The Native Plant Backyard Challenge supports Central Ohio residents in turning a part of their yard into native plant habitat, providing food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
We challenge YOU to introduce native plants in your yard! In 2021, Grange Insurance Audubon Center (GIAC) and Columbus Audubon teamed up to create the Native Plant Backyard Challenge (NPBYC). To date, over 600 households have taken the challenge spanning 47 zip codes across Ohio. This annual program provides resources for new and returning households who would like to transform or further develop their outdoor spaces with native plants. The NPBYC includes community events, educational workshops, giveaways, and more throughout the year. The challenge works to ensure that participants become ambassadors for native plants in their community!
Registration Registration for the 2026 NPBYC is now closed. Please reach out to fiona.mccarthy@audubon.org to get on the email list for the 2027 program.
New Challenge Participant – $35.00
Returning Challenge Participant (participation in previous year required) – $30.00
Those registering also have the option to become a Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Columbus Audubon, and National Audubon Society member as an individual or family. Click here to become a member!
2026 Timeline of Events
Details for each event, including location and timing, will be sent to participants after registering for the program.
Kick-off Gathering Saturday April 11th
Join us at Grange Insurance Audubon Center to kick off the 2026 NPBYC! Local environmental, gardening, and native plant focused organizations will be tabling this event. Each participating household will be able to pick up this year’s official toolkit! The kick-off is a fantastic opportunity to engage with community organizations, learn more about native plants, and pick up some useful resources.
Gale Martin, owner of local native nursery Natives in Harmony, will speak on why native plants matter and incorporating native plants into your landscape.
Matrix Planting Workshop Michael Keeler, Ohio Native Concepts LLCSaturday April 25th
This workshop will explore the matrix planting approach to garden design. Join Michael Keeler of Ohio Native Concepts LLC to learn how to strategically select plants to grow together in a garden space.
Community Backyards: Rain Gardens 101Nicole Tabit, Franklin Park Conservatory Thursday April 30th
This is a Community Backyards approved workshop! To learn more about Community Backyards, visit the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District website here.
Why are rain gardens so important? Discover how rain gardens can reduce runoff, support local biodiversity, and enhance your landscape’s resilience to climate challenges. A Franklin Park Conservatory Educator will guide you through the basics of implementation, from site assessment to design needs, while considering which plants to select, and how to create a vibrant and eye-catching landscape design with them.
Native Plant Sale Sunday May 10th
Our native plant sale is exclusive to NPBYC participants and provides households with an opportunity to purchase some of the native plants that they want to include in their garden! Multiple vendors will be selling a wide selection of plants at Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
Making It (Habitat) in the Shade: Creating Native Soft Landings at Home and in Our ParksChris Anderson, Catch the WaterThursday May 14th
Gardening in the shade has long been a challenge. But growing awareness of beneficial insect and fungal life cycles provides a fresh layer for native garden design and natural beauty. Chris Anderson of Catch the Water, LLC will guide us through some of these life cycles and why they matter, share some of his favorite native shade plants for home gardens, and offer an ecological approach to designing and maintaining shade and part-shade gardens that are full of life.
Native Food ForestsSean McKay, Mid-Ohio Food CollectiveSunday June 7th
Sean McKay will be giving a lecture on native food forests at the Farm on the Hilltop! This presentation will focus on what a food forest is, the effects it can have in an urban environment, permaculture, and what native plants can be incorporated in central Ohio. Sean is the Farm Education Coordinator at Mid-Ohio Food Collective’s Farm on the Hilltop with a wide range of experiences and education in horticulture, urban farming, landscape design, community outreach, and activism. He’s passionate about sharing his love of the natural world and empowering people to grow their own food.
Homegrown: The Art of Living Together, Artist Talk and Exhibit PreviewCarmen OstermannSaturday July 11th
Join us for an engaging artist talk by Carmen Ostermann about her upcoming ceramic exhibition Homegrown: The Art of Living Together that highlights indigenous Ohio flora and fauna, showcasing complex porcelain sculptures depicting native Ohio birds, bugs, and plants engaged in symbiotic relationships. This work promotes native plant gardening with the hope to enhance biodiversity and foster a symbiotic bond with nature in Columbus communities.
During this session, Carmen will present a selection of the ceramic pieces featured in the show, sharing insights into her creative process, materials, techniques, and the conceptual themes that shape the work. Participants will have the unique opportunity to view pieces in person as an exclusive preview of the exhibit. Seeing the works up close allows for a deeper appreciation of their texture, form, surface detail, and scale—elements that are essential to the experience of the porcelain sculpture. Come ready to look closely, ask questions, and gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on this body of work.
Garden Tour Sunday July 19th (Rescheduled)
On July 19th, community members and program participants will be opening up their native garden spaces for you to explore, as well as connect with other local native plant gardeners and enthusiasts! Touring participants will be able to visit multiple local gardens around Columbus on a come-and-go basis throughout the day.
Backyard Herbalism 101: Native Plants for Everyday CareSheena Hanscel, The Pollen PatchThursday July 30thReturning Participants Only.
Native plants aren’t just for pollinators and birds. They’ve long supported people, too. For generations, native plants have served as food, medicine, and daily care. In this workshop, Sheena Hanscel of The Pollen Patch will share how to begin working with native plants in tangible ways. Participants will learn how common Ohio native species can be prepared as teas, salves, tinctures, and more. The program will also introduce Ohio Indigenous ethnobotany; the historical relationships between native plants and the original stewards of this land. Participants will leave with practical knowledge they can apply immediately in their own gardens and self-care routines, and how tending native plants can shift from passive landscaping to active participation in our own well-being.
Season’s End Gathering and Plant Swap Saturday August 15th
Celebrate your native gardening successes at our Season’s End Gathering! We’ll hear from a few NPBYC participants about how they transformed their yard using native plants. This is a great opportunity to connect with the challenge community and share your experience. We’ll also be holding our first annual plant swap on this day!
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