Rewilding a Suburban Yard
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- Опубликовано: 29 дек 2022
- I rewild a portion of my yard to support wildlife in the suburbs of Houston. Managing my emotions regarding, "what the neighbors" think is more difficult than the physical labor to change the landscape. Please read Doug Tallamy's book "Nature's Best Hope", it will change the way you look at turf grass and all the plants you have in your yard. You may be surprised how "ungreen" your yard is, but there are numerous simple actions you can take which will support more robust wildlife in your area. I plan to provide updates to the garden: Episode 2 will include an update on the garden and the installation of the drip irrigation. Episode 3 will be an update on the garden, an inventory of the plants included in the garden and pictures of the creatures which call the garden home.
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Tried this. The neighbors were not happy. The city was not happy. They don't get it. You do.
Sorry to hear you had problems with your neighbors and city as I realize it is very stressful. I get a lot of positive comments now but I’m still not sure all my neighbors like it as it is not a “traditional” yard. I wish you well in your efforts and hopefully with time more people will see the benefit of having a more wild yard.
Good job! In the last year, I moved into a home that I am renting, and was given permission to do what I wanted with the yard. Last summer I removed all the non native and invasive plants from the property. I have planted 4 separate native gardens, with approximately 300 plants, roughly 50 different varieties. Then planted 17 different native shrubs and an native oak tree. I made a native water garden in a half wine barrel and will be digging a wildlife pond in the backyard in the Spring, along with a new 400 sq ft native garden. It’s amazing how quickly the wildlife found the yard. I put out a bird bath and have attracted dozens of different types of birds, some I’ve never seen before. All of this happened after reading Nature’s Best Hope, last winter. Keep us updated on your progress. Keep going, it’s so worth it in the end. I spent all my free time last summer, sitting in the yard, watching hummingbirds, bees, hover flies, butterflies, dragon flies, frogs, toads, rabbits all enjoying the little that I have done so far, all without any supplemental feeding, just the plants themselves. Can’t wait to rip out more lawn and plant some more natives.
Tim - Thank you for watching the video, reading Natures Best Hope and being an inspiration to others!!!! I would love to see a picture of progress you have made in rewilding your yard. I found Natures Best Hope so compelling I had to do something and hope other read the book as well. Even with the little I have done I have already noticed Nature is moving back in and there are so many other small changes. As an example the area retains water so much better and longer. I am planning to update my progress with a number of episodes and can't wait for spring to see the plants come alive and what surprises nature brings back into the area. I am already eyeing the next section of yard I am going to give back to mother nature.... more to come!
Jeff and Family, you are so right in what you are doing. The enjoyment you will get by rejoining the wider community of who and what lives in Texas cannot be replaced by anything. As another human being I am so proud of you and yours. Thankyou!
Kris - I have been amazed by Mother Nature and what has taken place in the small yard which is now a garden for wildlife. The influence this little piece of ground has had on people is also surprising! If you watch the other 9 episodes (more will be coming in the future) I will be interested in what you think as I suspect you have a lot of experience. Thank you for your support and kind and encouraging comment. Take care!
That boys message has more heart than all those critical neighbors.
He had a huge impact on me at the moment I needed it! I will admit I understand the neighbors concerns and I believe everyone is on board now and enjoys the garden with all the flowers and butterflies.
Okay, this is cool & all, but that whole neighborly exchange is one of the most wholesome things I’ve heard in a while. Beautiful 💜
I hope sharing the story and the impact it is having on me and others will encourage others. This video/story makes me smile every time I think about it, which is often! Thanks for watching and sharing what you think about the video!!
Thank you for planting natives and sharing!
“PlantMoreTrees” - thank you for your note of encouragement. It was very hard to figure out what is native, finding native plants and figuring out what native plants would grow best but the effort has been so rewarding. Hope you get to watch the other 9 episodes of Rewilding I have published I would be curious what you think?
From time to time RUclips throws up some jewels. This is a jewel! Even if you don't have a garden watch this for the thoroughly decent Jeff who should be an inspiration to us all.
Dear Father Philip, I needed to reflect on your comment for most of a day before I felt I could respond. First, thank you for your very kind comment. I work hard to keep my messages positive as we all can get overwhelmed by the negative messages we may receive throughout the day. When people enjoy my videos and it helps make them feel better about themselves, humanity the earth, nature or any other part of their life, it brings me great joy! Thank you for watching this video and leaving a beautiful comment which helps inspire me to do more. All the best! Jeff
This video should be required viewing for every new home buyer.
I love your enthusiasm! I hope you are able to watch some of the other episodes on rewilding and would be interested in your thoughts.
Doug Tallamy was also my inspiration when I covered most of my front yard in mulch. My yard sticks out like a sore thumb in my central illinois neighborhood subdivision. The neighbors have been insulting and unkind, but I ignore them. I had enough caterpillars in my yard for a pair of chickadees to raise their babies in one of my bird houses. Thank you for being one of the few of us who care about wildlife; I wish more people did. They've been brainwashed into thinking that a dead yard of turf grass is beautiful. I belong to an organization called _wild ones_ , who focuses on restoring native plants to the area. I have a paw paw, witch hazel & American hazel tree coming from them in May. Thanks again & know that you *are* making a difference, no matter what the ignorant neighbors think!
