Transform your lawn into a pollinator haven with the Monarch Research Native Oasis Program.

Monarch Research has teamed up with Linn County Master Gardeners to launch the Native Oasis Pollinator Patch Program, an initiative aimed at boosting local biodiversity while enhancing the beauty of residential yards.

In fall 2024, Monarch Research launched a pilot with 50 homeowners converting parts of their lawns into native pollinator habitats. In September 2025, they will begin the BETA phase with funding for 200 participants, who will receive expert support, educational resources, site prep materials, and native plants for a 130-square-foot plot on their lawn.

Pollinators play a crucial role in biodiversity and food production, and native habitats provide the essential resources they need to thrive. The Native Oasis initiative benefits not just individual yards, but helps build a larger network of connected habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

"For a suitable yard, we'd like to have grass on it. But we'd like to replace some of that grass because grass doesn't have any ecological value. So let's start replacing some of our grass, and mow a little bit less," Co-Founder of Monarch Research Clark McLeod said.

Participants will fund $80 of this $320 valued project. Supplemental funding is provided by Monarch Research as well as the City of Cedar Rapids and the City of Marion. You'll be given everything you need for your Native Oasis: site preparation materials, native plants, critter protection, expert mentorship, and more.

Click below to read the full article and watch the interview with Clark McLeod.