tag:theconversation.com,2011:/uk/topics/gardening-31330/articlesGardening – The Conversation2024-03-22T12:34:47Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2221082024-03-22T12:34:47Z2024-03-22T12:34:47ZClimate change is shifting the zones where plants grow – here’s what that could mean for your garden<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583569/original/file-20240321-20-wkg9tp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=6%2C0%2C4019%2C2474&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Climate change complicates plant choices and care. Early flowering and late freezes can kill flowers like these magnolia blossoms.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Matt Kasson</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>With the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/the-vernal-equinox-marks-the-first-day-of-spring-what-does-that-mean">arrival of spring</a> in North America, many people are gravitating to the gardening and landscaping section of home improvement stores, where displays are overstocked with eye-catching seed packs and benches are filled with potted annuals and perennials. </p>
<p>But some plants that once thrived in your yard may not flourish there now. To understand why, look to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent update of its <a href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/">plant hardiness zone map</a>, which has long helped gardeners and growers figure out which plants are most likely to thrive in a given location. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A U.S. map divided into colored geographic zones with a numbered key." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583488/original/file-20240321-28-3mclw8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">The 2023 USDA plant hardiness zone map shows the areas where plants can be expected to grow, based on extreme winter temperatures. Darker shades (purple to blue) denote colder zones, phasing southward into temperate (green) and warm zones (yellow and orange).</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/">USDA</a></span>
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<p>Comparing the 2023 map to the previous version from 2012 clearly shows that as climate change warms the Earth, plant hardiness zones are shifting northward. On average, the coldest days of winter in our current climate, based on temperature records from 1991 through 2020, are 5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 Celsius) warmer than they were between 1976 and 2005. </p>
<p>In some areas, including the central Appalachians, northern New England and north central Idaho, winter temperatures have warmed by 1.5 hardiness zones – 15 degrees F (8.3 C) – over the same 30-year window. This warming changes the zones in which plants, whether annual or perennial, will ultimately succeed in a climate on the move.</p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="U.S. map showing large areas colored tan, denoting a 5-degree increase in average winter minimum temperatures." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583491/original/file-20240321-24-nsmj8j.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This map shows how plant hardiness zones have shifted northward from the 2012 to the 2023 USDA maps. A half-zone change corresponds to a tan area. Areas in white indicate zones that experienced minimal change.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://site.extension.uga.edu/climate/2023/11/new-usda-plant-hardiness-zone-map-shows-most-of-southeast-has-gotten-one-half-zone-warmer/">Prism Climate Group, Oregon State University</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p>As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=frEPl6IAAAAJ&hl=en">plant pathologist</a>, I have devoted my career to understanding and addressing plant health issues. Many stresses not only shorten the lives of plants, but also affect their growth and productivity. </p>
<p>I am also a gardener who has seen firsthand how warming temperatures, pests and disease affect my annual harvest. By understanding climate change impacts on plant communities, you can help your garden reach its full potential in a warming world.</p>
<h2>Hotter summers, warmer winters</h2>
<p>There’s no question that the temperature trend is upward. From 2014 through 2023, the world experienced the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/news/world-just-sweltered-through-its-hottest-august-on-record">10 hottest summers ever recorded</a> in 174 years of climate data. Just a few months of sweltering, unrelenting heat can significantly affect plant health, especially <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/cool-season-vs-warm-season-vegetables">cool-season garden crops</a> like broccoli, carrots, radishes and kale. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Radishes sprouting in a garden bed." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=380&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=380&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583468/original/file-20240321-26-b3sckt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=380&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Radishes are cool-season garden crops that cannot withstand the hottest days of summer.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Matt Kasson</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p>Winters are also warming, and this matters for plants. The USDA defines plant hardiness zones based on the coldest average annual temperature in winter at a given location. Each zone represents a 10-degree F range, with zones numbered from 1 (coldest) to 13 (warmest). Zones are divided into 5-degree F half zones, which are lettered “a” (northern) or “b” (southern). </p>
