We are increasingly becoming aware about the necessity to take responsibility once more for all the life-forms on this beautiful planet.
And therefore, we need to think bigger than just our garden.
In the Agriculture Lectures from 1924, Rudolf Steiner promotes biodiversity and points out very clearly that we gardeners and farmers need to provide habitats for every living organism, if we don’t want to see one sided invasions of bugs and micro-organisms or the overpopulation of deer, rabbits, etc.
I would like to emphasize here that we need to re-establish the habitats for predators in the world of mammals and of the birds to thrive again with corridors for them to migrate.
That means a well-balanced distribution of woodlands, grassland for the larger predators like wild cats and wolves, heaths, a mixture of hedges and fruit and nut bearing trees for the falcons, hawks, kestrel, kites, bussards, eagles and owls (a pair of owls need two miles of hedges).
And we need wetlands and mixed woodlands for the diverse expression of the fungal community to prevent fungal overgrowth in our cultivars.
This means for me that it might be advisable to first educate ourselves, and then organise groups of people to “re-wild” the farmlands in negotiation and collaboration with the farmers and growers in your area.
An example worth mentioning here as inspiration is the short documentary about Yellowstone Park and how the Wolves changed the rivers:
It’s time we are boldly thinking outside the box and put the dots together.
Measures you could take in your own garden:
- Plant a multitude of perennial fruit bearing shrubs, bushes, climbers and small trees.
- Plant plenty annual and perennial flowers, ornamentals and shrubs, which flower all year long for the insect world.
- Create a small pond for all the amphibians and insect world that thrives on waterplants (creates the highest biodiversity) and for birds (birdbaths).
- Make heaps of long-term compost, from wood chips and prunings, rocks and other debris as hide-outs for hedge hogs, grass-snakes and other small animals.
- Nesting units made of straw, sunflower and other flower stalks, old wood, wool, saw dust and other natural materials.
- Do not overfeed the soil with readily available, water-soluble fertilizers.
- Rather feed the soil macro- and micro-organisms with organic matter and humus created in the compost, through green manuring or use of well composted animal manures.
- Leave a fair amount of natural herbs in your vegetable garden, which will attract insects and birds, which in turn will feed your predators and other natural predators.
- Practice companion planting with vegetables, herbs and flowers.
- Use integrated pest control.
- Build “bug-hotels” in your garden for all sorts of insects (Buggingham Palace)
- Use the biodynamic, homeopathic pest control.
Wherever possible we need to become responsible of regenerating the trophic chain of living organisms feeding on each other. If there is only one member missing in this chain the whole ecosystem collapses and implodes.
I hope that these few tricks might inspire you to look to create biodiversity in your own garden and involve yourself in the wider environment with eco-habitat regeneration.
Please share with us your unique experiences with the “rewilding” of your garden.
and observations you made about rare animals and insects in your garden environment.
Have you got any photos to share?
The next two weeks it is sowing time with the moon ascending and a few milder days coming up
Sow indoors
Sun. 23 & Mon. 24. Feb.: Aubergine, Pepper, Tomato and Cucumber,
For leafy veg sowing best times are on:
Sat 22. Feb. & Sun. 2. March after 9:30 am and Mon. 3. Before 10 am: Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Spinach and Onion
Sow outdoors
Same dates as above: Spinach
Sun 23. &Mon. 24. Feb. sow: Broad Beans and Peas
Tues. 25 & Wed. 26. Feb sow; Carrot, Parsnip, Radish, Turnip and plant 1. Early Potatoes
Harvest
Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Kale, Lambs Lettuce, Leek, Lettuce, Parsnip, Swede
From storage: Beetroot, Black Radish, Carrot, Potatoes
Next time more on tools
Enjoy this time of preparing for the new growing year
Hans-Günther
