Easing Into a New Garden Ecosystem

By George Graine, Fairfax Master Gardener
“Odd as it may appear, a gardener does not grow from seed, shoot, bulb, rhizome, or cutting, but from experience, surroundings, and natural conditions.” — Karel Caper in “The Gardener’s Year,” translated by M. and R. Weatherall (1931)

Before you start to read a new book called “The Regenerative Garden: 80 Practical Projects for Creating a Self-Sustaining Garden Ecosystem” by Stephanie Rose (Cool Springs Press, 2022), it is important to understand the horticultural term — permaculture. Perhaps the best explanation of this word is found in “Garden-pedia” (St. Lynn’s Press, 2015). This is not a fad word and in fact it first appeared 44 years ago as a branch or culture of gardening. It breaks down the barrier between yard, home, woods and fields as it strives to create landscapes. These subjects are intertwined and based on natural environments. Going a step further, a permaculture landscape is one designed so that the relationship of various factors to each other act as they would in nature. This creates the most efficient and self-sustaining ecosystem possible. For example, trees that provide fruits and nuts are selected over ornamental varieties, and native plants are selected over hybrid plants. Furthermore, plants should be grouped into areas much like they would appear naturally. This means large canopy trees, understory trees and groundcovers as well as shrubs growing together. As a result of planting in this way, they will share the same soil and water requirements that naturally support each other. Could many of us try to fool plant hardiness zones and soil–water requirements by supplementing our gardens? A true permaculture landscape does not require such human intervention because the goal of your new landscape is to make your own garden into a functioning ecosystem that is less reliant on external resources. A further goal is to be able to garden as the season changes and to do so in a way that resists insect pests, plant diseases and also climate extremes that tend to fool Mother Nature and that can play havoc with a plant’s biological clock.

“The Regenerative Garden” is replete with numerous do-it-yourself projects that should help you become not only a better gardener but a better steward of your property, that is, one who is a more eco-conscious (eco-savvy) gardener. Now you might ask yourself: Am I a candidate to have a regenerative garden? Of course you are, even if the answer is: My garden has been totally neglected for about 10 years. And then you might say . . . OMG! Now what? To maintain a modicum of order, consider your landscape goal in terms of progress and not perfection. Why? Because permaculture, as noted above, together with the help of Mother Nature, will ultimately yield an easy to maintain, sustainable regenerative garden. Putting this in another context, your job as a gardener is to assist Mother Nature to do her job and at the same time, enjoy whatever benefits you seek. This could be lovely flowers, fruit and berry production and, of course, pollinators. In the final analysis, diversity that benefits the garden and all creatures should be the goal.

There are six chapters in the book. The first chapter is about Soil — Growing from the Ground Up. Here you will learn how to feed and nourish your soil in order to grow better plants, recycle waste and plant soil-building amendments. You will also learn how to “read the weeds” and incorporate soil fixers to regenerate soil. Water — Efficiency in Collection and Use is the next chapter. The important point is to capture and store rainwater for garden irrigation, recycle water and use it as many times as possible. Also, live within your local water budget; do not use more than your rainfall. Meet all garden needs with captured, cached or recycled water. The third chapter is about Plants — Growing Life. The thoughts here include plants in your garden that are right for your mini ecosystem. Test, observe and listen to plants and include native and local plants. The fourth chapter is also an important key to your successful regenerative garden. It is about Climate — Creating Harmony. You will learn about your unique microclimate and match plant choices for success. You will also learn how to create structures in order to protect plants from climate extremes and also capture, store and use energy produced naturally. In other words, this chapter provides an excellent insight to weather that you may not have seriously considered. The last two chapters are about ethics and your community. Ethics introduces the recent popular subject of Reducing Waste and Encouraging Diversity. The author teaches you how to reduce, recycle and reuse materials, products and energy. She then describes how to maximize the use of each product before disposing of it and to consider how many different uses a material can have in its lifetime. And finally, consider the waste impact before acquiring any new item and seek out materials that can be repurposed. The last chapter, Community — Building Sharing Spaces for Everyone, encourages you to create a welcoming garden for your community members, and maybe build gardens in public spaces to enhance community and create sharing spaces that give back to the community.

Within each chapter are many projects that you can readily accomplish at reasonable cost and time. In fact, you might scratch your head and think . . . why haven’t I done that? Do not scold yourself because with this book in hand, you can do it! Follow these permaculture suggestions and you will become a better informed and more eco-conscious gardener.