Yes, a garden to replace a pristine pesticide-laden green lawn. A garden that not only is beneficial for you and for every living thing, but one that also supports our natural world in so many ways.
Thank you, Perry.. Yours are the only essays I "heart" even before I'm halfway through! Thank you for enlightening us, for the in depth research you do and the wonderful quotes you share. I have bookmarked to continue later, but just wanted to leave you a note of appreciation before I go. 🙏🙂❤
Thank you, Perry. I love the idea of rewilding, I will have to check out the video a bit later. Though I do love the feeling of grass on my bare feet. We used to have a large garden at our old house; it was so much fun growing veggies with the kids.
Great article, Perry. In my own neighborhood, I see the positive shift toward a more sustainable landscape, although much work remains. Lawns are water intensive, so the outcome of years of drought has changed the aesthetic. I see the former golf course nearby which is now rewilding and it gives me hope, although I can’t help but wonder how many persistent chemicals remain.
I couldn’t agree more and am delighted to read this piece today. I look at the gardens around me that are left to grow naturally, with wildflowers and some cultivated plants, and I see beauty. The thing I hate to see is fake grass in gardens with real soil covered over with plastic. Why? It’s ugly and harmful. Give me wild gardens any day. Leave nature be to do her thing.
In Australia, with our mostly dry climate, people persist with lawns. It's ridiculous! Especially when our native flora is so distinctive and perfectly adapted the climate conditions. Last year, we began a native garden and have not looked back.
Interesting essay Perry and in my small corner of the world, I am seeing more and more front yards here in Ottawa that are filled out with a variety of plants, hedges, and flowers. Such a nicer contribution to Nature than the monoculture golf course clone yards.
I remember returning to Canada in 2014 and renting a house in Calgary. Myself and most of my neighbours simply let the dandelions grow wild across our yards. Such a beautiful sight on a sunny day.
Great job, Perry, thank you for your compassion, empathy and work! The more we write and discuss on this topic, the better chance for better ways that support nature.
I am enjoying our "growing" connection and getting to know more about you. In an effort to share some experiences, here goes a quick summary:
After working tirelessly with tyrannical hoa's and a State advocate for hoa's for nearly 15 years, I founded and lead a habitat restoration group that designs and plants native pollinator gardens, with City Parks and Rec and other "leadership" including non-profits, and we provide educational events, presentations and projects for the community; and also write about similar messages. I've helped to get a grant for the Parks, and for non-profits, and also consulted with people who want to make changes and actually do proper non-toxic land care. I never wanted to live in an hoa, but there were so many where I was living at the time, and being single, it was "affordable in a nice location". It proved everything of why I didn't want to live in one and sold/moved and am "free" of the hypocrisy. A colleague went to court with her hoa, and found the deep corruption of our legal system. She had all the proof and lost because the judge and developers were in on the hoa's unethical, immoral ways. To say Shameful is being nice...We need to be a part of the change. Thank you for doing your part.
That's right, Robin. More people want to have more autonomy in what they can do with their patch of land. As my article shows, state legislatures are returning power to the people. The most notable example is Maine. I also view HOAs as outdated relics of the past.
Yes, happily, thank you to the people of Maine. I received my Soil Health and Organic Land Care Certifications from NOFA/ Northern Organic Farming Association in Connecticut a few years ago. Good things are happening!
Interesting post, and video by Monbiot. I think rewilding is generally a good idea as long as (1).Rural economies are not destroyed, with people driven into the cities to eke out a poor living; (2).The rewilded areas are held in common for all, and not owned by billionaires for their private trekking adventures; and (3).The rewilding process is done competently (the example of Yellowstone seems to show it was).
If human influence wasn't involved what might happen with this so called rewilding? Does Nature depend on Human influence, or is this just humans thinking that they will manipulate once again to make the world FIT what they need? LIke we are fixing what we did wrong the last time?
