The Clarksburg Yard

America’s urban landscape is traditionally based on the pursuit of the perfect lawn. To maintain a manicured, uniform yard, we are spending precious money, time, and environmental resources.  Previously, this lawn was a monoculture of grass that was being mowed and cared for many times a year. Between water consumption, chemical inputs, and greenhouse gas emissions from mowing, maintaining this lawn in the traditional way meant the loss of biodiversity of plants, wildlife, and the bacteria and fungi necessary for healthy soil. 

Pastor Beth and other leaders at Clarksburg Church recognized that the transformation of this piece of land from lawn to meadow would not only create a thriving environment but would also bring a community together.  

As part of the church’s “The Yard” initiative, creating a native meadow was part of the mission to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community. By integrating environmental stewardship with community development, the meadow at The Yard helps build meaningful relationships with residents, schools, organizations, and stakeholders while promoting civic engagement, wellness, and sustainability.  Through partnerships between Clarksburg Church, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Common Ground Earth, and Montgomery County, what has taken years to organize and plan is finally being implemented.  

Preparation for converting the half acre of lawn to meadow began in early April. The grass and weeds were first removed by solarization. This removes competition from weeds and invasives that could prevent the native plants from establishing.  

Currently, we are in the process of installing 21,024 native plugs. A plug is a plant that was grown from seed in a greenhouse in trays of 72 or 50 individuals that are 2 inches wide and up to 5 inches deep. Another way to install a meadow is by sowing seeds. But by installing plugs, this meadow has a jump start in establishment and is immediately able to shade out competitors, cool the soil with its shade, and give visitors an eyeful of beautiful texture and color.  

Some species that we planted are butterfly weed, coreopsis, phlox, mountain mint, coneflower, goldenrod, milkweed, and various sedges. Meadows provide so much more benefit to our environment and humans than lawns. This meadow is going to be a hub for biodiversity and pollinators. After the plugs are established, the native plants will not need water to stay green and alive, as natives have evolved to be used to the sometimes-harsh conditions of the regions they live in. Stormwater and any pollutants that flow off the parking lot and roof of the church will be captured and filtered in the meadow’s deep root systems before it reaches our waterways. Finally, no chemicals will be needed to keep the meadow beautiful. Its natural blooms, textures, and interesting characteristics will be managed by mother nature, allowing for less mowing and more community connection. 

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