<p>For example, the coldest hardiness zone in the lower 48 states on <a href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/">the new map</a>, 3a, covers small pockets in the northernmost parts of Minnesota and has winter extreme temperatures of -40 F to -35 F. The warmest zone, 11b, is in Key West, Florida, where the coldest annual lows range from 45 F to 50 F. </p>
<p>On the <a href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/system/files/US_Map_2012.jpg">2012 map</a>, northern Minnesota had a much more extensive and continuous zone 3a. North Dakota also had areas designated in this same zone, but those regions now have shifted completely into Canada. Zone 10b once covered the southern tip of mainland Florida, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale, but has now been pushed northward by a rapidly encroaching zone 11a. </p>
<p>Many people buy seeds or seedlings without thinking about hardiness zones, planting dates or disease risks. But when plants have to contend with temperature shifts, heat stress and disease, they will eventually struggle to survive in areas where they once thrived. </p>
<p>Successful gardening is still possible, though. Here are some things to consider before you plant:</p>
<h2>Annuals versus perennials</h2>
<p>Hardiness zones matter far less for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/annual">annual plants</a>, which germinate, flower and die in a single growing season, than for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/perennial">perennial plants</a> that last for several years. Annuals typically avoid the lethal winter temperatures that define plant hardiness zones. </p>
<p>In fact, most annual seed packs don’t even list the plants’ hardiness zones. Instead, they provide sowing date guidelines by geographic region. It’s still important to follow those dates, which help ensure that frost-tender crops are not planted too early and that cool-season crops are not harvested too late in the year.</p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Orange flowers blooming with other plants and grasses." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583497/original/file-20240321-19-q24j99.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">California poppies are typically grown as annuals in cool areas, but can survive for several years in hardiness zones 8-10.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://flic.kr/p/FWtHc">The Marmot/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
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<h2>User-friendly perennials have broad hardiness zones</h2>
<p>Many perennials can grow across wide temperature ranges. For example, hardy fig and hardy kiwifruit grow well in zones 4-8, an area that includes most of the Northeast, Midwest and Plains states. Raspberries are hardy in zones 3-9, and blackberries are hardy in zones 5-9. This eliminates a lot of guesswork for most gardeners, since a majority of U.S. states are dominated by two or more of these zones. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, it’s important to pay attention to plant tags to avoid selecting a variety or cultivar with a restricted hardiness zone over another with greater flexibility. Also, pay attention to instructions about proper sun exposure and planting dates after the last frost in your area. </p>
<h2>Fruit trees are sensitive to temperature fluctuations</h2>
<p>Fruit trees have two parts, the rootstock and the scion wood, that are <a href="https://extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/Resource003733_Rep5323.pdf">grafted together to form a single tree</a>. Rootstocks, which consist mainly of a root system, determine the tree’s size, timing of flowering and tolerance of soil-dwelling pests and pathogens. Scion wood, which supports the flowers and fruit, determines the fruit variety. </p>
<p>Most commercially available fruit trees can tolerate a wide range of hardiness zones. However, stone fruits like peaches, plums and cherries are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations within those zones – particularly abrupt swings in winter temperatures that create unpredictable freeze-thaw events. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Packages for hardy fig and kiwi seedlings." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=467&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=467&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=467&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=587&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=587&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583498/original/file-20240321-18-w6ef0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=587&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Following planting instructions carefully can maximize plants’ chances of success.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Matt Kasson</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p>These seesaw weather episodes affect all types of fruit trees, but stone fruits appear to be more susceptible, possibly because they flower earlier in spring, have fewer hardy rootstock options, or have bark characteristics that make them more vulnerable to winter injury. </p>
<p>Perennial plants’ hardiness increases through the seasons in a process called <a href="https://extension.umd.edu/resource/hardening-vegetable-seedlings-home-garden/">hardening off</a>, which conditions them for harsher temperatures, moisture loss in sun and wind, and full sun exposure. But a too-sudden autumn temperature drop can cause plants to die back in winter, an event known as <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/winterkill-of-turfgrasses">winter kill</a>. Similarly, a sudden spring temperature spike can lead to premature flowering and subsequent frost kill.</p>
