Backyard Conservation

Non-agricultural landowners can implement many smaller scale conservation practices on their property to help increase food and shelter for wildlife, control soil erosion, conserve water and improve water quality, and beautify the landscape. Explore the resources below to learn how to implement some of these practices on your own property!

Wood insect hotel with various hollow and solid wood sections, mounted outdoors under a clear blue sky with trees in the background.

A wooden frame structure with a hinged top, set outdoors next to a wooden fence and house wall, with some greenery and plants nearby.

15 DIY Compost Bin Ideas

DIY Rain Garden

A wooden bat house with a bat silhouette hangs on a tree in a forested area.

A black, textured, barrel-shaped rain collection barrel with a gold spigot near the bottom, placed on soil next to a house with gray siding. It is filled with green leafy plants and sits against a brick foundation and gray siding.

DIY Rain Harvesting Barrel

Close-up of two Colorado potato beetles on a green leaf, with a blurred green background.

Two blue and yellow birds perched on a wooden birdhouse mounted on a tree in a wooded area.

DIY Bird Nesting Boxes

A person planting seeds into a small potted tomato seedling during gardening.

A tiered garden with wooden raised beds filled with young plants, situated on a grassy hillside with trees in the background.

Person wearing gardening gloves planting brown mulch near yellow flowers.

Close-up of a red and yellow flower with long red petals and yellow stamens, set against a green garden background.

Washington Native Plant Society

A spiky green plant with a purple thistle flower in bloom and several buds against a blurred natural background.

WA Noxious Weed Control Board

Nutrient Management

Integrated Pest Management