The popularity of pocket prairies marks a significant shift toward citizen-led conservation and ecologically vibrant home landscapes. Native plants offer benefits that turfgrass simply can’t match—improved habitat, richer soil, cleaner water, and dramatically better support for pollinators, birds, and home-grown food. In short, pocket prairies bring nature home.

The public is invited to hear Kasey Hutchinson, Johnson County’s Environmental Regulations Coordinator and Pocket Prairie Program (PPP) administrator, present “Creating a Pocket Prairie in Your Landscape” at the Project GREEN Second Sunday Garden Forum on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. in the Iowa City Public Library.

The Johnson County program, modeled after Dubuque’s successful Mowing to Monarchs initiative, took root in the Department of Planning, Development & Sustainability. PPP quickly flourished and is now in its second year. A similar program in Linn County followed. Together, the two counties have welcomed nearly 400 participating households since both programs launched in 2024.

The need is urgent: declining pollinator populations threaten Iowa’s expanding local food system. Even small native plantings in urban settings can bolster ecological resilience and encourage healthier agricultural practices.

Participants in the inaugural PPP class reported seeing more pollinators this past summer and described the experience as deeply rewarding. Organizers hope these early adopters will pay it forward by sharing their knowledge to help pocket prairie communities continue to grow.

Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library have partnered for many years to offer educational forums. Project GREEN garden forums are free and open to the public. The presentation will also stream live on the Iowa City Public Library’s YouTube channel, The Library Channel.

Attendance qualifies Iowa State University Extension Master Gardeners for continuing education hours. This free program is open to the public.

Since its founding in 1968, Project GREEN (Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) has invested $2.2 million in community projects, including the eight-acre Project GREEN Gardens surrounding the city-owned Ned Ashton House at 820 Park Road. Over the decades, the nonprofit has contributed to the enhancement of parks, roadsides, riverfronts, median parkways, and public school grounds, while promoting environmental conservation and community beautification.