Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick Program

     Back in March,  we posted about how you could get your yard certified as a Wildlife Habitat by Maryland DNR.  Here is another similar opportunity sponsored by the University of Maryland Extension office and the Maryland Master Gardener program.  The BayWise program wants to encourage you to use sustainable management practices in your yard and garden which will help improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay.   Through this program you are encouraged to:
           Control Stormwater Runoff
           Encourage Wildlife
           Protect the Waterfront
           Mow Properly/ Water Efficiently
           Manage Yard Pests with Integrated Pest Management
           Mulch Appropriately/ Recycle Yard Waste
           Fertilize Wisely
           Plant Wisely

    Within each of these categories there are specific activities which you are asked to practice and implement.  As a measure of your progress you get credits for each action that you complete which are equal to "inches" on the Bay-Wise Yardstick.  Your goal is to achieve at least 36 inches on the yardstick, at which point you can request a Master Gardener to come to you property to review your progress.  If you are approved by the Master Gardener, then your property will be Certified as "BAY-WISE" and you will receive a small yard sign to show for your efforts.  See the links below for the program information and the Yardstick checklist.  If you are interested in applying for certification for your property, the application is at the bottom of the website page.

Bay-Wise Yardstick Program

Bay-Wise Yardstick Checklist.pdf