Our primary project for A Frog House in 2026, Build Your Own Backyard Vernal Pond, is to fill a void that hasn’t (to our knowledge) yet been addressed in sustainability projects on private properties.
This vision is in line with Doug Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park concept, which has gained widespread respect and implementation, even expanding into the production of a selection of backyard native garden kits.
After building some full sized vernal ponds in 2025 with the assistance of Wetland Restoration and Training expert Thomas Biebighause in the public Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary, it seemed obvious that the next step would be to expand the idea of the Homegrown National Park to include a sustainable and ecologically essential water feature.
More info here.
Two grantors, Village & Wilderness, and the Rochester and Museum/Nature Cummings Center Climate Literacy Education (CLE), have tasked us with putting together 8 sample kits, complete with instructions and essential items for demonstration and testing, for 8 selected families around our area.
During and after this project, we will be exploring ways to professionally package, market and sell the kits, with a sliding fee scale which will be fiscally responsible, but also allow persons of lesser means to participate in the program.
You may not need a pond liners if you have clay soil, and/or groundwater. Please download this free preparation booklet to see if a kit would be useful.
If you wish to be one of the first 8 families to receive a free kit, training and to install a proper vernal pond, please fill out our form below. Families must sign the Partnership Agreement in order to be vetted and get one of the first 8 free kits.