Unfortunately many people do not understand the negative impact of putting in turf grass and non native plants. I didn't understand it fully till I read "Natures Best Hope". I hope your neighbors come around to enjoying your yard and it helps them change their yards even just a little bid: One less application of fertilizer, cutting their grass at a higher level so it needs less water, leaving the leaves on the ground around the trees and maybe planting a couple native plants in a corner of their yard for pollinators. I grew up in the Chicagoland area and it seems like the state is endorsing natural spaces including prairie grasses along highways and other public spaces. Just remember your actions are making a positive impact on the environment and wildlife habitat!
@JEFF HODGES I turned the area between my sidewalk and the street into a mini prairie with blazing star, compass plant, ironweed, leadplant, milkweed.... etc. I feel like I'm in a wonderland walking through the ever-present cloud of butterflies and bees enjoying my prairie in the Summer. I hope your paw paws fruit. I didn't know about dioecious plants when I started on my native restoration journey. I have 15 native shrubs in my yard that I chose because they either produce berries for the birds, or are a host plant for caterpillars. Some years the wrens and chickadees feed most of them to their babies, so I dont get many butterflies to raise. No other front yard in the neighborhood is full of spicebush, big bluestem, and gooseberry bushes! I even had a man walk by this Summer, visiting from Northern IL and asking if I'd heard of Doug Tallamy. (I'm glad Professor Tallamy's name is getting around) He took photos of my yard and the neighbors' yards to show a comparison for a presentation he was doing at a _wild ones_ meeting in his town. Like the Lorax said, ' *unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.* I'm looking forward to seeing how your rewilding project turns out!
@@alliehamilton-calhoun162 sorry for the late delay in my response, somehow I missed your additional comments. I will be generating many episodes on this subject as I am amazed at the response from people who have watched the video and also in the number of people who are stopping to look at the garden and chat. Every conversation allows me to help people understand why I am taking out the turf grass and the importance of native plants...... I love the diversity of plants you mention in your "mini prairie". In the next episode I will provide a list of all plants I have installed. Many of the plants are new to me and are unique and beautiful. Because they plants are native they are growing well and many of the plants have doubled in size, including the ones I planted last fall. I have many insects showing up including many native bumble bees. Yesterday I saw a ribbon snake in the garden which was a shock. I find the change in the garden overwhelming and very exciting!!!!!!!! Keep the faith we are all making a difference and there is a growing number of people who are starting to understand and make changes.
This honestly feels like the most important work of our time. Mr. Tallamy inspired me as well, and I am building wild beds allover my 1 acre property in Arkansas. Thank you for sharing!
Courtney, Glad to hear Doug Tallamy had the same impact on you. I agree rewilding “may be the most important work of our time”. I sure hope rewilding our yards becomes a more common sight. Thank you for caring about nature and taking the action to make a difference by rewilding some of your yard!
Your work will help make it so!!! Thank you!!!
I haven’t cried in quite a while. That letter was about the sweetest thing I’ve seen this year.
John, Thank you for sharing your experience while watching the video. Every time I think about this video I get emotional . It took a lot for me to get the opening comments finished as I couldn't get through them without having to pause... I think the first day I gave up and had to come back the next day and try again. The little boy may be my #1 fan and anytime he sees me working in the yard he has to stop and come ask me what I am doing. The transformation of the yard is amazing but the interaction with my neighbors is what has really shocked me. They all want to talk about their experience watching the transformation and are very excited to see the garden grow and bloom this spring and summer ......... take care!
Seeing that people like you exist and do what you do gives me hope
There are more good people in the world silently making good decisions for themself and the rest of the world inhabitants (including wildlife). Thank you for your kind words and its comments like yours which encourage me to continue working on making as big a positive impact on society for the benefit of all wildlife. Take care.
I told myself that if I don’t acquire enough land to restore and I have to buy a plot of suburbia, I’m for rewilding it with native forbs, wildflowers, and grasses. This video is an inspiration that restoration and rewilding can be done on the micro scale as with the macro scale.
Thank you for watching the video and leaving a comment. I used to believe I needed to buy a big piece of land to have an impact but actually the world needs us to work with what we have. No matter how small the space, what we plant even in a small yard or pots on a balcony or patio, making good (native plant) choices makes a difference. I wish you good luck on your journey to "rewild" and I hope you will watch future episodes on rewilding on this channel for encouragement and learning from some of the mistakes I make.
It’s beautiful! I completely understand the feeling of being watched by the neighbors who have a different idea of beauty… That little boy made my day. Thank you
Thank you for sharing your experience of having similar feelings. I hope I was able to convey the impact the little boy made on me, I was stunned and amazed, it was a beautiful moment.
Excellent job, neighbor! Thank you for taking this courageous step! 👍👍👍
Thank you for stopping at the garden and chatting, I enjoyed our conversation. II look forward to additional conversations as the garden grows and blooms. Thank you for showing an interest in the garden, watching the video and leaving a comment!
