There is no Planet B. No escape possibilities, no magical solutions to save us from a world ailing from human destabilization of earth’s systems. The destabilization is a result of our extractive global economic practices (capitalism) and corporate agriculture. The ensuing outcome has produced out of control greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures, violent storms, and and species loss. So, it behooves us to step up the pace, in fact a dead run, to the goal of stewarding, nurturing, protecting and healing Planet A, Earth.
In April 2020, the YS Environmental Commission, Tecumseh Land Trust, Community Solutions/Agraria and the Glen Helen Association formed a team and launched a Village-wide National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Community initiative. The call to action focused on restoring wildlife habitat in yards, schools, businesses and Village land. Despite the pandemic, the effort was a huge success and Yellow Springs was certified in 7 months! NWF was so impressed, that the Village was honored as one of the top ten Wildlife Habitat Communities in the country.
As a community, our earth stewardship has begun. “Down to Earth”, a new monthly YS News column and blog, will concentrate on environmental issues related to Yellow Springs, embedded in the understanding of Climate Change, the need for community resilience and sustainability, and the restoration of native habitat. The Wildlife Habitat team, and guest contributors, will pen the column with the goals to raise awareness, educate, spark discussion, and inspire residents to work with nature.
Wildlife Habitat Team Left to right:
Catherine Zimmerman - Environmental Commission, Krista MaGaw - Tecumseh Land Trust, Marianne MacQueen - Village Council, Bethany Gray - Glen Helen Association, Lauren Gjessing - Tecumseh Land TrusNot pictured: Alex Klug - Community Solutions/Agraria, Nadia Malarkey - Garden Design, Kim Carlson - Agraria
The natural world can teach us a thing or two. For the first 20 years of home-ownership, like many Americans, I bought into the idea of the "perfect" lawn. No water bill was too large, no bag of fertilizer or pesticide too tiresome to spread, no power equipment, to maintain all this, too daunting. I was the queen, getting what everyone seemed to cherish, a great, emerald green lawn.
One June evening I looked around. Something was missing. Where had all the fireflies gone? From childhood, I always enjoyed thousands of these twinkling critters every evening in early summer. I made the disturbing connection. I had killed them off by bombarding my yard with pesticides. How many other insects had I destroyed with my careless actions?
Fireflies showed me the light!
With this epiphany, my twenty-five year journey began. Fireflies had forever changed my life and land care practices. I started by simply saying NO to thirsty, pesticide ridden, energy, sucking lawn. Now, the ecological value of a plant is my number one consideration. Is the plant native to here, does it host pollinators or provide food and habitat? It’s not about me, nor about beauty or seasonal interest, although native plants have exquisite beauty and interest. Add to those assets, how amazingly alive a space can be, with birds and pollinators, once native plants are added to your landscape!
A big part of nurturing planet Earth is protecting pollinators. June 21st through the 27th was established in 2007 as Pollinator Week and later expanded to the entire month of June. The overarching aspiration of a month to focus on protecting pollinators, by planting native habitat and eliminating pesticides, is to recognize their critical role in balanced ecosystems and food production. According to the National Wildlife Federation, “every one in three bites of food you take comes from a pollinated source.“
Pollination is a simple transfer of pollen from one plant species to its genetic species partner, enabling the receiving plant to produce berries, fruits, vegetables or nuts depending on their fruiting product. Although the honeybee is the primary animal for pollinating food crops, it isn’t just honeybees doing the pollination work. Flies, birds, bats, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps and other small mammals make up a diversity of critters, that make it possible for plants to reproduce.
A very good place to start in protecting pollinators and other wildlife is to certify your property as a wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. This Wildlife Habitat Community website has all the links you will need. Whether you register your property or not, the checklist is a great resource for ideas to add wildlife friendly elements to your property. For example, birds are not the only species in your yard that need water. Put out a shallow dish with water and marbles or pebbles for insects to light on for a drink.
Plant native plants! Ohio Native Plant Month lists nurseries. https://www.ohionativeplantmonth.org/native-plant-sources however, most nurseries carry native species. Just ask! Get the whole family involved, especially kids. They are our tomorrow stewards, and almost nothing is more important than teaching them how to nurture and restore the earth.
Cumulatively, human actions have degraded the planet. Cumulatively, even our small community restoration efforts are necessary to build back planet earth. Yellow Springs can be an example, encouraging other communities to step up and be part of the solution. Margaret Mead’s wisdom: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
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