<h2>Pests are moving north too</h2>
<p>Plants aren’t the only organisms constrained by temperature. With milder winters, southern insect pests and plant pathogens are expanding their ranges northward. </p>
<p>One example is <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/blight">Southern blight</a>, a stem and root rot disease that affects 500 plant species and is caused by a fungus, <em>Agroathelia rolfsii</em>. It’s often thought of as affecting hot Southern gardens, but has become more commonplace recently in the Northeast U.S. on tomatoes, <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-keep-your-jack-o-lantern-from-turning-into-moldy-maggoty-mush-before-halloween-190526">pumpkins and squash</a>, and other crops, including <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/apple-disease-southern-blight">apples in Pennsylvania</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A stem dotted with small round growths." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583501/original/file-20240321-26-h3tdv4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Southern blight (small round fungal structures) at the base of a tomato plant.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://ag.purdue.edu/department/arge/swpap/southern-blight-tomato.html">Purdue University</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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<p>Other plant pathogens may take advantage of milder winter temperatures, which leads to prolonged saturation of soils instead of freezing. Both plants and microbes are less active when soil is frozen, but in wet soil, microbes have an opportunity to colonize dormant perennial plant roots, leading to more disease.</p>
<p>It can be challenging to accept that climate change is stressing some of your garden favorites, but there are thousands of varieties of plants to suit both your interests and your hardiness zone. Growing plants is an opportunity to <a href="https://theconversation.com/take-a-break-from-your-screen-and-look-at-plants-botanizing-is-a-great-way-to-engage-with-life-around-you-210616">admire their flexibility</a> and the features that enable many of them to thrive in a world of change.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222108/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Matt Kasson receives funding from the US Department of Agriculture.</span></em></p>The US Department of Agriculture has updated its plant hardiness zone map, which shows where various plants will grow across the country. Gardeners should take note.Matt Kasson, Associate Professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology, West Virginia UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2223612024-03-06T21:16:57Z2024-03-06T21:16:57ZCampus garden initiatives can help grow the next generation of environmental change-makers<p>No longer a problem of the future, the climate crisis is now driving devastating real-world impacts <a href="https://changingclimate.ca/CCCR2019/chapter/headline-statements/">here in Canada</a> and worldwide. </p>
<p>For many Canadians, one of the most visible climate impacts is on the availability and cost of the food we eat as climate change, global crises and profit-driven food companies have combined to drive food insecurity. The agricultural sector is simultaneously a <a href="https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-11/farming-future-agriculture-climate-change-canadian-prairies.pdf">major contributor</a> to Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and itself highly vulnerable to climate change.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-true-cost-of-food-is-far-higher-than-what-you-spend-at-the-checkout-counter-217883">The true cost of food is far higher than what you spend at the checkout counter</a>
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<p>Amid this crisis, students are sowing seeds of change on university campuses across the country. </p>
<h2>Transformative learning and action</h2>
<p>Student-led food initiatives like <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/education/resources/facilities-equipment-online-tools/communitygarden">campus gardens</a>, <a href="https://involvement.mcgill.ca/organization/machappybelly">food waste diversion projects</a>, and <a href="https://cultivaction.ca/">community food security partnerships</a> are on the rise and are a proven way of localizing climate action and transforming food systems.</p>
<p>Given the sheer scale and complexity of the climate and food security crises, it can be tempting to doubt just how much impact these small-scale campus initiatives can have. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2015.1130764">Researchers</a> have even criticized student gardens for entrenching shallow and depoliticized understandings of the food system among participants. After all, the GHG emissions saved by growing vegetables in one garden plot or setting up a compost program are minuscule compared to the many hundred million tons of emissions attributed to corporations.</p>
<p>While student-led initiatives may not directly solve the crises we face, we found they can transform students’ mindsets and develop their skills and confidence as agents of larger-scale change. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1230787">Our research</a> with McGill University students participating in student-led campus- and community-based initiatives shows how these activities can support transformative opportunities for learning about, and acting on, food security and climate change.</p>
