Start In Your Yard is a local movement initiated by members of Wild Ones. We understand that we have become disconnected from the natural world — and our place in it — with disastrous consequences. Recognizing that we are part of a great web, we are moved to become cooperative partners and share the land where we live.

The call to address climate change often recounts the need to capture carbon, build and improve soil, slow the loss of species, create habitat, use naturally renewable resources, restore aquafers, and filter pollutants. These are often regarded as complex, industrial, agricultural and commercial, projects that might require governmental action and/or assistance. But…

In his books Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope, Doug Tallamy, author, entomologist, and researcher, suggests that in the past we homeowners have ignored the important ecological role our gardens could play in the landscape. Considering only appearance, we have converted millions of acres of working plant communities into ecologically useless lawns. Now that we face the crises listed above, we must reconsider how we use our land.

Dr. Tallamy proposes that we think differently about the land we live on. He teaches that what we plant changes the way we impact life around us; what we do makes a difference to other beings — plants, animals, insects, birds, microorganisms, and us – because we are part of an interwoven system of life. We steward the land that needs to be a home to Life.

To begin, we can replace some of the endless lawns with native grasses, flowers, trees, and shrubs. We don’t need to wait for governmental action. As homeowners, we are empowered. We can step outside today and begin making changes to provide respite for the biodiversity we are displacing. Perhaps this will tide them over while we, as a species, find our balance as part of Nature.

We’d like to expand upon these ideas and talk about what is taking place in the Elgin area.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A.
League members are invited to register for this Zoom presentation.
Everyone is invited to watch live on YouTube.