In 2021, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Lawn to Lake program created and distributed brochures that provide guidance on using natural lawn care. These outreach materials were selected to meet specific needs identified by lawn caretakers through the survey and focus groups conducted in 2018-2019. Three brochures that cover the topics of managing pests with fewer chemicals, soil testing, and choosing the right plant for the right place were distributed to 38 locations throughout Illinois and Indiana. In total, more than 52,500 copies are now at University of Illinois Extension offices, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County, where they are available to the public. In addition, two fact sheets that highlight information for nutrient priority watersheds were created and distributed to University of Illinois Extension educators in those watersheds.
In 2021, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant developed a comprehensive natural lawn care website that helps lawn caretakers grow a healthy, attractive lawn while using less fertilizers, pesticides, and water. Using existing resources, the latest research, and expert reviewers, IISG developed lawntolakemidwest.org. This comprehensive resource includes video playlists, a soil testing map, a lawn care calendar and a quiz, and links to outreach materials. The website was launched in September of 2021 with a promotional campaign that included a series of 10 short videos that explain the basics of natural lawn care. These videos have 98 views on YouTube and as part of a Facebook campaign, the videos had 84,589 impressions. Since its release, the website has been viewed by over 10,000 people.
Over this project period, three different Lawn to Lake virtual presentations were given on natural lawn care practices, reaching a total of 374 people. Illinois - Indiana Sea Grant staffed one pollution prevention and natural lawn care informational booth at an event, reaching 35 people.
For more information, see lawntolakemidwest.org.
