Building Healthy Habitats

Farms should be places of life, not only for what is intentionally planted by the farmer, but for all the plants and creatures that live on or visit the farm.

Safe places for creatures big and small are on the decline. Our farms can be key spots to bring those places back.

Every member of a food web has a role, and preserving that balance of life helps nature manage itself.

Fostering Habitats

There are several ways to foster small and larger habitats on our farms. First viewing the soil as a habitat, disturbing it minimally, and applying non-chemical based products like compost will help to foster life in the soil.

Additionally, leaving plant material over the winter for birds to forage from and insects to live in helps create more places for life to flourish.

In the larger view of the farm, we can foster habitats by having areas dedicated to conservation that are intentionally planted with trees, shrubs and plants for our local wildlife.

These areas provide nesting spots for birds, cover for small animals, and spots for pollinators and insects to overwinter and lay eggs.

By focusing our attention on creating places that encourage life we can create healthier habitats for our flowers, ourselves, and our wildlife friends.