When we talk about clean energy and climate resilience, it’s easy to think about large-scale systems like buildings, transportation, and the electric grid. But there are also smaller, everyday spaces where meaningful change can happen, right outside our homes.
Sustainable Westchester is partnering with Plan It Wild to share the Less Lawn More Life Challenge, a free 12-week program that invites residents to explore simple, practical ways to make outdoor spaces more supportive of local ecosystems.
Lawns are a familiar part of our communities, but they don’t always contribute much to biodiversity or climate resilience. This program isn’t about replacing them or making big, immediate changes. It’s about taking small, realistic steps over time that can collectively make a difference.
The challenge begins May 7th with a live keynote from botanist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer, whose book Braiding Sweetgrass offers a thoughtful perspective on the relationship between people and the natural world.
From there, participants receive weekly email prompts with approachable actions to try at home, along with optional webinars featuring experts in ecology, conservation, and regenerative design. The program also includes a simple starting point called the Wildr Score, which helps people better understand how their outdoor space is currently supporting local biodiversity.
While Sustainable Westchester’s work often focuses on clean energy systems and building decarbonization, we also recognize that climate resilience is shaped at the community level. Healthier soils, increased tree cover, and native plantings all play a role in how neighborhoods experience heat, storms, and other climate impacts.
This effort is one of many ways to support a more resilient future, alongside broader clean energy work happening across the region.
The program is free and open to everyone, and it begins on May 7th.
Click the link to join the challenge: https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/?ref=sustainablewestchester
