with a minimum capacity of 100 gallons.

Please list the system capacity in gallons.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your rainwater harvesting system.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Do not include invasive plants or trees. You can use the Grow Native plant database to find and select native plants.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your rain garden or bioswale.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Native Landscaping Requirement: Use native plants to landscape a minimum 200 square feet of yard. Plant a minimum of 8 native species, with at least 4 that are beneficial for pollinators. Does not include native plants that are common volunteers in lawns and are mowed as part of the lawn. Qualifying area must be free of invasive species.

Please describe the square footage of native landscaping and the species and quantity of native plants. Indicate which species are beneficial for pollinators.

Do not include invasive plants or trees. You can use the Grow Native plant database to find and select native plants. Fruit/nut trees qualify as well.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your native landscaping.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Tree Canopy Requirement: Tree canopy coverage of 25% of lot based on existing trees (invasive trees do not qualify) or planting native or fruit/nut trees to achieve 25% canopy coverage of lot at maturity.

Make a list of existing trees in your yard and use the following steps to determine if you need to plant more trees to achieve 25% canopy coverage. Do not include invasive trees. Plant trees using right tree, right place principles. Use the Grow Native plant database to select native trees to plant. Fruit/nut trees qualify as well.
The canopy of a tree forms a circle. Find the radius of the circle by measuring in feet from the trunk of the tree to the edge of the canopy for existing mature trees (trees that are at least 20 years old) or use the expected mature canopy size for existing or planted trees that are not at maturity. Canopy size is listed as the “spread”. Find the spread of a tree. Divide the spread by 2 to find the radius.
Calculate the area of the canopy in square feet by entering the radius in feet into the following formula. Area = 3.14 x radius x radius. Repeat this step for each tree.
Calculate the total canopy of all trees by adding the canopy of each tree from Step 3.
Calculate the % canopy coverage of your lot by taking the total area of canopy from Step 4 and dividing by the area of your lot in square feet (1 acre = 43,560 square feet).

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your tree canopy.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Please briefly describe your composting system, what you compost (must compost food waste) and how you use the compost.

Optional: Upload one or more photos of your composting system.

Maximum file size: 2MB

Community Building Requirement: Share your Yard Ethic story (minimum 150 words and 2 photos) and refer a neighbor (referral must achieve minimum silver certification).

Please share what Yard Ethic means to you and how your Yard Ethic practices have impacted your daily life in 150-200 words, and submit your two favorite photos of your Yard Ethic practices. Provide the name and address of your neighbor referral. Once your neighbor submits their application, your gold certification will be awarded.

Upload two photos of your Yard Ethic practices.

Maximum file size: 2MB

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Yard Ethic Certification Application