Resources

Public Funding

Public agencies can help you with many aspects of successfully implementing a hedgerow, including the financing.

While a specific individual program may not pay 100% of the costs, your local service providers can often assist you in finding additional funding from other sources to make up the difference. Such sources might include US Fish & Wildlife, Salmon Recovery Board, other United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs in partnership with local agencies and landowners, and more.

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has incentive programs to help with hedgerow establishment. Contact your local NRCS Service Center office, as well as your local conservation district.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): This program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat. The program is administered through the USDA NRCS via local field offices.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): This program offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural and forest producers expand or improve on existing conservation practices, while still maintaining their baseline level of conservation. The program specifies Enhancements while still maintaining or improving their baseline level of conservation.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource-conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives. This program is administered through the USDA Farm Service Agency and local conservation districts. 

• Washington State Conservation Commission & local conservation districts: The Commission offers various grant funds for voluntary stewardship actions, and your local conservation district service provider can assist you in accessing the most appropriate funding option for your project. Funding examples can be found at the Commission’s website, and applications are made through your local conservation district. Find your local conservation district office here.

• Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) offers Infrastructure Grants that could support hedgerow projects, possibly in tandem with other funding sources.

Private Funding

• Washington Farmland Trust offers “Advancing Farm Sustainability” microgrants for more sustainable agriculture, including conservation buffers/hedgerows.

• The Tilth Alliance, through its Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund, supports conservation practices such as hedgerows that align with the Fund’s priorities. Projects must be completed in a 9-month period, and applications open once per year.

• The Rodale Institute offers microgrants of a maximum of $2,000 to farmers who are Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color. The program is geared to producers whose operations are organic or who aspire to transition to organic farming.

• Local & regional USDA NRCS office staff can provide extensive technical assistance. Find your local office by searching for your local NRCS Service Center office or contacting the Washington state office.
• County conservation district staff can provide you with services, including assessing potential grant partnerships. Find your local conservation district office here.
• Local WSU Extension offices may have expertise in hedgerows, restoration planting or landscaping through their agricultural field agents & faculty; Master Gardener programs; or various natural resources/water resources programs.
• Xerces Society offers publications by region regarding hedgerows, including an installation guide for Western Oregon & Washington.
• Washington Farmland Trust offers various technical assistance programs.

Pacific Northwest Native Plants & Other Plant Resources
Kruckeberg, Arthur R. and Linda Chalker-Scott. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Third Edition. University of Washington Press, 2019.

Leigh, Mike. Grow Your Own Native Landscape: A guide to identifying, propagating, an landscaping with Western Washington native plants. WSU Extension Native Plant Salvage Project, 1999.

O’Sullivan, Penelope. The Homeowner’s Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook: The essential guide to choosing, planting, and maintaining perfect landscape plants. Storey Publishing, 2007.

Creating Habitat & Support for Pollinators
Link, Russell. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1999.

Tallamy, Douglas W. Nature’s Best Hope: A new approach to conservation that starts in your yard. Timber Press, 2019.

Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home: How native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens.
Timber Press, 2007.

Useful Hedgerow Guide for California
Earnshaw, Sam. Hedgerows and Farmscaping for California Agriculture: A Resource Guide for
Farmers. Community Alliance with Family Farmers, 2018.

• Hedgerows How-To Handbook
• Hedgerow Templates
• Budget categories
• Example budget for a small farm
• Examples of plant choice for budget
• Summary of key pros & cons of different plant stock types