Taking a walk through the forest today I observed just how dry it is. It is hot and it is dry. Too dry. The drought and heat are killing the cedars. The Okanagan has a water shortage and the last three years have been tough on the forest.
Watching people surround their houses with non-native species of grass lawns that they cut short and proceed to water with precious drinking water in the midday sun makes me sad and worried for our species. What are we thinking? Are we thinking?
What would you rather? Have a green lawn in front of your house? Or know that you are helping to conserve water for the benefit of all, give habitat to wildlife and native plants and give struggling pollinator species a chance to survive?
What is more important?
When you think that you don't have the power to change the world or make this planet a better place, think again! Every choice and action you make/take has an impact.
Choose wisely. Our lives depend on it... truly.
I have been inspired reading Jared Rosenbaum's new book Wild Plant Culture: A Guide to Restoring Edible and Medicinal Native Plant Communities. In this book he guides us through the various types of habitats and how you can have a beneficial impact on your surroundings by working together with nature in reciprocity. How you can help native plants come back and thrive in areas previously developed. It is detailed and filled with lovely lore about uses and facts about plants. It is a book you will want to have in your library as a reference for years to come. Find more information about the author and book at this link: https://wildplantculture.com/
In my latest article in Your Country News I speak about this topic. How we can create yards that are biodiverse, water wise and beautiful. You can find free copies of Your Country News in select locations in Armstrong and Enderby. Or you can connect with YCN on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/p/Your-Country-News-100063523994968/
Here is the article:
It Takes a Community…
By Mikaela Cannon
Armstrong/Spallumcheen Climate Action (ASCA)
It has long been customary for homes in North America to have large, lush lawns. Lawns first became popular in Europe in the 1700’s. They were a sign of wealth. Landowners needed many hands to keep their lawns short and could flaunt that they were so wealthy that they could use their land and staff for something as unproductive as a lawn. They brought this fashion to North America and the trend continued here, even though many places in North America were not suitable for maintaining a green lawn. The temperate climate of England or northern France is very different from the dry and hot climate of Interior BC.
For a lawn to continue to look lush over summer it needs an enormous amount of water. Water that we don’t have here.
We no longer need to look to Europe for the latest fashion, we don’t need to follow anyone else’s idea of what our front yards ought to look like. We can design our yards with our bioclimate in mind, with what makes sense here. When we use native plants instead of non–native grass, we are planting vegetation that can handle our climate and are more water wise. Once established they’ll need less maintenance and less water. That’s more time at the beach, less time mowing. Sounds good to me!
During droughts, like the one we’re in now, lawns that are cut short look yellow and dry. To me, a more attractive yard would be one where part of the yard is used to grow vegetables or herbs and the other part native vegetation. Growing your own food makes sense when you think of the increasing cost of groceries. This way you have access to local, healthy and pesticide free food.
Native bushes like Oregon grape, saskatoon, mock orange, red osier dogwood and ocean spray look absolutely stunning in a yard and both the Oregon grape and the saskatoon have edible berries. Ask your local nursery to help you find native plants suitable for your yard.
With a variety of plants rather than one type of non-native grass you will boost the biodiversity of the region. There are many scientific reports that alert us to the alarming fact that insect species world-wide are declining. Some of the stated reasons for this decline are habitat loss and insecticides/pesticides. You can help them by growing a variety of flowers in your yard and by not spraying chemicals.
If the neighbours are wondering why your yard looks wilder than usual, put up a sign to show that it’s intentional, or better yet, chat with them about why you’re changing your yard. Who knows, you might make friends and create community.
Contact me for a free sign for your yard (by artist Leslie Charman and kindly donated by the Chase Environmental Action Group. Handed out as long as the supply lasts).
Let me know what you are doing in your yard, what tips to conserve water and encourage biodiversity can you share. I would love to hear from you.
With Kindness,
Mikaela
