HOMEOWNERS may not know they could get free yard work from the government if they meet certain qualifications.
Sue Sweet was stunned when workers showed up at her doorstep and provided $8,000 worth of labor for her sprawling property.
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Sue Sweet got $8,000 worth of labor from the government for her sprawling Washington property Credit: KREM 2 News
The Washington Department of Natural Resources helped clear out an invasive species Credit: KREM 2 News
The Washington Department of Natural Resources helped clear out invasive species overtaking her 20-acre property through an assistance program.
Service Forester Matt Smetana, who leads the project, said they help out homeowners who don’t have the tools to nurture their backyards.
“To restore this area to forest land benefits not just the neighbors and not just the Sweets, but it benefits the entire surrounding community,” he told CBS affiliate KREM.
Sweet and her daughter Haley said they had every intention of taking care of their property outside Olympia, an hour and a half southwest of Seattle, when they purchased it in 2022.
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But after the spring air melted the snow in their backyards they realized prickly knotweeds and blackberries had climbed to monstrous heights.
The DNR provided labor, materials, and expertise to clear out the invasive species, which in turn protects the forest from wildfires.
The assistance program has been a huge hit with homeowners living west of the Cascades as a waiting list has already filled up.
Sweet gushed over the DNR’s help and said she’s ready to piggyback off their work and become a forest ranger in her own right.
Sweet owns 20 acres of land an hour and a half outside Seattle Credit: KREM 2 News
She and her daughter are now working to nurture the forest in their backyard Credit: KREM 2 News
“As a little girl, I wanted to be a forest ranger,” she said.
“My brothers told me girls can’t be forest rangers, so here I am — we’re building a forest here.”
For now, the program is funded through June unless state legislature allocates more money.
While state Departments of Natural Resources generally can’t help with routine maintenance like mowing, they offer a wide range of other services to property owners.
Many state departments will help plant native species to restore natural habitats and attract pollinators.
Homeowners should research state and local laws to see the services provided or reach out to the department to get expert advice.
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