The CSU Native Plant Pilot Initiative is a collaboration between CSU, the Nature in the City program at the City of Fort Collins, Audubon Rockies, and local nurseries including High Plains Environmental Center and The Gardens on Spring Creek, with funding from the US National Science Foundation (NSF). This group came together in 2019 after CSU researchers Dr. Becky Niemiec and Dr. Megan Jones received funding from the NSF to do conduct a collaborative research study. Our goal is to understand what kinds of outreach is useful to support people to garden with native plants and to encourage their friends and neighbors to do the same. The first phase of this initiative involves sending mailers to Fort Collins residents, with $10 vouchers for themselves and others. The second phase will involve conducting community outreach events along the Colorado Front Range to give participants information about native plant gardening and provide $10 vouchers for themselves and others. 
Our Partners
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY 
Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
NATURE IN THE CITY - CITY OF FORT COLLINS
Learn More about the nature in the City Team
The Nature in the City Program was created in 2015 and is part of the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department. One of the program’s primary goals is to promote land stewardship through shifting landscape aesthetics to more diverse forms that support healthy environments. A large part of this goal is getting more native plants into the Fort Collins landscape. This effort aligns closely with the research endeavors of the CSU Native Plant Initiative – which we are excited to support. The results will help us design more effective engagement and education materials to help reach our goal of creating more diverse landscapes. If you see us, please stop by to say hi and tell us what you think about native plants!
Julia Feder, Environmental Program Manager 
Kate Rentschlar, Environmental Planner
Rachel Steeves, Environmental Planner
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION