A New Column About Understanding the Balance of Nature in the Home Garden

Hi there! Let me introduce myself. My name is Audrey. I’m a biologist and a new member of the Laidback Gardener team. Break out the champagne: it’s time to celebrate! ?

My arrival in the team will open up a whole new vision (I hope!) of your yard, through my new Ecology in the Garden column. I can already hear grumbling at the back of the room: “Oh no, not an environmentalist! She’ll tell us to use expensive organic stuff! Boo!”

Calm down, relax, be Zen!

My goal is quite different: I want to make you aware of the magnificence of the nature that surrounds your home, your office, your neighborhood park, etc. I want to show you this nature in a new light by explaining to you how it works, and above all, teach you how to work with it, and not against it. You’ll discover, laidback gardeners, that understanding a problem is often the best way to solve it!

My catchphrase? Balance. It’s worth repeating! Balance. I want to help you find your place in your environment so you can make the most of it.

An Example

For example: Why should you leave lawn clippings on the lawn and not pick them up?

To grow, a lawn needs water, sun … and nutrients. And they aren’t created by magic! They are the result of the decomposition of dead leaves, the action of insects in the soil, and a host of other factors. If you leave the grass clippings where they fall, they’ll decompose and become food for … well, eventually, for other blades of grass. Which in turn will be cut and recycled.

Matter isn’t created, it’s transformed: everything is a question of balance. If we take something away from nature (like a inch/2.5 cm of grass), we destabilize this balance. And we’ll eventually need to add fertilizer to put nutrients back into the soil and have a beautiful lawn. So, who’s saving you now? ?

Working With Nature

I look forward to helping you understand how to work with nature, not against it. You’ll be able to learn more about what surrounds you thanks to subjects such as portraits of friendly, harmful or invasive species, responsible harvesting, soil health, the weather, and so much more! We’ll discover together just where this adventure takes us.

Be ready for the next Ecology in the Garden column, coming soon!

Audrey Martel