Forsyth Audubon Partners with Habitat For Humanity To Create Bird-Friendly Yards For Families

Several Habitat for Humanity homes in Winston-Salem are getting a green makeover. The agency's Forsyth County chapter is teaming up with Audubon North Carolina to create bird-friendly private and public spaces.

“Volunteers and neighborhood associations work together with the Habitat home owners and their families to decide what plants will be used and where they will be planted. It's all focused on bird friendliness. We have planting days where the home owners earn sweat equity hours towards their home by working with us and gardening,” says Kim Brand, Bird-Friendly Communities Coordinator.

Last fall, Brand was awarded a Toyota TogetherGreen Audubon grant for $10,000 for the project. The money will be used to purchase native plants and materials for nesting boxes. “We use a variety of plants to meet the needs of birds throughout the year. Things like berries, nectar, seeds, and nuts are a big part of our gardens and yard projects,” Brand says.

The project focuses on six yards in the Boston-Thurmond neighborhood in Winston-Salem.  Brand says two public spaces, one near the Little Free Library on Tindall Street and a community park in the Glen Oaks neighborhood are also part of the project.

On Saturday, April 26, volunteers will revitalize the yard of one Habitat homeowner on West 23rd Street.

“This yard is for a first-time home owner and she loves purple, so she is getting some very serious purple flowers in her yard. We are very excited to plant a yard that she can enjoy with her three kids,” says Brand.

Volunteers of all ages are invited to participate in the yard and public space makeovers. Meanwhile, Brand says she hopes to find ways to extend the conservation program to other communities in Forsyth County in the near future.

For volunteer information about upcoming yard makeovers for Habitat homes visit habitatforsyth.volunteerhub.com.