waiting for spring, birdsong ID, using less plastic
Spreading the word!
I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from writing about the garden. But have been quite busy talking about all things gardening. Recent presentations to UNH Master Gardeners at their Spring Symposium (designing gardens for community), the Chestnut Hill Garden Club (moss gardening), and the Bristol, R.I. Garden Club (the Community Hospice House gardens) have kept me connected with my fellow plant addicts. In all cases, it has been heartening to witness the growing excitement around ecological gardening practices.
before you ‘clean up’…
It’s important to remember that tidying up in the garden at this time of year can be more detrimental than beneficial. Today’s plowable snow (yes, the plow just went zooming up the hill), won’t last long and the additional moisture is beneficial to our lawns and gardens. Raking and removal of leaves and last year’s plant debris risks destroying our precious bees, butterflies, beetles and more that are still sleeping under ‘nature’s blanket’. This image taken two days ago shows the ‘soft landing’ under our tall white pine tree. We haven’t raked this area in years, allowing last year’s fern stems and other plant debris to die back naturally. Spring bulbs have no trouble emerging, and new fern fiddleheads will appear shortly.
As last year’s plant material decomposes, it adds structure and beneficial microbes to the soil. Meanwhile the moths, butterflies, fireflies and more can emerge on their own schedule as their food sources become available. Read more about how to create a ‘soft landing’ for beneficial insects here.
what’s that bird??
This morning as the snow was flying, the birds were going crazy at the feeders. This is perhaps because their natural food sources, like insects in the leaf litter, were all covered in snow! Anyway, I saw 3 different types of ‘black birds’ at the feeder. I was pretty sure that two were native species and that one was a non-native bird. So I fired up my Merlin bird app, and sure enough it detected the vocalizations of the two natives (common grackle and red-winged blackbird) and the one less desirable European starling. I learned today that these three types of black birds frequently migrate and flock together! The screenshot here shows that a house finch and a northern cardinal were also vocalizing at the same time.
Merlin is such a reliable and easy to use app. I keep the shortcut on my phone’s home screen so I can quickly activate it with one tap, then click the microphone icon ‘identify a sound’. As soon as a bird call is detected, the identified bird appears in a list and is highlighted every time that bird makes a sound. The recording is captured and the entire experience can be saved for future reference. Merlin is associated with the Cornell Lab ‘All About Birds’. It is a superior resource for backyard birding enthusiasts and a fun tool for children to explore and learn about the wildlife in their own back yard! Check it out - it’s free!
in pursuit of better health
For my family, this past winter literally flew by. We spent a great deal of time focused on improving our health through cleaner food. It’s amazing how much C#@P is in our food. Even seemingly harmless and ‘healthy’ food harbors dangerous chemicals that really mess up our endocrine systems. Decades of exposure and buildup in our systems is, well, NOT GOOD! Time to get serious about reversing the damage. Our 4 month journey into a much healthier lifestyle has reinforced the notion that ‘food is poison, and food is medicine’. We just need to understand the difference!
With the help of Dr. Mark Hyman and his 10-Day Detox Program, we learned how to identify foods that fuel our body with good energy, and foods that deplete us and contribute to chronic illness (inflammation anyone?) We considered ourselves pretty educated in the importance of eating well. We were shocked to learn that many of our ‘healthy foods’ were having adverse reactions in our bodies.
In a little over two months we have each lost 25 pounds and feel better than we have in a very long time. And it’s not just about the weight loss. Our blood panels have improved dramatically, along with energy, sleep and more! If you are interested in exploring Dr. Hyman’s program, click here, or simply email me at barb@thebiglittlegarden.com and we can arrange a chat.
a time for optimism!
There is SO MUCH in the news these days about the need to improve the quality of our food and to remove environmental toxins. Dr. Hyman is at the forefront of this movement. The United States spends more money on ‘health care’ than most other developed nations, but our population continues to become sicker and sicker. Personally, I am pleased and excited to think that our leaders might finally be taking steps to reverse the frightening trend of chronic illness in children and adults.
how much ‘plastic’ is in your brain?
One of the problems coming into greater focus is all of the microplastics that end up in our water, our soil, our food, and ultimately in our bodies. It was recently reported that the concentration of microplastics found in the brains of cadavers had increased by 50% in just the past 8 years! The implication for us all is truly alarming, including the connection to cognitive decline and dementia. Yikes. Here’s a Dr. Hyman podcast on the subject.
eliminating plastic is easier than you think
Personally, I am taking steps to eliminate plastic in my environment. There are the obvious culprits, like plastic water bottles and plastic food containers exposing us to microplastics (especially when heated or microwaved!!!) But there’s more!
For years, we have used Cleanomics biodegradable bags. These reusable and compostable bags come in a variety of sizes. Unlike plastic baggies that take decades to break down, these begin to decompose after a few uses. Not only are they better for the environment, they also won’t contribute to more plastic in my brain, which has to be a good thing, right?
I have also used True Earth unscented laundry sheets for a couple years now and can attest to their effectiveness. To me, it just makes sense to use a product that can be shipped for the cost of a small envelope vs. being schlepped home from the grocery store in an enormous, bulky, 10 pound plastic bottle full of dubious toxins that then needs to be recycled. The laundry sheets are also fragrance free and non-toxic which make them an easy choice for our home.
Another plastic-free favorite of mine comes from Earthling Co. These solid shampoo and conditioner bars are amazing. Not only do they lather and condition beautifully, they eliminate plastic waste. After decades of collecting half used plastic bottles of VERY expensive hair products, I feel really good about Earthling (oh, and they were recommended by my hair stylist!) I have tried and love the mint and the sandalwood. Next in line are the citrus bars! Check them out!
plant sale sneak peek!
Warmer weather will arrive soon, and we are gearing up for our 2nd Annual Plant Sale to benefit the Community Hospice House gardens. This year’s sale will be bigger and better than our first (and we will be a ton more organized and prepared for crowds!) I will share more details as we get closer, but for now mark your calendars for Saturday, May 31st from 9:30-12:30. Read more here!
In the next issue
Next time, I will share more specifics on how to safely tidy up the garden without destroying vital pollinator habitat. Our gardens can be both pretty and productive! It just takes a bit of understanding and a willingness to ‘see’ a bit differently. Till then,
Stay calm and garden on,
~ Barb