Tennessee Smart Yards

Please join us at 6 p.m. on April 16th at North Chattanooga Community Center (406 May Street) for a joint presentation for the NCNA and Hill City neighborhood association. Laurie Michell and Ann Brown will be presenting on the Tennessee Smart Yards program. Tennessee Smart Yards is a program from the University of Tennessee Extension that guides and assists homeowners and neighborhood associations on practices they can apply in their outdoor spaces to create healthier and more sustainable living spaces and communities. The program is a cooperative with TVA and the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center.

The program guides the homeowner through the 9 fundamental principles to sustainability. Some examples of the 9 principles are watering efficiently, providing for wildlife, and reducing storm water run off and its pollutants.The homeowner doesn’t have to be an expert gardener or landscaper to create and certify a Tennessee Smart Yard. With the guidance from the Tennessee Smart Yard handbook and educational videos, the 9 principles are attainable for the homeowner. Both HCNA and NCNA residents have shown that they are very conscientious of the environment, and we are confident that they will be interested in becoming a Tennessee Smart Yard. 

In addition to smart yards, the University of Tennessee also has a program for your communities to become a Tennessee Smart Yard Community. The program has three categories to reach the community, Education, Stewardship, and Connection.  They will discuss this program at their presentation as well.

The event will include information about Tennessee Smart Yards, and they will also have a table at the NCNA Earth Day celebration April 5th. Hope you can join us!