Lesson 1: What is Ecological gardening?
Objective: the site map. Students will begin to design their gardens.
Organics Plus
Ecological Gardening uses organic techniques, Nature observation and some guiding principles to aid you in your design process.
Among other things, you will learn about companion planting, seed saving and how to maintain healthy soil.
When you complete the course you will know how to grow fresh, healthy food for you and your family.
Why should I create an ecosystem in my backyard?
In North America the average distance that food travels to get from where it is grown to where you eat it is 1300 miles. This means that, at best, when you bite into that apple or potato, brussel sprout or corn, it is already many days old. Is it still fresh? Hardly. It also means that you and your family are reliant on a national transportation system in order for you to put supper on the table. Think of the difference in freshness and independence you achieve when you can step out your back door and pick dinner.
In addition, by growing your own food in an ecological way, you will be contributing to a healthy, vibrant ecosystem where all of Life has a place. Birds, bees, butterflies and other beings will benefit from your creation.
There are two sayings that will assist you to create the ecological garden.
1- The Gardener's Footprint. I let you tell me what that is.
2- Everything eats; we will explore this as we go.
Site map
“As we deepen our imprint on the natural world we increase our responsibility for it.” - Dr. E.O. Wilson An ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. If your backyard is like far too many others across North America, it consists primarily of close clipped grass bordered by flower and/or vegetable beds. These beds are frequently ordered in nice neat rows as though the plants were standing for inspection.
The backyard that I have just described is an immature or stalled ecosystem. The ecosystem wants to evolve but week after week it gets cut back, weeded, pruned or sprayed. All this work takes considerable effort as the gardener attempts to keep the garden frozen in time and space. It is never allowed the opportunity to evolve.
As you progress through this course you will develop skills that will enable you to intervene within the stalled ecosystem, to develop new relationships and interactions. This action will encourage the system to evolve into a thriving ecosystem that includes plants, people, birds, butterflies and all the creatures that bring vibrant Life to a natural system.
For those who have read about or studied permaculture, some of what you study will feel familiar. For those who do not know the term, a brief explanation. Permaculture is a contraction of permanent agriculture. It was Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who first put these two words together to form permaculture. Books such as "Introduction to Permaculture" will give you more information about the permaculture design system. Today many permaculturalists use the term to refer to permanent culture as well. Permaculture is the conscious design of sustainable human systems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems.
Why do we want to learn how to garden ecologically? Well, one reason is to be able to grow our own food. This way we know where it comes from and how it was grown. There is a sense of freedom and accomplishment that is derived from being able to produce at least some of your own and/or your family’s food. A second reason is to increase the amount of urban habitat that is friendly to the birds, bees and butterflies that have been forced out of far too many neighbourhoods due to urban sprawl and development. A third is to increase the urban food supply. This increase will result in a decrease in the demand that is put on the surrounding rural areas to provide that food. This frees up land which can then be allowed to return to a wilder state.
In order for you to develop the ability to think like an ecosystem, you will need to understand cause and effect. Try this. The next time you are about to do something, say make a purchase, ask yourself, how will what you are about to do effect the earthworm? You see, earthworms are vital to a healthy ecosystem so if they are harmed then the system is harmed.
You also need to develop your powers of observation, nature is the guide, watch her closely. Spend time outside watching. Take walks around your community. Notice what plants grow where. After a rain where does the runoff go?
So, let's get started. How well do you know your backyard? Now we will create the site map. This map will come in handy as you create you backyard ecosystem. Now take a tour of your property and make notes about what you see.
What structures are there, i.e. house, garage, shed, gazebo and so on? What plants are already in place, trees, shrubs, hedges, flower and vegetable gardens? Do you have a pond? Do you want one? Is your property flat or does it slope? If it slopes how steep is the slope and in which direction? Which direction does your house face? How much rainfall do you get. Are there rain gutters on the house, shed, garage?
This exercise is designed to heighten your powers of observation and to acquaint you with your property. Once you have completed your tour and made your notes, you may want to generate a site map based upon the information you gathered. You don’t need to be an artist to do this as your main goal is to create a reference tool that is only for you, so you can visualize the changes you want to make and understand what must be done. If you choose not to do the map that’s fine. Either way, your task is to complete a short description of your property as it now stands.
Copyright, Bob Ewing, 2002
Suggested Reading:
Gaia’s Garden: Chapter One.
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