Creating a Yard That Nature Loves

Photo by Zett Foto

It’s one thing to put together a yard that you love. It’s another thing entirely to put together a yard that all living creatures love. If you’re someone who loves planet earth and wants to do all they can to ensure it stays healthy, then look at making your outdoor space as nature-friendly as possible. In doing so, you’ll be maximizing your contribution to the overall health of the planet, as well just more broadly giving insects and wildlife the chance to prosper. 

And happily, none of the things you’ll need to do are particularly challenging, and in many cases, they’re fun.

Grow Your Own Vegetables

The world would be in a much healthier position if everyone grew their own vegetables. While eating vegetables is in itself good for the planet (well, better than eating meat, anyway), the process of transporting vegetables around the world is not. Most of the carbon footprint of the vegetables you cook comes from their journey from the farm to the supermarket.

You can do your bit for the planet — and eat much tastier vegetables — by starting your own vegetable garden. This is much easier to do than you might think, and there’s nothing more satisfying than eating a vegetable that you’ve grown in your own yard. 

Add a Water Fountain

Adding a water fountain to your yard offers a wide variety of advantages. For example, it can just help you to have an outdoor space that’s extra calming and relaxing. For reasons that aren’t fully understood, the sound of running water seems to really have a positive impact on the human brain. Plus, your water fountain will be highly welcomed by wildlife in your local area. Don’t be surprised if you have birds, frogs, butterflies, and other wildlife swinging by to make the most of your water source. 

Look at Beekeeper

If you’ve started a vegetable patch and you’re looking to step things up, then why not start keeping bees? This isn’t just an awesomely fun project, but it can also have a significantly positive impact on the planet. Bees play an important role in the ecosystem, but with their numbers dwindling, it’s more important than ever that amateur beekeepers step up to keep their populations healthy. Plus, you’ll likely find that your vegetables and plants have never been healthier! There’s a ton of information about beekeeping at https://www.bees-and-beekeeping.com/, and it’s also worth looking to see if there are any other beekeepers in your local area. Once you’ve gotten started, you’ll discover just how much fun this hobby can be. 

Bring a Touch of Wildness

We tend to think that our backyards should always be uniform and completely neat. However, that’s only from a human perspective — wildlife appreciates a little bit of wildness. In fact, wildlife appreciates a lot of wildness. The best thing you can do for the earth is to let your yard grow wild. 

Of course, that’s not a realistic ambition. You’ll want to keep your property at least somewhat presentable! Letting your grass grow just a little will keep your yard looking good, but also crucially provide a great opportunity for insects and plants to thrive. 

Create a Pathway 

We tend to think that our yards should be a fortress. But that’s not the case, well, it’s not the case from the perspective of wildlife. Small wildlife creatures want to find a route from one place to another, and if your home is fully locked up, then that won’t be possible. It’s no big deal to put a few gaps in your fence; doing so won’t make your home any less secure than it currently is, but will ensure that foxes and other creatures can pass through. 

Use Earth-Friendly Products

You’ll have a lot of products in your yard. The question is, are they good or bad for the earth? Most typical products that you’ll find in stores are damaging to the planet in one or another. For example, plastic pots have no place in a truly nature-boosting yard. It’d be much better if you have hemp pots. Also, look at any “plant growing” products you’re using — they might make your plants grow big, but they could also contain chemicals that are broadly bad for the natural world. 

Add a Leaf Pile

Finally, don’t automatically throw away all the leaves that you sweep up. Instead, leave a small pile in the corner. It’ll become a home for insects seeking a safe space, as well as helping birds make a nest.