Introducing Alternative Lawn Workshops
From the very beginning of Botany, we’ve been on a mission to change our relationship with our landscapes, and we’ve centered our work on replacing conventional, high-input lawns with something better.
Since 2021, we’ve helped more than 60 neighbors convert their lawns into designed plant communities teaming with life and beauty.
We’ve planted thousands of plants over the past few years, but we’ve always been limited in the number of projects and partners we can take on in a given season.
In 2025, we’re adding a new dimension to this work with a 3-part series of lawn conversion workshops.
Taught by our Founder and CEO, Ben, these workshops build upon not only our past few years of experience, they also draw upon more than a decade of experience in public botanical gardens and Ben’s own gardening practice. He’ll share the how, what, when, and why when it comes to committing to any scale of lawn conversion.
These workshops are intended to empower your DIY spirit, enabling and inspiring you to become a joyful and active participant in your own outdoors in a choose-your-own-adventure format.
What is an alternative lawn?
It is the intentional cultivation of something other than non-native turf grass. Preferably native plants, and the more diversity the better.
These plantings reward thoughtful, purposeful intervention guided and informed by nature as you cultivate and enjoy a net-positive landscape that is more than the sum of its plants. These landscapes foster critical habitat for wildlife like insects and songbirds, they’re beautiful year-round, they help capture and store carbon, they require fewer inputs like irrigation or fertilizers, and they help to build strong relationships among neighbors.
Winter 2025 Offerings
Lawn conversion 101: Embracing an Alternative Lawn & Getting a Good Start
Monday February 17 & 24, 6:30-8p | 10 spots available, $55/person
Please note you only need to register for one session. Both dates will be identical in terms of content.
This beginner-friendly workshop is a prerequisite for both Lawn Conversion 102 and 103.
Are you considering transforming a portion of your lawn into something different? In this workshop, we’ll cover everything you need to know, starting with an exploration of the cultural, ecological, and community significance of embracing an alternative lawn, including a brief history of lawns in America. We’ll explore popular movements like No Mow May and Homegrown National Park, and demystify the nuance of local zoning codes and ordinances when it comes to alternative lawns.
We’ll also share a variety of alternative lawn options, from clover and low-mow fescue to tapestry lawns, edible landscaping, and designed native plantings. We’ll guide you through the basics including how to select the best location and size of your new planting, how to budget, and how to prepare a site for new plants.
This workshop will be interactive and you’ll leave with a concrete plan of action tailored to you, for whenever you’re ready to take the next step.
Lawn Conversion 102: Plant Selection, Design & Installation
Monday, March 17 & 24, 6:30-8:30p | 10 spots available, $70/person
Please note you only need to register for one session. Both dates will be identical in terms of content.
Congratulations! You’ve decided to transform a portion of your lawn into something better. You’ve already learned about site preparation and thought about the scope of your project in LC 101, which means it’s (almost) time to dig in.
In this workshop, we’ll demystify and simplify the process of plant selection, procurement, and design, including important things to know when shopping for new plants, both in person and online. We’ll share some of our absolute favorite plants and combinations with an emphasis on year-round interest and a seasonal progression of flowers that support local pollinators and wildlife. We’ll also share essential tools, tips, and techniques that make planting a new alternative lawn a breeze.
The first few months of establishment following a new planting are the most important when it comes to long-term success, and we’ll empower you with the guidance and strategies you’ll need to help your new planting thrive.
This workshop will be hands-on and interactive, and you’ll leave with a unique plant list, sources, and planting plan tailored to you, for whenever you’re ready to take the next step.