Live Responsibly: Evaluate Yourself with the Maryland Living Landscapes Metric

Take the Test

Maryland Extension Service has a checklist so you can evaluate how your own landscape practices and essential habits help support healthy Maryland watersheds. Take the test in a PDF form you can download and score. There are several small actions that an individual like you can take that can add up to big improvements in air and water quality. Click on the picture to download the PDF.

Here are the eight essential habits that Maryland residents can adopt today:

1. Recycle organic yard and kitchen waste on-site.
2. Capture and use precipitation where it falls.
3. Plant and conserve a wide variety of native plants.
4. Protect pollinators and beneficial insects.
5. Reduce hazards to fish & wildlife.
6. Shrink your lawn footprint.
7. Protect our waterways and shorelines.
8. Educate friends, family, and neighbors about MD Living Landscapes practices.

Become “Bay-Wise/Water-Wise 2.0 certified

Any Maryland resident can apply for Bay-Wise certification after self-evaluating and scoring 80-100 using this Maryland Living Landscapes Metric. Use the short application on the last page of the booklet to submit a request to have a Bay-Wise Master Gardener team visit your yard for an evaluation visit and constructive feedback. This personalized consultation backed by University of Maryland expertise is what sets this program apart from many other certification programs.