Grateful for your well written and researched review of the MIND CON-TROLL installed into the people. I live in a very wooded neighborhood, Old growth Oak trees. I"ve been in this neighborhood for 20 years. For about the last 8 many residents have died and young families are moving in. With their move in they cut down a tree or two. It's just horrible to watch, pathetic, devastating. Autumn brings about tons and tons of falling leaves and with it, millions of black petroleum based non degradable plastic bags stuffed with BIO DEGRADABLE leaves that are meant to rot back into the soil to nourish the plants in which they fell from. Not to mention that the bedding of leaves are where the pollinators for the next season will hibernate and lay their eggs.
What a travesty, that people do not at least consider mulching their leaves, and putting them in beds around the trees at least.
speaking of HOA, those diabolical control systems, with retired or is that retarted tyrants with nothing better to do who want some kind of control over others who March through your yards and tell you what you can plant and what you have to do to maintain THEIR sense of right and beauty.
It's almost impossible to buy property in CO that is not part of an HOA. In ours they demanded that we pull wild flowers and dandelions WEEDS,,, in the back yard out of the view of others. we had 3 days to do the job if we did not, they would come in with round up. We did not, 3 days wasn't enough time... Time to research our rights in the matter of if they could legally spray a known carcinogen on our property. 3 days after they sprayed, our dog was throwing up and severe diarrhea . He was diagnosed with beginning Kidney disease. He was 7 mos old at the time. Round up the cause??? How do these people have this authority? why would anyone agree to these regulations over their OWN property?
No one should, but people are stuck or do not know their rights. HOAs should be banned completely, as should roundup for residential use. I am so sorry to hear about your dog. This is why I am.vigilent about anyone spraying any pesticide nearby.
thank you.. If this did this to my dog what is it doing to the birds, to ALL LIFE, to the humans who are working with this poison every day, to those of us forced to walk in our own back yards that are poisoned, the water in which the run off flows?
Thank you Perry. There are many fascinating aspects to rewilding. We were just talking about it yesterday, driving to a neighbouring village in Central Portugal, where many people (mainly foreigners) have settled in the past 20-30 years to revive abandoned quintas in the countryside.
From listening to George Montbiot's TED talk and reading your article, it feels like we're all having this conversation. I love hearing about and visiting all these different facets.
From our perspective as quinta owners, looking after a patch of land, growing some of our own food without the use of pesticides or fertilisers, keeping the eucalyptus and undergrowth at bay in a patch of forest (where they would otherwise pose a fire risk to ourselves, our neighbours, and the whole village) rewilding must include the sensitive management of the land by responsible land owners.
The term 'rewilding' is sometimes used as an argument drive people (like us) off the land and shove everyone into cities, because 'nature knows best and can look after herself'.
In this part of the world, which is currently our home, humans have been an integral part of the symbiosphere of the natural habitat. Several non-native crops have been planted in the past, which now pose a risk to humans and nature. In such situations, I believe, humans have to be included in the rewilding process rather than treated as alien intruders. Obviously, this partnership has to start with our own awareness and behaviour...
Yes, it is my view that humans are part of Nature and it is the humans—Us—who are responsible for restoring and rewilding lands that require it. I did not realize that some say humans should not be a part of it all. This is not my view or intention.
I am here talking about what was at one time called responsible ecology, which sounds what you are doing and have been doing for some time. A symbiosis with Nature.
What you have done and continue to do in Portugal sounds admirable, Veronika.
I know Perry. It's not an aspect of 'rewilding' we normally think of. But it's another aspect we need to be aware of, how 'good words' like 'rewilding' can be so quickly and easily abused and turned against humans... We were shocked when we became aware of this interpretation.
So true Perry! Thanks for sharing. The weeds are slowly winning here. I held off mowing as long as possible. I look to be better. Yes to gardening. Yes to birds and bees. Bless you 🙏❤️
In the UK there is a movement called #nomowmay, promoted by the charity Plantlife, to encourage gardeners to leave their grass to grow to welcome a diversity of plants and insects. I have been doing this for years and there has been an amazing shift in the wildlife that now flourishesin my garden. This year I saw my first Bee orchids and can think of no better reason to stop mowing. It greatly saddens me that still there is a lack of understanding at the damage caused by pesticides. A wonderful piece, Perry.