Started this approach 30 years ago when I moved into my house and large property. The builder had left many native trees in place, thus reducing the sunlight for a lawn which he had, poorly, sodded anyway. But instantly I knew I’d eliminate that boring lawn bit by bit. It took years. In my mind I’d divide the property into segments: This year I’ll do the section by the front door, next year moving down toward the drive, the next by the street. I’ve enjoyed every minute of what I’ll call a modified rewilding with expansive use of my property’s abundance of pine straw, of the rocks brought down eons ago by the glaciers and uncovered whenever I dug, but also with once a year trips to the hardware store for herbicide-yes, I confess. I use it as sparingly as possible. But, for example, oaks with their seemingly interminable shoots up from their roots after the tree is down still take four years to eliminate-and I can’t afford any quicker process. Also, removing grass so pollinators can grow is a never ending spring-summer task. I can’t stress enough how much 4-6 inches of pine straw helps. I keep 6 inches or more around my roses and for years now have not spotted a blade of grass around them. Modified rewilding is not the optimal approach, but somewhere between optimal and not at all there has to be the doable. So now I have no turf at all, front or back. Passersby comment favorably on my garden. Both the optimal and the doable take time, but the not at all is not an option. Love this series.
Alaiana - Thank you for the open and honest story of your journey rewilding your yard. Everyone has to figure out what works for them and every yard is different with unique challenges. I know I will have new challenges as the garden matures and will have to figure out how to balance letting nature take the lead and me trying to manage its look so people still accept and enjoy the garden. My mission is to change how people perceive nature and wildlife and I know the conversations I am having with neighbors is having a positive impact. While I see an occasional rewilded yard they are far from common. I am sure your yard is having a positive impact on people who walk by and that is what is most important! I like to dream big dreams and hearing from people like yourself is inspiring and motivational to do "more". Thanks for watching and telling your story!
You have made my day. Thank you ever so much for such an amazing video. I’ve been working on my garden and am focused on showing people how a regenerated garden is better that the money making turf grass no native plants garden. That book may be an inspiration to you but you are an inspiration to everyone who watched this video x
Wow! Amazing kind and encouraging words. People like yourself are so helpful to the cause of saving wildlife which starts with habitat for them to live in. I wish you good luck with your garden and the conversations you have with people who are curious and maybe a little skeptical of removing turf grass and planting natives! All the best!!!!
You had barely started talking when I thought, "I bet he's been reading Doug Tallamy." LOL. While I haven't read "Nature's Best Hope," I did devour Doug's first book, "Bringing Nature Home." It literally changed my life, even though I already had been gardening with Texas natives for about 20 years at that point. I've had the pleasure twice of hearing Doug speak. If you ever get such an opportunity, I highly encourage it. He's remarkable. I'm adding "Nature's Best Hope" to my list of books to buy. BTW, I like your garden, too!
Belinda - Congratulations for gardening with native plants for 20 years, you were out in front of many of us!!!!! I bought and own all Doug Tallamy's book. Maybe because I read Natures Best Hope first I like it the best but as you stated "it literally changed my life". I would love to see Doug speak and shake his hand for what he has done and the education he has provided. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Happy New Year to you, your family and friends!
Great video! Started this journey 10 years ago and it’s so fun learning along the way. Your plan to plant 2 pawpaws is perfect! Each tree has male and female blossoms; in fact the blossoms change sexes as they mature. I think it’s from male to female and pollinators are flies attracted to the scent of rotting meat. Two trees each from a different seed are required for pollination. Amazing trees. You got it right. Persimmon and spicebush have male blossoms on one plant and female on another; that’s where the guesswork comes. I started by planting 30 persimmon seeds, waited 8 years and then as the sex was revealed slowly removed what wasn’t needed.
With the superabundance these types of gardens put out, it becomes easy and necessary to propagate and pass on to neighbors. It’s nice to see “our” plants growing throughout the neighborhood. When several passersby saw our milkweed and learned about monarch butterfly journey they wanted some in their garden too. And finally Doug Tallamy, through books and videos ,has coached me along the way. Happy gardening!
Dan, thank you for the encouragement! After I finish my yard I am thinking about offering to rewild some of the neighbors yard. The big cost is plants so one of the next action items is to learn how to propagate plants. I have recently noticed some of my plants have already seeded down or have runners generating additional plants so areas are filling in and will allow me to transplant to new areas! As you mentioned every week I learn sometime from the garden which is so exciting and interesting. Thank you for watching the video and your comment.
That note is absolutely awesome. Neighbors need to be like you again. Made me make a decision to go get to know my new neighbors.
Not sure why you picked the “not strong” name but the fact that you made the effort to get to know your new neighbors tells me you are a lot stronger than most. Thank you for caring for others and making a difference. All the small actions we take, make a difference! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment on how the video impacted you.
What a passionate guy, you inspired me Sir ❤ stay blessed
Akash - I am committed to making the world a healthy and wilder place. I'm happy you found the video inspiring. I hope you are able to watch the other videos in this series (Currently 8 episodes). All the best in your pursuit of the passions in your life. Take care!
This is awesome. I'd love to live near you. It only gets better from here. You can propagate plants for your neighbors now. Also, coppicing some trees in a few-year cycle can increase habitat a lot. good luck!!
Thank you for watching the video and leaving a comment. Propagating plants is another skill I intend to learn. I hope you get a chance to watch episode 2, and I am planning episode 3 and 4. Maybe a future episode will be propagating plants.
So true! When I began converting lawn to native plantings under our pin oak, birds dropped serviceberry seeds from our neighbor’s tree. Now I’m planting some of those and oak and flowering dogwood trees in a local park overrun by invasive introduced species. I share so many other great plants with neighbors that show interest in our front garden of native plants. Propagation is so interesting and so important for sharing the abundance that comes with these types of gardens. Loved your comment.
