A “food forest” combining fruit and nut trees and shrubs with the perennials, like goldenrods, that pollinators love
Hank and Vera Jones have tuned the front garden of their half-acre lot (2000 square m) into a pollinator garden. In addition to perennials, it contains many fruit and nut trees. Their backyard is CWF-certified wildlife habitat. They also grow vegetables and salad greens in portable tables and enjoy foraging produce from the trees.
Hank recalls: “Launched in 2008, the APG started by “rewilding” the site – letting what was already there show its face; over a hundred plants did so. Ottawa By-Law did not approve. We spent the first year arguing that the city was already asking for such places, but their rules contradicted. We were finally vindicated. However, this contradiction has emerged repeatedly for others in the region seeking the same emancipation – victoriously in every case as I can recall.
“Advice: allow meadow patches to emerge and expand simply by progressively mowing less and less area until only pathways remain. This way, you will not attract the lightning, I expect.”