Most people are aware of endangered species like the elephants, tigers or polar bears. But the problem goes much deeper, 80% of the local species like insects, birds, plants or small animals have disappeared since our civilization has progressively reduced and damaged their own ecosystem.
Fortunately, everybody can help and it starts at home in your garden or balcony. Forget about a nice French or English style garden. It’s quite the opposite actually, you need to recreate a wild environment in order to welcome a lot of these plants and animals.
Ban all pesticides and insecticides
Pesticides is probably one of the worst invention humans came up with. They have created something that not only damages the environment but also ourselves since they are contaminating our own food chain. RoundUp from Monsanto (who else?!) has for instance been found responsible for provoking cancer and killing most of our bees.
The worst part is that mother nature is so smart that it has its own natural pesticides that you can use with maximum security. For example, beetles will get rid of the aphids in your plants. You can also spray bier (don’t drink it all!) to avoid having your plants infested with slugs.
Pick the right flowers
I would advise you to plant flowers with a lot of nectar and pollen which will attract insects like bees, butterflies and birds which will in turn spread these plants all over the area. For example, you could try plants like oregano, lavander, heather or ivy will not only represent a feast for bees or butterflies but are also beautiful.
Meadow
You should seek to create a meadow by sowing seeds during the autumn. Butterflies will then be able to feed themselves and lay eggs in Spring. Leaving high grass will attract little animals, insects like Bumblebees or bees that will enrich your garden.
High herbs, leaves, broken branches
Dead leaves and broken branches should be kept and spread all over the garden among your vegetables, fruits or plants which will enrich the soil and will give a home to moles or hedgehogs. Furthermore, nettles should not be removed since they are feeding butterflies and can be used as a homemade remedy for sore throat.
You should also disperse all your organic waste like peelings, old bread in your garden... You will reduce your waste and help your garden grow beautiful vegetables and fruits.
Stones
You can use some stones to give a home to lizards and warm up insects or allow them to lay down their eggs in between them. Just be careful with your children since it’s also a sought after refuge for snakes which can be venomous.
Pond
Water is the essence of life and is fundamental to any garden. Frogs, toads and salamanders will come populate a pond. It will also provide an ideal environment for dragonflies to reproduce. Finally, birds and hedgehogs will be able to satisfy their thirst.
Create a bird house
You can help birds to find a place to nest and reproduce by placing a wooden box between several high branches in a tree. Make sure that you use rope (and not metal wire) to attach it to the tree in order not to damage the trunk.
I hope these ideas will be a good introduction to what you can do to help preserve the environment. Let me know what you think in the comments below.