GUARDIANS of the GARDEN add your address to the urban pollinator highway By Courtney-Anne Craft & Amber Stafford
The ethics of conservation include protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitat, and encouraging biodiversity. Of course, many of us equate conservation with large, naturalized areas of land that have been sectioned off and protected from human population. While the forests, ravines, meadows and swamps of provincial parks are valuable sites for animal and insect life, urban areas are not ecological vacuums. As an urban dweller, you too can play a role in conservation. From studio apartment to expansive estate, private property can contribute to conservation efforts simply by making pollinator-friendly plants a part of your personal, outdoor space. The need is more important now than ever. In Canada, insect populations have declined 45 percent in the past 30 years, while North American bird populations have declined by 5 billion in the same time frame. Beyond their intangibles, birds and insects, such as bees, moths, and butterflies, are responsible for the pollination of plants that produce fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils, fibres, and many raw materials that humans rely on for food and industry. Fortunately, in an urban area like Toronto, where private property dominates the landscape, conservation can be brought home — quite literally. This summer, city dwellers can easily become stay-at-home conservationists by creating gardens and making simple changes in their plant selection.
8 | the COLLECTION
‘Home sweet home’ comes in many forms: from condos, apartments and soaring penthouses in the sky, to row, semi or detached housing, and even grand estates. Regardless of which is closest to your reality, making a valuable contribution to conservation depends less on the amount of space you have, and more on what plants you choose to grow there. Your balcony, your shared front garden, your backyard, and even your concrete pad, hold ecological significance. Outdoor living spaces of all varieties have the potential to increase biodiversity and enhance the local ecosystem. If you are just developing your green thumb, you’ll find that successful garden making is a matter of keen observation. Let’s start with light. What direction does your soon-to-be oasis face? South-facing spots will get more sun than north-facing, always! East-facing spots will get delicate morning sun, while those west-facing will receive some blazing hot end-of-day sun. Once you’ve oriented yourself, consider the factors that obstruct light: a canopy of trees provides dappled or deep shade, and a nearby building makes dense shade. Be proactive and keep a log of the light conditions specific to your slice of the pie. Now that you’ve looked up, look down. Soil is an important factor in a garden’s success, and believe it or not, terrace and balcony owners have an advantage here. They can create the perfect soil for each plant in the very pot in which it will thrive. Follow the needs of the