The end result looks great! Didn’t know about the cardboard trick! Nice to see you could reuse what was considered “waste” with the leaves and rocks
Thanks for watching and always leaving a comment, it helps drive the RUclips algorithm to get more visibility of this channel!
Nice job, Jeff. I've transformed the majority of my front yard as well. Feedback has been mostly positive. Though I had one negative last year...a complaint to the city that my grass was too long. Sigh. That was my cue to get rid of even more turf. Haha :D
Keepin' the "nature's best hope" faith 👊
I love you are committed and when you got a complaint about tall grass you doubled down by taking out more grass. Great job!
Very cool, keep going!!!! Greetings from Germany
Peter, Thanks for the encouragement and I am well into rewilding the next section of the yard. The Houston heat is making the process a lot harder and it's taking more time than I thought. Hope to add Episode 3 in the next couple of weeks which will provide an update on the current garden. I find the whole process amazing. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment from Germany!!!!
Congrats on your beautiful new space
Thank you!!! We are really enjoying the garden. With the expansion in episode 2-8 I sit in the chairs every day and the garden teaches me something new!!! Like to know what you think of the new sections of the garden?
I was very impressed with the quality of this video
Thank you for watching the video and your kind comment. I am actually working on putting together episode 2. I hope to publish within the next week.
Wonderful, I just found you. I will check out more soon. I have been rewilding ever since I got my place 3 years ago. I have been planting trees to keep other things from burning up, I get a lot of Western
exposure. I learn as I go. I try to use permaculture, and I figure it is easier to remove branches than it is to create living shade. I will try using free pallets held up with posts to shield new plants this year. I am a Michigander and the heat/drought can be fierce here. It's all about creating a micro climate that benefits my plants,etc. Keep doing your work, it is great. 🙂🙂🙂💚
Steve, I understand the heat you can get in Michigan as I was born in East Lansing and spent a couple years in Pontiac and still visit Michigan occasionally. I like the idea of permacultures as everyone used to have gardens. We are all learning as we go in rewilding and developing gardens. Fortunately the plants are good at providing daily feedback which highlights our mistakes and successes . Together we will all grow and support a healthy world. Thanks for watching the video and I hope you continue to enjoy additional episodes on my rewilding project as I publish them.
Hi there, Jeff. I'm so glad I've found your channel. I'm following you. Thank you for your input, on so many ways, in so many subjects.
Sensitivity is a treasure, for is to share!
Rodolfo - thank you for subscribing and I am happy you find the channel provides meaningful "input" on subjects important to you. I have been learning so much over the last couple of years and am trying to help people see how I am applying my new knowledge. I hope this encourages everyone to follow their passions and to try new things, even when social pressure says not to. Best regards!
Love this video! Thank you for sharing your work on the front garden.
Doris, I am glad you enjoyed the video. I can see you commented on another video so it looks like you are watching the whole series of episodes of rewilding. I will be starting work on Episode 5 shortly. Thank you for watching and leaving your comment!
Your garden is wonderful 🥳😃
Your efforts gave me important insights into the topic for my garden transformation!
Greetings from Germany 🤗😃
Hello Germany! I am glad you enjoyed and obtained some insights from this video. I hope you will take the time to watch Episode 2, 3 and 4. I have also been working on episode 5 which I need to publish soon. I wish you good luck on your own rewilding project! Thanks for watching the video, leaving a comment and taking action to make changes in your own garden as it tells me you care! ❤
Thanks for the videos of doing it. I live in Killeen and have a yard that’s nothing but grass and we’ve been baking in the sun all year. We’ve learned a lot about our yards microclimate now and this fall it is time to make changes. First time in Texas. Your video have helped alot
This is amazing; everyone needs to hear this.
Thank you for being so enthusiast about the content of the video. It would be great if you can share with people you think would find this video interesting, educational or motivational to make change. I hope you get to watch some of the other videos on my channel and please consider subscribing to the channel and "come along for the ride" as I outline in the second video I made: ruclips.net/video/ar8kuFMaaXg/видео.html. I have been working hard to improve the viewer experience and while the second video isn't my best the message remains the same. Thank you again for you very encouraging comment!!!!!
I wish i could do that to my front yard but i have the dreaded H.O.A so i will work on turning my backyard that is fenced off into something like this great job
Tony - Unfortunately society wants a look which is not healthy. Hopefully it doesn't take to long for people and HOA's to understand there is a much more healthy alternative. Good luck on your back yard. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Take care!
Great video. Especially your addition of the human interest aspect of your neighbor boy. Your follow up was very impressive. Its the little things that mean the most.
Viewed several other videos again. Your progress is significant. Next time I see you I would like your autograph because I believe you will be famous someday in the future
The little boy is the one who needs the credit for taking the time to support me as his mother told me it was his idea to write the note. It is "the little things that mean the most"!! When I found and read the note I was stunned and got a little choked up. Thanks for being a strong supporter of the channel and always leaving a comment, it means a lot to me. Won't see you on Wednesday as I am headed to the Rio Grande Valley for some winter birding.
This is an awesome project and I hope that it works out for you! Supporting biodiversity in your own yard is an amazing accomplishment and I think we should all strive for that. You’re doing a great job and you’re inspiring others! Best of luck and I look forward to seeing more of your project in the future!
