Habitat Project
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Update: 4/24/09
Turns out I’m not moving after all. The project is back on and I have taken some steps to get it started!
Update: 2/23/09
I will be moving to another state by June of this year so my habitat project is on hold until I get into a new house. While the new location will not have the available land, I still have a goal to turn whatever piece of the earth I have into a critter-friendly space. Look for updates on the site.
6/29/08
I have made a vow to turn a good portion of the land I own into a suitable habitat for pollinating bees, butterflies, songbirds, and hummingbirds. I also have to rehab some areas of my property to make it safe for me and my family. While the current state of my backyard is suitable habitat for all sorts of creatures, there are some I’d rather not have quite so close.
I had hoped to qualify for a WHIP grant, but there aren’t any funds available for this county. Unfortunate, but not the end of the world. The money would have come in handy for this type of project.
I think there is a subdivision being developed across the road, and a lot of clearing is taking place. I know this will remove a lot of habitat that has been undisturbed for 50 years or more. I hope that by rehabbing my property and planting to encourage beneficial creatures, I will be doing us all a big favor. My mom and dad recently inherited a hive and some honey bees. A friend of theirs who keeps bees cleared a hive from inside the wall of a house and brought them over in a hive. The hive sits at the end of their vegetable garden, but they don’t have a lot of flowers in the yard that would be available any other time of the year. They are nearby, so I think my project would greatly benefit their beekeeping endeavors.
Phase 1
Clear and rehab area behind house that contains small pond - This is very important, given the proximity to my house. It is very overgrown, and prone to dangerous snakes. This will be undertaken in the winter when the vegetation has died back a bit and I can really see what needs to be done. I will have to either rent or borrow a bulldozer, and my dad can do the clearing. There is also a large dying tree directly behind the house that will have to be trimmed. I don’t want to remove it entirely, but it will eventually rot and fall on the house and the utility lines. The trunk can be left for those critters that like to nest in rotting tree trunks.
Continue planting flower beds – This is an ongoing project. I started with a small butterfly/bee friendly area in front of the porch and will expand to include areas in the rest of the yard. I have seen three types of bees on the echinacea already. I recognized the bumblebee, but not sure about the other two. They were very small, and what I called “sweat bees” as a kid. One was no more than 3/8″ long, the other was even smaller. I will do some research and post my findings.
Plant and maintain a meadow area – I have some hard to mow areas that would benefit from plants and grasses that are beneficial to pollinators.
Phase 2
Planting trees – After the area behind the house is cleared and the undesirable trees and brush removed, I will be replanting trees that provide fruit, ornamental value and shade, while being an attractant for pollinators.
Plant edible crops – Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, fruit trees, etc. Good for me AND the pollinators.
Phase 3
TBD. Stay tuned.