Thank you, Deborah; I read that there is a lot of good things happening in Britain in regards to restoration and rewilding. I only wish we here in Canada would take note and see the necessity in such ideas.
Thank you, Perry. Lawn care feels cult-like; I have noticed people I know become perfervid maintainers of unnatural lawns. I make the case against lawns. The most success I’ve had has been from giving Lawns into Meadows as a gift, or Douglas Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope.
yes I agree with you but it made me think: what the hell in my garden hasn't been manipulated into a cultivar not really any resempelance to its ancester before man maniplated it to it's current form. So what Im saying is: the bees and the birds and other critters may be of mother earths creation but not what growing in tmy garfden. Maybe the weeds but don' we all pull those damn weeds out.
It will require work on our end to restore our lawns to natural gardens. I am no expert, but the two videos I included were instructive in what rewilding is and how to go about it.
Rachel Carson's book made a big impression on me too, and we're growinging a food forest using permaculture principles.
They say that if dandelions didn't grow everywhere, they'd be considered a superfood. I pick and eat the leaves and have them as part of my breakfast every day.
I just add them to soups and stir fries, the way you would with any greens. But not too soon. If you add them near the end of cooking they become a beautiful, vivid shad of green.
Thank you, Perry.. Yours are the only essays I "heart" even before I'm halfway through! Thank you for enlightening us, for the in depth research you do and the wonderful quotes you share. I have bookmarked to continue later, but just wanted to leave you a note of appreciation before I go. 🙏🙂❤
Thank you, @Finding Grace; I am deeply touched by your appreciation of my writing. 🕊🦜
Thank you, Perry. I love the idea of rewilding, I will have to check out the video a bit later. Though I do love the feeling of grass on my bare feet. We used to have a large garden at our old house; it was so much fun growing veggies with the kids.
Yes, it is so much fun and rewarding in that you see and taste the effort of your labours. Thanks also, @Jenn for restacking this post.🦜🕊
Yes, it was really cool and exciting. Hard work but so rewarding. We just have a small container garden now, but it’s still better than nothing.
Great article, Perry. In my own neighborhood, I see the positive shift toward a more sustainable landscape, although much work remains. Lawns are water intensive, so the outcome of years of drought has changed the aesthetic. I see the former golf course nearby which is now rewilding and it gives me hope, although I can’t help but wonder how many persistent chemicals remain.
Good news about the rewilding of the golf course.
I couldn’t agree more and am delighted to read this piece today. I look at the gardens around me that are left to grow naturally, with wildflowers and some cultivated plants, and I see beauty. The thing I hate to see is fake grass in gardens with real soil covered over with plastic. Why? It’s ugly and harmful. Give me wild gardens any day. Leave nature be to do her thing.
In Australia, with our mostly dry climate, people persist with lawns. It's ridiculous! Especially when our native flora is so distinctive and perfectly adapted the climate conditions. Last year, we began a native garden and have not looked back.
Interesting essay Perry and in my small corner of the world, I am seeing more and more front yards here in Ottawa that are filled out with a variety of plants, hedges, and flowers. Such a nicer contribution to Nature than the monoculture golf course clone yards.
I remember returning to Canada in 2014 and renting a house in Calgary. Myself and most of my neighbours simply let the dandelions grow wild across our yards. Such a beautiful sight on a sunny day.
I think so; there is nothing wrong with dandelions. Glad to hear Ottawa is opening up to different ideas of gardening. Take care, Neil.
Great job, Perry, thank you for your compassion, empathy and work! The more we write and discuss on this topic, the better chance for better ways that support nature.
