No Lawns

There are many, many programs - sometimes as simple as a one-form rebate - available to help with and often completely cover costs related with:

• replacing grass lawns with native plants, drought resistant plants and food gardens
• adding cisterns, rain barrels and grey water systems
• replacing with or adding new "smart" sprinkler controllers that check weather forecasts to plan irrigation around the rain
• ordering and planting trees, including fruit trees
• compost barrels, compost and mulch, drip irrigation hoses, pool covers, and more

Some of my favorites include programs where you can get trees delivered and sometimes even planted for free, programs to help restore local parks and buisness landscaping to native flora, volunteer programs to remove invasive species from local parks, and money for replacing turf lawns with plants, bushes and trees that help bird and beneficial insect populations. Sometimes lanscaping companies and volunteers can even do the work utilizing the grants and rebates with little or no cost to you! Shoutout to the arbor day foundation that provides native trees, delivered to your door.

Here is a list (not just the US) of programs, and another here. Your local water utility likely has a list of rebates and such available in your area, as well as your county extension office if youre in the US, and any government office from city up to the federal level, especially if you live in a drought prone area like the southwestern US. You can also search for "xeniscaping" to find more, or talk to your local hardware store or nursery.