Cultivating Urban Nature

“Culture, in a classical sense, was society’s way of participating, via care (e.g. of the land), in a cyclical natural process in which the natural, in-born potentiality of society and its environment was made manifest."

Olwig, Kenneth Robert 1995 [1993]. "What does Landscape Really Mean?" In Barbara Bender (ed.), Landscape: Politics and Perspectives. Providence & Oxford: Berg, pp. 307-343.

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If you plant it, they will come

Tip: Do you like birds? Butterflies? Frogs? It doesn't take much space or effort to cultivate a landscape that supports life beyond yourself. I wanted monarch butterflies on my porch, so I bought some milkweed plants. In less than two weeks I watched several females lay eggs all over my plants...I had to scramble to buy additional plants to feed the growing caterpillars!

Trick: Start small. Think about how much time and resources you can invest to reach your goal. Then have fun!

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Lean on native plants

Tip: My roots are in conservation biology, so I'll always favor native species over introduced ones. Here are my main reasons:

1. They support native biodiversity. Native plants provide food and habitat for closely connected animals, fungi, bacteria, and even other plants. So supporting one species can end up helping many others.

2. They can serve as genetic banks. In a world of rapid development and shrinking wildlands, home gardens and other human-managed areas can serve as sanctuaries for shrinking native populations. Your native tree might one day provide seeds for scientists looking to restore a forest!

Trick: To see which species will do best in your garden, visit your local native nursery, explore your state's agriculture extension website (for those in the USA), and take a clue from nearby wild areas.

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Know your space

Tip: If you choose plants based on your preferences alone, they might fail. You need to take time to observe your planting space. How big is it? How much sun does it get? Rain? Wind? Will you remember to water a plant if it's tucked away in a corner?

Trick: Observe your planting space during different times of the day to get an idea of how much direct sun it gets and when. To keep up with maintenance, I put my hardiest plants in the nooks and crannies and my sensitive plants front and center.

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Push boundaries

Tip: Excuses are a dime a dozen. I still dream of having my mini homestead, but I also love the efficiency of living in multi-unit housing and the challenge of patio gardening. To get my composting fix, I built a worm bin (vermiculture farm) out of recycled 5-gallon buckets. It's been going strong for 5 years! I turned a tiny bonsai planter into a swamp that now supports a group of frogs! I also have a shiny, emerald bee that lives in one of my pots. I built a bee hotel from bamboo, but the bee chose the planter instead. So bee it...

Trick: If you want to push the boundaries of your urban space, take it one step at a time, but take that step.

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