Reading recommendation: The Land Ethic by Aldo Leopold
Thank you for the reading recommendation. I have order "A Sand Country Almanac" which contains the assay "The Land Ethic" or at least that is what my research shows. Thanks for the comment on this video and I hope you are able to watch Episode 2,3 and 4 which have already been published. I am working on Episode 5 but it is going slower than I would hope. Once I got into this project and started to see the change in me, the outdoors and the people who experience the garden I realize it is the "right" thing to do. I am really enjoying the almost everything about the garden: Planning, hard work, plant results and watching the wildlife move back in. It has been a wonderful experience and am thankful the temperatures of the summer have started to give way to cooler temperatures which will allow me to get back in the yard. Thanks again for watching and the reading recommendation!!!!
This is a great video! I am also in the Houston area, and I'm working on adding more native plants to my yard. They can be hard to find in this area, but I have my sources. You are an inspiration.
I am glad you like the video!!!!! Houston is an amazing place for diversity of plants and insects. You are correct that sometimes it is hard to find native plants and unfortunately the big box stores don't carry any. I have found ~6 places in the area which between them all provide everything I need but it took awhile to figure out where native plants are sold. Thank you for the kind words! Take care!
Greetings from Oz 🇦🇺 👍
I have been lucky enough to visit your country. It is beautiful and the wildlife is incredible!!!!! Thanks for watching and your comments!
Thank you for sharing! Grass lawns should be forbidden! I really like your resourcefulness…free, discarded materials!
Thank you for watching the video and feeling so passionately about the subject. We all get to make our own choices. Mother nature needs more people to make the choice which supports wildlife. Maybe if enough people re-wild portions of their yards it will become fashionable and the trend will grow..... let's hope!
@@Jeffswildlifeadventuresawareness would help out a ton, I think we need to make it clear that rewilding/even just planting more native plants of your local area can make a big difference than planting non-natives that may look nice.
@@ElliotPorter65 I agree many people just don't understand the Consequences of their decisions. They are not trying to hurt wildlife they just don't have the knowledge to make better choices. I am working on episode 5 and 6 and will more than likely publish episode 6 because episode 5 is about the importance of planting natives and it is not an easy subject to convey the collect message and the importance of native plants. I may be trying to hard to get the narrative just right. I didn't have any understanding of this topic until just a couple of years ago. Thanks for your comment as it helps me think about the topics.
I did no mow May last year. To explain the look of the lawn I put a sign up explaining the insect apocalypse that has happened, many people stop to read and I had many positive comments. The only problem is my wife who likes the manicured lawn, so I told her to go out and mow it every week 😅😅
Thanks for watching the video and your comment, which made me laugh out loud. My wife wasn't thrilled with my project at first and in those early days I stated that if she wanted to have input she first needed to read "Natures Best Hope". Once a person reads the book I don't know how you can't do something. I would love to see your sign and what it said.
It’s gone now. I took some photos of the various insects that had come into the garden. Then I referred to a German survey that shows we have lost 76% mass of insects over 25 years from 1996. Then I said if the human population was say 5billion then, the population now would be about 1.5 billion. Shocking really
@@jimmyrichardson67 Yes the figures of many of the insects and animals is frighting. Unfortunately Mother Nature will get us back in balance some way and it will not be pretty.
I need a sign like that in my yard! Did you make it yourself or purchase it somewhere?
@@alliehamilton-calhoun162 I made it myself. Just printed it then laminated it. Nothing permanent
oh, Bravo for you! It is amazing how just one person’s effort can create such a wonderful space for wildlife, and as you say, it’s amazing how quickly they find it! I’m doing a bit of the same here in Denmark. Excited to put to use a little solar-powered pump for a small ‘living water’ feature.
I hope you’ll share your progress and succes with friends and neighbors, on RUclips etc. so the word will spread!
Laura - It is always fun to receive comments from people from other parts of the world. I love the idea of adding a water feature and will look into that as I know the birds and other wildlife could use an additional water source in our 100 degree weather. I try as much as possible to share the "story/need" to turn over land to wildlife. If you haven't watched the other episodes you might be interested in episode 2, 3 and 4 which I have already published on this channel. Thank you for doing your part and providing space for wildlife with your project and providing the comment about a water feature - great idea.
Brilliant, keep up the good work. I am doing the same in Ireland 🇮🇪
John - Thank you for the encouragement! Keep up the good work in rewilding your yard too!
Beautiful job! Keep doing it, that’s important, that’s the future.
Thanks for watching the video and the words of encouragement! I hope rewilding becomes fashionable and more people get on board.
This is great information, Jeff! I love that you included the story about the kid leaving you a note. I am seeing a real interest in younger age groups with the content I've started to produce and the fact that they seem to retain the information. I had one young man (18 years old) who saw one of my videos on Anise Hyssop on TikTok, and he was over to my house about a month later visiting my son when he stopped, pointed, and said, "That's hyssop, native bumble bees love them!".
Patrick - Thanks for watching the video and glad you enjoyed. I just watched your videos and they are great and very high quality - nice job. I don't know if you watched the other episodes of rewilding my yard as I would be interested in what you think? I agree there is a great interest in helping nature, it appears to me there is a lack of understanding and not knowing how to help. I hope planting natives becomes much more common and people notice the increase in wildlife!
Social media is ugly. Ignore and block those who don't have your best interest at heart. I'm reducing our grass. We have no grass in the front yard. I have a beautiful native front yard. All who see it are enchanted. Blessed be.