I am enjoying our "growing" connection and getting to know more about you. In an effort to share some experiences, here goes a quick summary:
After working tirelessly with tyrannical hoa's and a State advocate for hoa's for nearly 15 years, I founded and lead a habitat restoration group that designs and plants native pollinator gardens, with City Parks and Rec and other "leadership" including non-profits, and we provide educational events, presentations and projects for the community; and also write about similar messages. I've helped to get a grant for the Parks, and for non-profits, and also consulted with people who want to make changes and actually do proper non-toxic land care. I never wanted to live in an hoa, but there were so many where I was living at the time, and being single, it was "affordable in a nice location". It proved everything of why I didn't want to live in one and sold/moved and am "free" of the hypocrisy. A colleague went to court with her hoa, and found the deep corruption of our legal system. She had all the proof and lost because the judge and developers were in on the hoa's unethical, immoral ways. To say Shameful is being nice...We need to be a part of the change. Thank you for doing your part.
That's right, Robin. More people want to have more autonomy in what they can do with their patch of land. As my article shows, state legislatures are returning power to the people. The most notable example is Maine. I also view HOAs as outdated relics of the past.
Yes, happily, thank you to the people of Maine. I received my Soil Health and Organic Land Care Certifications from NOFA/ Northern Organic Farming Association in Connecticut a few years ago. Good things are happening!
Interesting post, and video by Monbiot. I think rewilding is generally a good idea as long as (1).Rural economies are not destroyed, with people driven into the cities to eke out a poor living; (2).The rewilded areas are held in common for all, and not owned by billionaires for their private trekking adventures; and (3).The rewilding process is done competently (the example of Yellowstone seems to show it was).
Yes, I agree. It has to be done right, with your points in mind. Thanks Josh.
If human influence wasn't involved what might happen with this so called rewilding? Does Nature depend on Human influence, or is this just humans thinking that they will manipulate once again to make the world FIT what they need? LIke we are fixing what we did wrong the last time?
I look at it as well-meaning humans restoring the natural world, correcting the wrongs of the past.
Grateful for your well written and researched review of the MIND CON-TROLL installed into the people. I live in a very wooded neighborhood, Old growth Oak trees. I"ve been in this neighborhood for 20 years. For about the last 8 many residents have died and young families are moving in. With their move in they cut down a tree or two. It's just horrible to watch, pathetic, devastating. Autumn brings about tons and tons of falling leaves and with it, millions of black petroleum based non degradable plastic bags stuffed with BIO DEGRADABLE leaves that are meant to rot back into the soil to nourish the plants in which they fell from. Not to mention that the bedding of leaves are where the pollinators for the next season will hibernate and lay their eggs.
What a travesty, that people do not at least consider mulching their leaves, and putting them in beds around the trees at least.
speaking of HOA, those diabolical control systems, with retired or is that retarted tyrants with nothing better to do who want some kind of control over others who March through your yards and tell you what you can plant and what you have to do to maintain THEIR sense of right and beauty.
It's almost impossible to buy property in CO that is not part of an HOA. In ours they demanded that we pull wild flowers and dandelions WEEDS,,, in the back yard out of the view of others. we had 3 days to do the job if we did not, they would come in with round up. We did not, 3 days wasn't enough time... Time to research our rights in the matter of if they could legally spray a known carcinogen on our property. 3 days after they sprayed, our dog was throwing up and severe diarrhea . He was diagnosed with beginning Kidney disease. He was 7 mos old at the time. Round up the cause??? How do these people have this authority? why would anyone agree to these regulations over their OWN property?
No one should, but people are stuck or do not know their rights. HOAs should be banned completely, as should roundup for residential use. I am so sorry to hear about your dog. This is why I am.vigilent about anyone spraying any pesticide nearby.
thank you.. If this did this to my dog what is it doing to the birds, to ALL LIFE, to the humans who are working with this poison every day, to those of us forced to walk in our own back yards that are poisoned, the water in which the run off flows?
Thank you Perry. There are many fascinating aspects to rewilding. We were just talking about it yesterday, driving to a neighbouring village in Central Portugal, where many people (mainly foreigners) have settled in the past 20-30 years to revive abandoned quintas in the countryside.
