Embracing the definitions of ecosystem, sustainable gardening and biodiversity
Hello gardeners!
As we begin this journey toward becoming more sustainably minded gardeners, I think it is important to begin by defining a couple of terms often used when reading about eco-friendly gardening.
Let's begin with the term ecosystem. What is that?
In the context of a garden, an ecosystem refers to the dynamic network of living organisms (plants, wildlife, insects, and microorganisms) and how they interact with the physical environment of the garden. Plants provide food and shelter for insects and animals, while microorganisms in the soil break down organic matter, enriching the soil and facilitating nutrient cycling. Each element plays a role in supporting life and maintaining balance. The overall health of a garden ecosystem depends on important interactions between its biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. This is where the magic of sunlight, water, and soil nutrients brings the garden to life. But our garden is not a standalone ecosystem. It is connected to the larger ecosystem of our neighborhood and community.
Sustainable gardening
The idea of sustainable gardening focuses on cultivating plants and managing our gardens in ways that are environmentally responsible, resource-efficient, and regenerative. As responsible gardeners we should aim to minimize the negative impacts on the environment while promoting biodiversity, conserving water, improving soil health, and reducing waste.
Speaking of biodiversity. What is it?
As gardeners we can grow a wide variety of plants, including shrubs and trees, to support living organisms. The wider the range of species in your ecosystem (aka your garden) the more balanced and resilient the garden's overall health will be. A biodiverse garden is a healthy garden, capable of flourishing despite climate change. By choosing to plant your garden in layers, mimicking the forest with ground covers, ferns, woody shrubs and trees, you will ensure shelter for inhabitants of the garden during extreme weather. The spacing of plantings and the groupings we select, collectively enhance the overall biodiversity of the garden's ecosystem. A true gardener can always find room to grow one more thing in the name of biodiversity...wink, wink!
Another important consideration is perspective. One might also refer to it as mindset. Many of us learned to garden working alongside parents or grandparents and over time have adopted a sentimental approach to how we garden. My Mother taught me how to properly plant new shrubs and perennials. For years I continued to use the method she taught me that included using bone meal. Until I listened to a talk given by Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott and found out bone meal was ineffective in promoting root growth. Here is a document by Dr. Chalker-Scott where you can read more on the myth of bone meal. For me, making this change was as hard as changing the age-old habit of adding two spaces after a period, when I was typing. My world tilted for a moment.
I ask you to embrace a growth mindset as we begin to challenge traditional gardening techniques. We need to question our methods to be sure they are effective. New science guides us forward. There are things we used to do that have been proven ineffective or harmful. So, we must be open minded, trust the science, and try new methods. Times have changed, and old techniques may not stand up to the kind of extreme weather events climate change has brought.
Let's get our hands dirty,