Thanks for watching multiple videos on this channel! Social media causes so many issues its to bad people won't disconnect for a couple of days and see how much better they feel. We are all human and have feelings and no matter how much you try to ignore their comments they still have a negative impact. I'm glad I'm not a kid in the social media world - it's got to be hard.
Glad to hear the response you get (enchanted) when people visit your front yard. Your story tells me you are having a positive impact. Thanks for caring and taking the actions to make a difference! Blessing and strength to you on your journey!
I dug up my lawn turf and used the overturned sod pieces to create small ridges that have become partial bioswales while planting raspberries on the elevated parts.
Great idea! There are so many things which can be done in a rewilding project. I may have to add some sways in the next section of my yard I tackle. Thanks for watching the video!
I, too, am getting rid of as much turf grass as possible, but decided to use the sod pieces as a geoforming material. The little mounds I made with sod pieces overturned have held up much better than just a pile of dirt and the yard itself has become more lush because of the swales. Keep up the good work and may we continue to inspire others to view their yards in a whole different way..
@@johnmcnulty4425 great message! Not everyone will hear the message and care but if enough people make changes and it leads to more informed yard owners I think it will make a difference. Good luck as you engage with people through your rewilding!
If enough people did water retainment projects in their yards, there would be less flash flooding, especially where I am in hilly Western Pennsylvania. Two years living in rural Japan showed me that our yards and our interaction with Nature can be done very differently and much more sustainably. AND, maybe the best part is how much I love going out to my yard now and how much less grass I have to cut!
@@johnmcnulty4425 we have some real problems in Texas as politicians, developers and the regional water boards (There are 20 in Texas) are not supporting sustainable development. They are building up land with fill to get ground level of many building/houses just above the 100 year flood plan, which is the current level necessary for approval to build upon. I would bet big money many of these houses will flood in the next 20 years. To much ground water is being pumped so there is subsidence. Developers are getting approval to clear cut development areas vs try to maintain some native landscape. Recently the San Jacinto Water Authority put forward a plan which include channelizing and encasing portions of Spring Creek in concrete which will speed up the flow of the water and cause flooding for a different group of people. So the developers continue to build in areas they shouldn't resulting in families having to deal with flood waters in their homes and to add insult to injury the bill of the total plan that has been submitted to the state by just this one water authority is $3 Billion which the tax payers get to fund.
Keep up the great work. My wife and I are currently turning our acre property into our own homegrown National Park dubbed house on the hill here in northeastern Pennsylvania
Thank you for watching the video and letting me know about your great rewilding project. Every time I hear someone is taking the challenge to turn the land they "control" back to nature I get so excited! I wish you good luck and hope your "homegrown National Park" around your house becomes a haven for significant wildlife! I would love to see a before and after picture when you are finished! (I am not sure you are ever done.)
That is a great looking improvement! We are doing similar with our yard. It's tougher (in the short term) than laying down sod, but much less work to maintain such a landscape. And I love seeing all the wildlife it attracts. Two of my neighbors are doing similar projects, and it seems this is bringing in even greater diversity of wildlife.
Jim, Thanks for watching the video and your comment. I agree it is a lot of work but very rewarding because you can see the difference so quickly with all the insects and wildlife that move in. As I work in yard in an area I am expanding its as if the bees and butterflies come visit to see what I am doing and get a taste of the new flowers I am planting. I have started to take pictures of all the insects and wildlife in my yard to document a list of creatures that call my yard home. I have a neighbor who has wildflowers in a portion of his yard with bee hives and his bees come to visit my flowers. I am encouraged more and as more people seem to be planting natives and rewilding! Thank you for caring and turning over your land to mother nature by rewilding!
Inspiring. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and I am happy you found the video inspiring! I look forward to watching your future development on the other side of the pond.
It's a lot of work but well worth the effort. What you've done so far looks great and is great for the environment. I'd like to walk through it as well in the spring to see what caterpillars bugs and butterflies turn up! Hope the boy will take the time to walk through and experience it. Great video and effort Jeff!
Yes the local boy is walking through the garden even now with not much to look at. I am sure the frequency of his walks will increase as spring comes. Many of the plants are starting to poke out from the ground with their first leaves of the season. You are always welcome to stop by and walk through the garden, and bring a friend. I plan to have two hummingbird feeders as many people have mentioned to me they have never seen one. Really excited to see what the spring brings.
way to go Jeff 🥰
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment of support! It means a lot! Have a great day!
Great job creating a positive message and ecosystem
Thank you!
Great work. Next time avoid pier pressure by putting up a sign stating that rewilding is taking place. Could also be a great conversation starter and educational opportunity.👌🏼
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. The community I live in allows me to rewild but they do not support signs as there are a lot of rules regarding signs. I will get some type of sign in the future and see what kind of feedback the community provides. I continue to rewild despite some of the “emotional” challenges but all the neighbors have come full circle with many how telling me that can’t wait for spring to see how the garden grows and changes. You might like the other episodes to see the changes and evolution and I continue to expand the rewilded portion of my yard. Episode 8 will hopefully be published before the end of the month!
Great Job! Thank you for reminding us to encourage others in their efforts and just be kind. I’m in SoCal and am rewilding my front yard with a swale and native plants and some vegetable garden boxes. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. I receive reminders almost every day; it really is about the little things we say and do that make the world better. You are doing the right thing by rewilding your yard, adding a swale and growing vegetables. Hopefully your "new yard" provides opportunities to have informative conversations with your neighbors and others who walk by your home. Thanks for caring and taking action to make your part of the world wilder!
