By Robin Hoy
Ecosystems clean our air and water, provide flood control, food pollination, pest control and carbon storage. But the ecosystems are losing large numbers of species at an increasing rate, reducing their ability to provide these crucial services. According to renowned entomologist and best-selling author Doug Tallamy, however, there are steps we can all take to solve the crisis that are easy, inexpensive, and even fun.
Tallamy calls the science-based concept he envisions “Homegrown National Park (HNP).” The basic principle: Adding native plants and removing invasive ones everywhere we live, work, learn, pray, and play. This might include adding native potted plants to porches or installing native plant gardens at our homes, farms, schools, congregations, offices and parks. Anyone can be part of this exciting new movement and become a biodiversity hero!
Why native plants? Native species are ones that naturally occur in a particular ecosystem and have evolved over millennia with the other species in that area. Their relationships are critical for the health and productivity of the ecosystem. Without them, ecosystem services collapse, threatening human survival as well.
Joining the “Homegrown” movement is important because our national and state lands are too small and separated from one another to preserve the species. In his book Nature’s Best Hope, Tallamy posits that WE, with our widespread private homes and communities, are nature’s best chance for recovery.
The HNP website lists plants that are native to our region, with images, descriptions and the numbers of species they each support. Local nurseries and landscape designers that specialize in native plants can be found on our Bucks County Foodshed Alliance (BCFA) map, along with local farms, CSAs and more.
On Sunday, May 18th BCFA will host a demonstration of how to install a 6- by 20-foot native plant garden from 1-3 pm at Hollow House Farm, 3352 Dark Hollow Road in Furlong, 18925. At the free event anyone can learn simple lawn-to-garden sheet mulching techniques and how to care for native plants. The plants and expertise are being donated by ArcheWild, a nationally-recognized native plant wholesaler – register here!
Whether you’re adding native potted plants to your porch or planting a native plant garden, Tallamy encourages everyone to “Get on the map!” and register on the HNP map. There you can also join the Bucks HNP group and share ideas and steps – big or small!
Excerpts from https://homegrownnationalpark.org/
0 Comments