Ecologist helping North American growers use their yards to help fight the climate crisis đť
Do I need a "green thumb" to garden?
Hi friend,A lot of people tell me they can't garden because they don't have a "green thumb." But having a naturally âgreen thumbâ doesnât dictate whether or not you can garden. Anyone can grow things, I promise. Especially in an eco-garden! The emphasis on working with nature instead of against it makes everything easier. Eco-gardens are low maintenance and sustainableWhen you set up a functioning ecosystem, youâre set up for success. Let the ecosystem do its thing, sit back, and enjoy! Native plants are easy to growBecause they evolved in the climate you live in, the conditions they need to thrive are already there. They donât need much maintenance at all. Healthy ecosystems keep themselves in checkPests and disease are less of a problem in an eco-garden because of the focus on improving soil health and inviting a diversity of wildlife including predators of âpestsâ You donât have to do it allEven converting a small area of your yard to an eco-garden makes a huge difference! Learn more about how to jumpstart your eco-garden with my online course, Gardening for the Future!â Enrollment is opening soon. Join the waitlist here đż
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Native Yardening
Ecologist helping North American growers use their yards to help fight the climate crisis đť
Hi friend, As I post more on social media about the problems caused by invasive plants, I realize how much misunderstanding there is around these issues. I always get a little discouraged when I see firsthand how misinformed the general public is about how nature works. But I also understand that it's a systemic issue. We aren't taught about these things. I recently made this post on Facebook and Instagram, showing a handful of common invasive species in North America. For some reason, people...
Hi friend, Galls! What are they? Should you be concerned if you see something like this on your plants? A gall is an abnormal growth on exterior plant tissue (leaves, branches, flowers, etc.). They may look like tumors, warts, balls, or lumps, and vary widely in shape, size, color, etc. Theyâre complex and highly organized structures, and science still has a lot to learn about them. Most galls are caused by insects and other invertebrates like wasps, midges, aphids, mites, etc. either feeding...
Hi friend, Something that I donât think is talked about enough is the fact that weâre living through one of the largest mass extinction events to ever happen on Earth. Our planet has lost 73% of wildlife biodiversity between 1970 and 2020, according to the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report Right now, 40% of all insect species globally are in decline. And up to 1/3 of all insects are in the range to be endangered. Insects are the foundation of the food chain for both human and...