Being in a season of transition as my children move into adulthood, I’m searching for a place in the WILD to call home or at least a Home Base to store my toys-n-tools. After a few decades caretaking and cleaning, I do not want an Empire nor a lawn to tie me down. I am a nomad-hunter-fisher-forager at heart. I am rewilding!
I couldn't agree more. I hate lawns and think they are a colossal waste of time and resources. I recently heard a statistics about how lawns are the largest "crop" in the US in terms of acreage and water use. I'm excited to check out Nature's Best Hope- thanks for that recommendation.
Thank you so much for posting your knowledge, actions and opinions on this!!!
It’s also a super critical need right now! And we can help so easily.
We’ve made native Oak woodland lowland savanna with all its associated plants out of our entire property, with the help of our very carefully grazed sheep (used in a full circle, nature-mimicking way) and lots of native plantings. Shrubs and trees really help support wildlife habitat and comfort in bigger yards and acreage, in addition to the forbs and smaller shrubs which are so beautiful.
My vision for mitigating the effects of urban and suburban humanity is to connect the entire world with these small green more native and/or productive spaces that will provide for a healthy wild microbe/plant/insect/reptile/amphibian/bird/mammal population support system worldwide!!!
Outside of trails or work space (and that STILL can be native grasses to one’s area) kick the lawns and all its maintenance, chemicals, related machinery, lack of diversity, and water waste to the bins of humanity!!
to nature/wildlife, lawns are possibly the most toxic and chaotic environment of anything humans plant.
I really believe it's cultural shifts like this that will save us from ourselves. The more people rewild their lawns, the more kids are gonna grow up like "Wow, that's fucking cool, why don't we have this at our house instead of a stupid square of high-maintenance green boredom?" and one day it'll be socially taboo to NOT support native wildlife around your house. I hope, anyway.
Another wonderful article. As of late I've been reading about edible landscapes but you've taken it to the next level! It's really got me thinking. My situation is a bit different. I'm renting a townhouse that has severe control of the front lawn, and the back "yard" is miniscule. However, a container garden of native species just might work. Just the other day I gathered some fireweed seeds from a nearby "feral" (or should I say resilient) plant. Not sure why, just seemed to be a good idea. Know I know why. Once again your writing came a long at just the right time. Thanks!
Wonderful and funny when I got into my new home the first thing I did was dig up the yard and plant a garden. Then I xpanded it. Feels good if it gives the shallow minded folks something to talk about then so much the better.
Absolutely wonderful! And look how many folks are on the same page! :-D Thank you for spreading the wilding news ! And the page's new graphics are pretty sweet, as well. Blessings! (p.s. Don't forget you can eat the monarda/bee balm flowers as well - there's delicious nectar in there, if one can share with the hummingbirds.)
While I'm where I have no control over what's outside my window--and they just dug out the going wild flower garden earlier this month to put in (shudder!!!) a lawn of Kentuckey bluegrass--I can well remember living on Dad's farm with the converted hayfield yard--never saw a pesticide--and all the native eats around, including three different species of apples in the hedgerows along with native blackberries, elderberries and raspberries, watercress and spearmint down near the beaver ponds and various wild edibles growing wherever they could find a spot. The point garden where one end of our 'circular' driveway met the road was half volunteer flowers including Black eyed Susans, Camomile, violets, strawflowers and something small and red we never identified. There was also patches of trefoil all over the place but Dad said that was a hay plant so maybe it's not native? The only volunteer plant I ever vigorously pulled out (with Dad's full blessing) was wild hemp. I did NOT want my brother (who thankfully was never very savvy about plants) getting his hands on 'mary jane'! (He came home from the Air Force a borderline alcoholic and as a teenager ran through model glue like you wouldn't believe.) We did have an ongoing battle with the multifloral rosebush that took root over our septic tank but that was mainly to keep that prolific invasive plant in check. Believe it or not but multifloral rose was brought in from Asia to provide cover for hedgerows and now it's trying to take over whole farms. Some people think it's native but it's not. There are about ten species of native roses, all single petal with exactly 5 petals per bloom and usually pink. (the multifloral rose is white.) The one I saw most often (and loved) was the smooth petaled rose (very deep pink) also known as the prairie rose. And bees of all kinds all over the place! In an hour one afternoon I identified no less than six species of orchard bees in our orchard along with a few European honeybees, a couple of species of bumblebees and carpenter bees and some flying insects that looked like they could be bees but we just couldn't find them... Interesting note, honey bees are not native to the Americas; they came over with Europeans and very quickly "went native". During the Colonial period Native Americans hated finding them; they were a sure sign that Whites were moving into the area since the 'rewilded' honey bees usually ran about 200 miles ahead of the settlers.
We've been slowly letting what little lawn we have rewild. Wild forbes are taking over, moving down from the ridge that starts at the end of our yard. I need to help things along, I've thinking of amaranth, maypop (native passionflower), and ??? Both are edible, by wildlife & humans.
Neighbors aren't an issue, the nearest neighbor is the Amish store a quarter mile away.
Love the article, feeling inspired
Great article. I have some of the things you planted, but you gave me ideas for more. Thanks!
One of the few prejudices I can support with all my heart is anti-lawn prejudice. Great article.
Being in a season of transition as my children move into adulthood, I’m searching for a place in the WILD to call home or at least a Home Base to store my toys-n-tools. After a few decades caretaking and cleaning, I do not want an Empire nor a lawn to tie me down. I am a nomad-hunter-fisher-forager at heart. I am rewilding!
