Our city is abuzz since the rollout of 100 Resilient Yards on March 1. To keep that momentum rolling, we’ll answer some of your questions about the project’s impact and the outcomes we hope to see this summer.

Native flowers. Courtesy photo/Freddie Ramm

Participant applications are open through April 1 and available online at https://tinyurl.com/100-Resilient-Yards and in hard copy at South Portland City Hall, South Portland Public Library, Community Center and Redbank Hub.

Volunteer applications to help with the implementation of our program over the summer are also available on our webpage through May 31.

Importance of resilient green spaces

With an anticipated rise in the frequency and strength of storms and flooding, and with more high heat summer days, our green spaces have never been more important to our community’s resilience. Resilient ecosystems are not only aesthetically pleasing, but create shade, water filtration, habitat, and other ecosystem services.

The five resilient yard outcomes this program is focusing on creating are pollinator gardens, rain gardens, vegetable gardens, native plantings, and organic lawns.

Black-eyed Susans. Courtesy photo/Nick Fewings

Pollinator gardens create habitat for some of our most important native species; pollinators. From bees and butterflies to birds, pollinators aid in the reproductive process of more than 90 percent of plants globally. In turn, these plants provide food for our pivotal pollinators.

Did you know that bees are most attracted to the colors white, yellow, and violet? Pollinator gardens are a great option if you’re a honey fan, like me, and want to encourage bees to produce as much as possible during our short growing season.

Rain gardens have two major environmental benefits. First, they slow and retain runoff, reducing flooding and erosion associated with peak storm flows. Second, they filter that runoff removing pollutants and improving our water quality. Rain gardens also help to maintain soil structure and are attractive, simple additions to green spaces where roof runoff or downspouts cause depressions in the ground. Plus, they’re easy and relatively inexpensive to install.

Vegetable gardens improve upon the quality of our soil, making possible food production year over year. Where six to eight hours of sunlight is available, vegetable production is a good option. They also push South Portland toward reaching so many of our climate action goals by helping to create a thriving, hyper-local food system, and outdoor access in our home spaces.

Native plantings incorporate trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses native to Maine. These plantings purify our air, store carbon, and shade and cool our city. They also provide four-season beauty to our communities while requiring little to no maintenance. For those with lawns no longer utilized for recreation, a transition to native plantings allows our whole community ecosystem to benefit.

Organic lawns are perfect when open space is needed for recreational activities, with the added benefit of knowing these spaces are safe for people, pets, and the greater environment. Once soil health has been established, where water, nutrients, and microorganisms can infiltrate properly, organic lawns require few inputs. While some maintenance is necessary, like aeration during the transition to an organic lawn and mowing at 3 inches once a lawn has been established, organic lawns are a cleaner, safer way to enjoy our green spaces.

We’re looking forward to your applications. To participate in 100 Resilient Yards, visit https://tinyurl.com/100-Resilient-Yards for both the participant and volunteer applications.

Our Sustainable City is a recurring column in the Sentry intended to provide residents with news and information about sustainability initiatives in South Portland. Follow the Sustainability Office on Instagram @soposustainability.

Steve Genovese is an AmeriCorps/Greater Portland Council of Governments Resilience Corps fellow serving in the South Portland Sustainability Office through September 2023. He can be reached at sgenovese@southportland.org.