Amazing! I want to do something similar:)
Thank you for watching the video! I am going to try to make sure I mention in the next episode of "Rewilding" to start small. The first part of my backyard I rewilded was small maybe 6 feet by 6 feet and included some milkweed and mist flowers. Once I saw Monarch butterfly caterpillars on the wildweed I was hooked. I wish you much good luck if you attempt to rewild a portion of your yard. I also highly recommend reading Natures Best Hope. It will inspire you!
I just planted more and more trees with rhododendron and hydrangeas under and ground covers like sweet woodruff. I left the leaves in the fall and the grass just slowly died out. Now it looks like a small forest. 😊
Polly, Thank you for watching the video and sharing your story. Sounds like you have a beautiful and nature supporting yard!!!!
It's a pity neighbours can't keep their noses out. It just takes a bit of patience. Rome wasn't built in a day. ❤
Thank you for watching the video and leaving a comment. Change is never easy and people don’t want a home to look unkept - so I understand when people had a concern early on at the start of the conversion. I am hopeful exposure to my yard will make people have an understanding of landscapes which have more value, are beautiful while different than a traditional yard, bring them joy and help wildlife. I have had many good conversations with people as they stop to see the yard and a number of people have indicated they are going to rewild a small portion of their yard which is fantastic! Every square foot which is turned over to nature is a win.
I have made a garden outside slowly expanding on it. Now I have a full yard of young trees and flower plots. And I have actually met my neighbors because I’m always out in the garden and they happen to see me and some chat. It a great place for community human and animal alike
Jerrod, Getting to talk with the neighbors and getting to know them was an added benefit for me. I am glad to hear you had the same experience.
👏
Recommended book: Title was Nature's Best Hope? Thank you for this helpful video!
Yes the book Title is: Nature’s Best Hope. There are episode 2, 3 and 4 of rewilding you may enjoy. I hope to publish episode 5 in September. Thanks for watching!
I love the project and like the yard so much better after your work. I have to do something simikar in a rental home with a small backyard and this is exactly what I needed to see! Inly one question: why do you need to kill the grass instead of doing exactly the same but without the cardboard?
The cardboard is a barrier so the grass does not grow up through the "mulch". I assume it would be possible to just use "mulch" to cover the grass but you would need to use a lot more; I would assume you would need 6+ inches. I would also assume you will be weeding some of the grass that does make it through the mulch. Actually I think the leaf litter I am using is harder for the grass to grow up through vs a traditional mulch. I would be careful just using mulch as you could end up creating a weeding mess for yourself.
@@Jeffswildlifeadventures got it! Thanks! I'll walk by this weekend to admire the work🙌
Great notes!!
Thanks for watching the video and the clean up work you have done on the Vermillion River!!!!!
based
I hope you find it funny but I am much older than you and had to google what "based" meant: "I agree or that;s cool" is what I found. Glad you liked the video and I am about to publish episode 4 of the rewilding project. Hope you are able to watch it also.
personally I hate the look of freshly cut grass gardens, I'm more of a cottagecore flower garden type person
I want to believe there is a growing view turf grass yards are not good for the environment. I also find a flower garden with bees and butterflies going about their day collecting or eating nectar very appealing and pleasing. Thanks for watching the video!
Question? Why does everyone want to rewild their front yard which could annoy neighbors as opposed to their back yard?
Look I am a firm believer in natives and wildlife .. I am Natural Wildlife certified ... But my front yard still has large areas of mowed and maintained (not with chemicals) grass areas to keep the area groomed ... Again to be neighborly.
Karl - Great question! I rewilded my side yard first as I wanted neighbors to be able to see what I was doing. While it started out with many people expressing doubts, I am unaware of anyone not liking the rewilded garden. If you watch some of the other episodes you will see the garden has acted as an educational vehicle as many people have asked about plants, the purpose for the garden and seen the results as the butterflies and birds fly around using the space.
I think it is important in the rewilding process to help other understand the importance of rewilding but also try to make it neighborhood friendly so people don't get upset and get turned off by the efforts to make the world wilder. I feel it is important the number of people who understand why its important to rewild and take out turf grass yards continues to grow and even if some decide not to rewild their yard they support when others do.
This can be a very emotional topic for many on both sides of the subject and I am trying to be out front as an advocate but also executing the rewilding in a way more people understand and eventually indorse rewilding. If I only did my back yard it would be only half as much land and every square inch of ground turned back over to Mother Nature is important. This is why I have decided to rewild not only my back yard but my whole yard. Thank you for the question and I hope I provided enough context to help understand what I am rewilding my whole yard. Take care!
Hey Jeff, I'd love to collaborate. I have a similar goal and would like to share some ideas and support you on your journey.
I just finished installing drip irrigation in the garden which seems to be working as designed. I have started to edit Episode 2. I will be taking a break from expanding the garden for awhile to recover from all the work. I would be very interested in what you think about the plants I should install in the next section of yard. I also have to figure out how I am going to kill the grass in the next section as there aren't any leaves available from the yard crews. I am really pleased with the way the garden is growing and many plants have already doubled in size. Do you live in the Houston area?
