Lawns To Habitat

The application period for the 2025 Lawns to Habitat Grant will open May 1st 2025.

Successful applicants will receive:

$250 worth of native plants (40-50 plants, covers approx. 2,500 sq. ft.)
Design advice from local gardening experts

Before Applying –

Define, measure, and photograph your project area. Pin flags or survey tape and nails can help you visualize your new native habitat.
Measure to the nearest foot, calculate square footage by multiplying area width by length.
Photograph all dead or dying lawn. Do this before removal if you plan to apply for an additional Waterwise turf removal grant.

Timeline:

May 1-June 15

Apply for a Lawns to Habitat Grant online.

By June 30

All grant applications will be reviewed by a panel of experienced CVAS members. Winning applicants will be notified by email.

Through the Summer

Remove your lawn by sheet mulching, hand removal, mechanical turf cutting, and /or herbicide application. Please note this process takes 4-8 weeks. June through October are ideal months to complete this process.

June to September

Site visits, design advice, and plant order preparation occur throughout the summer and early fall months (June-September) as grant recipient’s turf is removed, hardscapes installed, and irrigation systems modified. Grant recipients will receive help with planting concept designs for the native plants from CVAS volunteers, but may wish to contract with landscape professionals. See CVAS resource list for businesses that support the Lawns to Habitat Program.

September to November

Order and pick up plants in Thousand Oaks. Contingent on current water restrictions, install plants. Grant recipients are responsible for plant installation.

Eligibility Requirements

Must have some lawn, non-native plants, or un-landscaped area available for replacement.
Must be the owner of the property or have the owner’s written permission.
Must be located in Agoura, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park or Camarillo.
Owner certifies that they have no outdoor cats with access to the property, and sign the CVAS liability waiver.
Must be ready to plant in September-November.

We will select winners from those who completed the entire form. The winners must allow CVAS to post project before and after photos on its website and/or in publications and videos describing the process. All applications for the Lawns to Habitat Program must be received by June 15, 2025. Complete the form below. Call Erik Oberg at 202-906-9932 with questions.

Apply For LTH Grant Here

Please include as much information as possible, and complete required fields for your grant application to be considered.

Have you previously APPLIED FOR a Lawns to Habitat grant from the Conejo Valley Audubon Society? (required)

Have you previously RECEIVED a Lawns to Habitat grant from the Conejo Valley Audubon Society? (required)

Name (required)

Email (required)

Phone Number (required)

Street Address of the Yard (required; Please include CITY and ZIP)

Approximate size of the yard you want to convert (required; i.e. 50' x 50' = 2500 sq ft)

What is currently in the yard? (required)

Where is the area located? (required)

Is your yard adjacent to, or within 1/4 mile of, a park or protected open space? (required)

Do you plan to participate in the WaterWise turf removal program?

When will you be ready to plant (turf removed; month and year)? (required)

Why do you want to win this grant? (required)

If you win, do you grant CVAS permission to use images and video of you and your land transformation for marketing materials and other uses? Your address will not be publicized. (required)

Do you have any outdoor cats? (required)

Are you interested in participating in a post-conversion Garden Tour?

How did you hear about Lawns To Habitat? (required)

WAIVER OF LIABILITY
"In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Conejo Valley Audubon Society’s Lawns to Habitat Program, I do hereby release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue the Conejo Valley Audubon Society from any and all claims resulting in personal injury and/or property loss arising from participation in said Lawns to Habitat Program. Grantee agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Conejo Valley Audubon Society and its agents from and against any liability or loss arising from using the “Lawns to Habitat” program and/or grant, unless such liability or loss is the result of Conejo Valley Audubon Society’s sole negligence or willful misconduct.
Grantee acknowledges that Ventura County Fire Department considers large plants within five (5) feet of a house a fire hazard.