I couldn't agree more. I hate lawns and think they are a colossal waste of time and resources. I recently heard a statistics about how lawns are the largest "crop" in the US in terms of acreage and water use. I'm excited to check out Nature's Best Hope- thanks for that recommendation.
This here native gardener in Oracle, Az wants to know: Where do we get Mariposa bulbs?
Muchas Gracious,
Danielle.
Yes yes yes!!!! 👏👏👏👏👌👌👌👌
Soooo glad you’re into this!!!
Thank you so much for posting your knowledge, actions and opinions on this!!!
It’s also a super critical need right now! And we can help so easily.
We’ve made native Oak woodland lowland savanna with all its associated plants out of our entire property, with the help of our very carefully grazed sheep (used in a full circle, nature-mimicking way) and lots of native plantings. Shrubs and trees really help support wildlife habitat and comfort in bigger yards and acreage, in addition to the forbs and smaller shrubs which are so beautiful.
My vision for mitigating the effects of urban and suburban humanity is to connect the entire world with these small green more native and/or productive spaces that will provide for a healthy wild microbe/plant/insect/reptile/amphibian/bird/mammal population support system worldwide!!!
Outside of trails or work space (and that STILL can be native grasses to one’s area) kick the lawns and all its maintenance, chemicals, related machinery, lack of diversity, and water waste to the bins of humanity!!
to nature/wildlife, lawns are possibly the most toxic and chaotic environment of anything humans plant.
I really believe it's cultural shifts like this that will save us from ourselves. The more people rewild their lawns, the more kids are gonna grow up like "Wow, that's fucking cool, why don't we have this at our house instead of a stupid square of high-maintenance green boredom?" and one day it'll be socially taboo to NOT support native wildlife around your house. I hope, anyway.
Agreed!!!!
Another wonderful article. As of late I've been reading about edible landscapes but you've taken it to the next level! It's really got me thinking. My situation is a bit different. I'm renting a townhouse that has severe control of the front lawn, and the back "yard" is miniscule. However, a container garden of native species just might work. Just the other day I gathered some fireweed seeds from a nearby "feral" (or should I say resilient) plant. Not sure why, just seemed to be a good idea. Know I know why. Once again your writing came a long at just the right time. Thanks!
Absolutely loved the paragraph about the squirrels! Sage observations and advice, and yes, they are smarter than many people.
Wonderful and funny when I got into my new home the first thing I did was dig up the yard and plant a garden. Then I xpanded it. Feels good if it gives the shallow minded folks something to talk about then so much the better.
Absolutely wonderful! And look how many folks are on the same page! :-D Thank you for spreading the wilding news ! And the page's new graphics are pretty sweet, as well. Blessings! (p.s. Don't forget you can eat the monarda/bee balm flowers as well - there's delicious nectar in there, if one can share with the hummingbirds.)
While I'm where I have no control over what's outside my window--and they just dug out the going wild flower garden earlier this month to put in (shudder!!!) a lawn of Kentuckey bluegrass--I can well remember living on Dad's farm with the converted hayfield yard--never saw a pesticide--and all the native eats around, including three different species of apples in the hedgerows along with native blackberries, elderberries and raspberries, watercress and spearmint down near the beaver ponds and various wild edibles growing wherever they could find a spot. The point garden where one end of our 'circular' driveway met the road was half volunteer flowers including Black eyed Susans, Camomile, violets, strawflowers and something small and red we never identified. There was also patches of trefoil all over the place but Dad said that was a hay plant so maybe it's not native? The only volunteer plant I ever vigorously pulled out (with Dad's full blessing) was wild hemp. I did NOT want my brother (who thankfully was never very savvy about plants) getting his hands on 'mary jane'! (He came home from the Air Force a borderline alcoholic and as a teenager ran through model glue like you wouldn't believe.) We did have an ongoing battle with the multifloral rosebush that took root over our septic tank but that was mainly to keep that prolific invasive plant in check. Believe it or not but multifloral rose was brought in from Asia to provide cover for hedgerows and now it's trying to take over whole farms. Some people think it's native but it's not. There are about ten species of native roses, all single petal with exactly 5 petals per bloom and usually pink. (the multifloral rose is white.) The one I saw most often (and loved) was the smooth petaled rose (very deep pink) also known as the prairie rose. And bees of all kinds all over the place! In an hour one afternoon I identified no less than six species of orchard bees in our orchard along with a few European honeybees, a couple of species of bumblebees and carpenter bees and some flying insects that looked like they could be bees but we just couldn't find them... Interesting note, honey bees are not native to the Americas; they came over with Europeans and very quickly "went native". During the Colonial period Native Americans hated finding them; they were a sure sign that Whites were moving into the area since the 'rewilded' honey bees usually ran about 200 miles ahead of the settlers.
We've been slowly letting what little lawn we have rewild. Wild forbes are taking over, moving down from the ridge that starts at the end of our yard. I need to help things along, I've thinking of amaranth, maypop (native passionflower), and ??? Both are edible, by wildlife & humans.
Neighbors aren't an issue, the nearest neighbor is the Amish store a quarter mile away.
We should all come walk by your place and help change the neighbor's minds. 🙂 I love what you're doing there. Bees and birds are the best!
Very cool - so native plants and only nature’s watering systems? Will have to explore this in TX…. Thanks Hank!