@JEFF HODGES I am in the process of launching a new YT channel and blog that is geared towards landowners, beginning gardeners and existing gardeners that want to make ecologically sound decisions in their yards. Doug Tallamy is a great inspiration, but I am hoping to connect with others with a similar mission. In terms of your yard, I also removed some lawn and am expanding it this year as well. I have American hazelnut, buckeye, elderberry, dogwood, amsonia, native grasses, mountain mint, phlox, goldenrod, asters and milkweed all installed where fescue was. I did the no dig method with one patch, but just decided to manually dif up others.
@@BackYardbiz regarding collaborating, I am always willing to support getting the message out about nature and how to support so interested in what you are thinking?
Get a small tiller.
Thanks for watching the video and your comment. The tiller idea makes a lot of sense which I need to look into. I see you live in the New England area so I do have one concern using a tiller. In Texas we have a lot of St Augustine and Bermuda grass both of which have long runners deep in the ground and if you break them up you can end up creating more plants. Time for me to do some more research.
I recently came across your channel and must admit I'm captivated😊. Your photos are wonderful. I especially enjoyed the episode on Cuyahoga Valley National Park... it brought tears to my eyes... so beautiful. Thank you for what your doing in your yard. Let's hope it's catching 😁
Beverley, Thank you for your heart felt response! I am sorry my video made you cry but I hope the tears were driven by the positive
message “together we can make things better.” Thanks for watching the different videos and leaving a comment. I hope you will continue to watch future videos and continue to leave additional comments as it helps me understand how people feel about the videos. Commentslike yours are extremely motivating!!!! Thank you!!!
@@Jeffswildlifeadventures the tears were just because the pictures were so beautiful. They made me happy that such devastation can be reversed
The people that established the park and cleaned it up are amazing and so inspiring! Anything is possible!
Wonderful! You are dedicated getting those stones. What sweet notes between you and the neighbor. Don't forget to soak the cardboard with your hose really well before adding the mulch on top ;)
Thank you for watching. Not sure why you are suppose to soak the cardboard, does it help the cardboard settle down to the contours of the land?
@@Jeffswildlifeadventures It helps keep it in place while you lay mulch over it, and it also helps with hard soil. It's also a good idea if you plan to plant in it the same day to water the cardboard before mulching, because it will help the moisture get to the plants rather than running right off the cardboard. Another reason, in my mind, is it just kicks off the decomposition process faster. Especially if it could be a while before you get a good rain.
Thank you for the insight!
I'm sorry but did you say you use pesticides?...
Never!!!!!!!!!! I don't use, Pesticides, Herbicides, Fungicides or Fertilizer. I don't use any lawn or yard chemicals, they aren't necessary and all of them are horrible for the environment. I think the confusion may have been generated when I was talking about what Society does to maintain yards and all the chemicals we have been told we need to be use to make a yard look like a carpet. Sorry for the confusion and I hope your question and my response provide clarity on this topic.
@@Jeffswildlifeadventures oh well me bad, good on you mate I'm glad.
@@Jeffswildlifeadventures got yourself a pond yet?
@@ev1677 I have been doing a lot of research to understand the options. Leaning towards a pondless waterfall because it would outside of a fenced area and don't want to have an issue with a young child falling in. Will be working to install something this fall.
@@Jeffswildlifeadventures you could always do a barrel pond. Also think about maybe making a wildflower meadow. If you're looking for tips on wildlife gardening I strongly recommend the wild your garden RUclips channel with Joel ashton. I learnt a lot from him and in my first season in my first garden that channel gave me all the knowledge I needed to build a garden I'm quite happy with, but like all gardens, it's a process. Good luck mate you're doing a great job.
Interfering nosey neighbors who object to re-wilding our personal property, need to be flat out told...nun-ya. I told one person who said...if you ask my opinion...I cut them off by saying I didn't ask. Next we need to work on over zealous HOAs. Those board members are former frustrated PTA presidents. Good luck to you, sir
The whole land/yard management practices of people can be so frustrating as there is some strange ego thing about having the most weed free, green carpet like yard in our society. This makes no sense but its the reality of today. It also doesn't help there are huge industries which don't want people to change. I am hoping there are people who if they understand the facts of the issues would change. I hope you are able to watch some of the other episodes I have publish as people are changing their view in my neighborhood. I am hopeful I will be able to help others start the rewilding practice in their yard. I have one (episode #7) who has agreed and is moving in that direction. I have other episodes coming which I am hoping encourage others to take the first step. Time will tell but I am hopeful. Take care and thank you for caring and managing your land in a way that supports wildlife!
Don't live anywhere with a HOA!
HOA's can be very restrictive regarding yards. I am lucky as George Mitchell established The Woodlands with Nature in mind. Home building companies were not allowed to clear cut land but were forced to build around as many trees as possible. The rules of The Woodlands do not require you to have any grass and if you plant native plants you have freedom to do as you please. Unfortunately Howard Hughes corporation bought The Woodlands and they have taken a traditional building philosophy which included clear cutting the land before development. I don't believe they can change the "yard rules" but time will tell. Until then its full steam ahead for me and rewilding. Thanks for watching!
Just discovered your channel. It’s wonderful. Greetings from British Columbia💚🌿🌳🦋🪱🐸🕊
Thank you for watching and your encouragement! I am pleased you are enjoying the channel. My son recently moved to Seattle so I am hoping I will be able to visit British Columbia in the future, the pictures of the area are breath taking!