The Town of North Hempstead will be re-launching its native plant rebate program after receiving funding from the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Residents will be offered a rebate of up to $350 for planting native plants or rain gardens in their home landscapes.
“A big part of what makes North Hempstead beautiful is the nature that surrounds it, and we love giving our residents the chance to start their own natural plant habitats,” Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “The rebate program promotes more green in your yards and your wallets, and it doesn’t get much better than that.”
For the past four years, the rebate program has helped create approximately 100 new native plant gardens throughout North Hempstead. The gardens are beautiful and beneficial for the environment, as they provide food, shelter and nesting resources for various pollinators and other native wildlife species.
The town has taken the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge again this year, and these gardens are vital in efforts to conserve the monarch butterfly, which has been proposed to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Native plants also have extensive root systems that absorb polluted stormwater and carbon dioxide, have low maintenance requirements, do not need fertilizer and are drought-tolerant once established.
To qualify for the program, residents must complete an application that includes the proposed garden size, plant list, photos of the planting location(s) and a basic garden layout.
Funding is limited, and applications that meet the requirements will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until October 1 or until funding is exhausted. Additionally, due to the popularity of the program and limited funds, residents who have received rebates in previous years will not be eligible to apply in 2025.
Visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/sustainability for more information and details on how to apply.