From listening to George Montbiot's TED talk and reading your article, it feels like we're all having this conversation. I love hearing about and visiting all these different facets.
From our perspective as quinta owners, looking after a patch of land, growing some of our own food without the use of pesticides or fertilisers, keeping the eucalyptus and undergrowth at bay in a patch of forest (where they would otherwise pose a fire risk to ourselves, our neighbours, and the whole village) rewilding must include the sensitive management of the land by responsible land owners.
The term 'rewilding' is sometimes used as an argument drive people (like us) off the land and shove everyone into cities, because 'nature knows best and can look after herself'.
In this part of the world, which is currently our home, humans have been an integral part of the symbiosphere of the natural habitat. Several non-native crops have been planted in the past, which now pose a risk to humans and nature. In such situations, I believe, humans have to be included in the rewilding process rather than treated as alien intruders. Obviously, this partnership has to start with our own awareness and behaviour...
Yes, it is my view that humans are part of Nature and it is the humans—Us—who are responsible for restoring and rewilding lands that require it. I did not realize that some say humans should not be a part of it all. This is not my view or intention.
I am here talking about what was at one time called responsible ecology, which sounds what you are doing and have been doing for some time. A symbiosis with Nature.
What you have done and continue to do in Portugal sounds admirable, Veronika.
I know Perry. It's not an aspect of 'rewilding' we normally think of. But it's another aspect we need to be aware of, how 'good words' like 'rewilding' can be so quickly and easily abused and turned against humans... We were shocked when we became aware of this interpretation.
So true Perry! Thanks for sharing. The weeds are slowly winning here. I held off mowing as long as possible. I look to be better. Yes to gardening. Yes to birds and bees. Bless you 🙏❤️
Good for you, Jamie. 🕊🦜🐝
In the UK there is a movement called #nomowmay, promoted by the charity Plantlife, to encourage gardeners to leave their grass to grow to welcome a diversity of plants and insects. I have been doing this for years and there has been an amazing shift in the wildlife that now flourishesin my garden. This year I saw my first Bee orchids and can think of no better reason to stop mowing. It greatly saddens me that still there is a lack of understanding at the damage caused by pesticides. A wonderful piece, Perry.
Thank you, Deborah; I read that there is a lot of good things happening in Britain in regards to restoration and rewilding. I only wish we here in Canada would take note and see the necessity in such ideas.
I hope so too. George Monbiot is a particular hero, I went to see him speak a couple of years ago, and he was brilliant.
Thanks...I'll check out the videos
Thank you, Perry. Lawn care feels cult-like; I have noticed people I know become perfervid maintainers of unnatural lawns. I make the case against lawns. The most success I’ve had has been from giving Lawns into Meadows as a gift, or Douglas Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope.
I learned a new word today: perfervid. I had to look it up in my trusty dictionary. Wonderful descriptive. Thanks.
It’s a great one! Glad you added it to your quiver
Change is hard for humans, but a gentle nudge often gets us moving in another direction.
yes I agree with you but it made me think: what the hell in my garden hasn't been manipulated into a cultivar not really any resempelance to its ancester before man maniplated it to it's current form. So what Im saying is: the bees and the birds and other critters may be of mother earths creation but not what growing in tmy garfden. Maybe the weeds but don' we all pull those damn weeds out.
Aquene
It will require work on our end to restore our lawns to natural gardens. I am no expert, but the two videos I included were instructive in what rewilding is and how to go about it.
Rachel Carson's book made a big impression on me too, and we're growinging a food forest using permaculture principles.
They say that if dandelions didn't grow everywhere, they'd be considered a superfood. I pick and eat the leaves and have them as part of my breakfast every day.
So wonderful, Diane. Perhaps you would like to share some recipes on dandelion dishes.
I just add them to soups and stir fries, the way you would with any greens. But not too soon. If you add them near the end of cooking they become a beautiful, vivid shad of green.
Thank you, Diane.