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Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

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Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#41

Post by yboris »

WaitWaitWha wrote: post #4

I suggest to add a bee home (bee house, bee hotel) to your garden. It is simple, last several years, it can be as small as a bird house, and can be a fun weekend project with the kids. (It can also be purchased.) Please, do not get honey bees, unless willing to take care of them - just like with any animal husbandry. I love them, I am a beek, but I find too many abandoned or swarms from people who bought into the ide…

Novel bee keeping technique: plastic bottle (you can see what's inside, know when to gather the honey, and you can keep bees safely indoors)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItlOFLTUAs

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#42

Post by onos »

bmitc wrote: post #3

After getting a house with a decent sized yard and trees, I have been having a lot of fun with planting native plants. While my neighbors are cutting down trees, which is honestly hard to watch, and paying landscapers to plant non-native plants, I'm spending a lot of time researching and planting native plants. It is honestly one of the more fulfilling things to walk outside and see all sorts of bees, butterflies, mo…

I don’t really understand the logic behind native only, beyond the desire not to introduce a plant or creature that would monopolize their environment.

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#44

Post by hnbear »

There are also some interesting larger projects focused on insect health and diversity like Brighton (in the UK) mandating Bee Bricks: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/bee-and-swift-bricks-mandate...

These are similar in design to the bee/insect hotels you find, but build as a brick, with the holes facing out, allowing insects a place to nest, and to fight the loss of bee populations.

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#45

Post by xyzzyz »

taeric wrote: post #25
bmitc wrote: post #3

After getting a house with a decent sized yard and trees, I have been having a lot of fun with planting native plants. While my neighbors are cutting down trees, which is honestly hard to watch, and paying landscapers to plant non-native plants, I'm spending a lot of time researching and planting native plants. It is honestly one of the more fulfilling things to walk outside and see all sorts of bees, butterflies, mo…

Native plants may be easy; but by that measure, invasives are where its at. :D That said, bringing down trees is always odd to me. Definitely bring down any that pose a risk to your house. But otherwise, seems more effort than it is worth. I should probably be a lot better at pruning, as that is a ton of work. And, while intellectually I know the answer is that you are unlikely to kill the tree, I am always worried a…

Depends on your goals. I’d love to have some big towering trees around me, but I also love gardening and laying in the sun. One big tree in an inopportune could shade my entire yard.

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#46

Post by [deleted] »

bmitc wrote: post #3

After getting a house with a decent sized yard and trees, I have been having a lot of fun with planting native plants. While my neighbors are cutting down trees, which is honestly hard to watch, and paying landscapers to plant non-native plants, I'm spending a lot of time researching and planting native plants. It is honestly one of the more fulfilling things to walk outside and see all sorts of bees, butterflies, mo…

[deleted]

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#47

Post by Loughla »

onos wrote: post #42
bmitc wrote: post #3

After getting a house with a decent sized yard and trees, I have been having a lot of fun with planting native plants. While my neighbors are cutting down trees, which is honestly hard to watch, and paying landscapers to plant non-native plants, I'm spending a lot of time researching and planting native plants. It is honestly one of the more fulfilling things to walk outside and see all sorts of bees, butterflies, mo…

I don’t really understand the logic behind native only, beyond the desire not to introduce a plant or creature that would monopolize their environment.

In my experience, it's multi-faceted. First, is the ease of integration. Native plants are, well, naturally better suited for your area. If you select a flower that grows natively in your area, it will be okay as long as you match the sun requirements. Second, they take less maintenance. Less water and little- to no-fertilizing, because they're already well suited to the climate and soil. Third, is that they are almost guaranteed not to be invasive. And finally, you don't have to worry about introducing anything toxic to the native fauna inadvertently. If it's toxic, they already do not eat it.

For me, it was that they are super easy to take care of, and thrive under conditions that would murder "standard" sorts of landscaping plants. I'm forgetful, and a watering schedule is just not an option for my poor, poor brain.

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#48

Post by frereubu »

bmitc wrote: post #3

After getting a house with a decent sized yard and trees, I have been having a lot of fun with planting native plants. While my neighbors are cutting down trees, which is honestly hard to watch, and paying landscapers to plant non-native plants, I'm spending a lot of time researching and planting native plants. It is honestly one of the more fulfilling things to walk outside and see all sorts of bees, butterflies, mo…

If you haven't already, you might enjoy learning about permaculture. This is a short and easily-accessibile introduction - two of its originators, David Holmgren and Su Dennett, talking about how they designed their house according to its principles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1BjW2kSNs

The part of your comment which prompted the comparison was "... native plant species are easy. If you plant them in the right place, they will grow very easily and strongly with minimal care." This is one of the principles of permaculture - based on the land you have available (and it can be as small as a balcony off a flat) spend some time working our what works where based on your plot and plant that, rather than struggling to get something working where it doesn't belong.

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#49

Post by mooreds »

Decabytes wrote: post #10

I've always had a dream to buy a plot of land and homestead. But I have family that is getting older and needs my help more often. The though of being far away from essential services like Hospitals is not ideal. Also I'm still too early in my career to make that move. So, more recently I've been thinking of an idea I call "urban homesteading", which is just based off the idea of not waiting until the perfect circums…

I had an instructor once who advised younger folks who were not ready to buy land to spend some money on really good gardening tools.

I see you mentioned gardening. You can also get a plot in a community garden in some towns, or volunteer on a CSA farm, which gives you some food growing capacity (and grows your skills).

Re: Turn your backyard into a biodiversity hotspot

#50

Post by throwawaaarrgh »

When I made one 8x2.5 high density raised bed on my stoop in Philly, I got: Birds, squirrels, butterflies, moths, wasps, caterpillars, praying mantis, aphids, worms, grubs, ants, ladybugs, bees, and more. I grew tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, basil, thyme, oregano, lavender, bee balm, broccoli, lettuce mix, and beans, and had ornamenral flowers to attract pollinators.

I'd set up a chair and just watch like it was the nature channel. Every time a bee would come visit, I would rejoice. The whole city melted away and I was plunged into a tiny living ecosystem. Absolutely the best investment I've ever made for my quality of life.

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