<p>Students have <a href="https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003000396">long reported</a> that education about food and environmental issues like climate change feels abstract and disempowering within the confines of classroom walls. </p>
<p>The lack of real-world engagement makes it challenging for learners to discern how and where they can contribute to building solutions. Student-led food initiatives are one way that students engage with these issues through experiential learning.</p>
<h2>Our findings</h2>
<p>We found that initiatives that only focus on the technical or scientific aspects of food security and climate change have limited educational impact on student participants. Rather, building critical and transformative understandings of food systems in students appears to hinge on a few key practices that some, but not all, student-led initiatives address.</p>
<p><strong>1 - Learning and acting beyond the classroom</strong> </p>
<p>Through hands-on learning students gain opportunities to “learn by doing,” either through course-based or extracurricular activities. This approach is especially effective when education transcends campus boundaries through partnerships with local communities and community organizations. </p>
<p>When immersed in hands-on and collaborative experiences with communities, students demonstrated new capacities to collectively act in small ways on large-scale issues. Connecting with partners in school and community gardens, for example, allowed students to grapple with complex issues on tangible scales and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges at hand.</p>
<p><strong>2 - Centring equity and justice</strong> </p>
<p>Building on our insights about learning in hands-on collaborations, we found that working with equity and justice-oriented partners deepened student engagement even further. For instance, collaboration with local food banks called upon students to observe, interact with, and reflect on community food insecurity and injustice, which they otherwise may not encounter within campus confines. </p>
<p>This direct engagement with food system realities nurtured a more complex, holistic and critical understanding of food systems issues among participants. It also inspired hope and confidence within students, motivating them to engage in further action.</p>
<p><strong>3 - Engaging with peers across boundaries</strong> </p>
<p>Our research found that student-led initiatives act as important spaces for social engagement and learning between students, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue across academic disciplines. Social bonds were also important for motivating and strengthening collective action among students, often evoking feelings of hope. These feelings stand in stark contrast to the despair and discouragement reported by students exposed to conventional “doom-and-gloom” environmental education. </p>
<p>For example, in developing a workshop for a local food bank that connected composting in the community garden with climate change, students studying education and environment exchanged new understandings of the connections between climate, food and educational systems.</p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">Students and staff from McGill University discuss campus-based sustainable garden initiatives.</span></figcaption>
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<h2>Supporting student learning</h2>
<p>With the impacts of climate change only projected to grow in the years to come, educational institutions urgently need to step up to the scale and scope of the challenge. </p>
<p>Our findings show how investing in hands-on, justice-oriented and boundary-spanning learning opportunities helps to drive transformative learning and can nurture students as the next generation of change-makers. Universities can do this by supporting student-led initiatives through the allocation of funds, space or mentorship to these efforts, or by expanding experiential learning within academic courses and programs. </p>
<p>Strengthening university-community partnerships, particularly with organizations working to advance climate, social and food justice, is critical to both types of investment.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222361/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>New research shows how university garden initiatives can help drive transformative change and nurture a new generation of environmental and socially conscious change-makers.Blane Harvey, Associate professor, Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill UniversityEmily Diane Sprowls, Faculty Lecturer, Science Education, McGill UniversityZoë Deskin, Master's Student, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of CopenhagenLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2241652024-03-05T13:13:59Z2024-03-05T13:13:59ZThese tiny worm-like creatures in the soil can destroy pests but they can also kill crops - an expert’s guide to nematodes<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/578226/original/file-20240227-16-a0262c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">PeopleImages/Getty Images</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Whether you’re a gardener growing food for your household, a small scale farmer or a commercial producer, soil matters. You cannot really tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy soil just by looking at it. But there are organisms in the soil – creatures you can’t see with your naked eye – which scientists use to measure soil health. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/nematode">Nematodes</a> are among the creatures that scientists look for. These multicellular, <a href="https://theconversation.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-space-travelling-nematode-a-worm-like-no-other-47949">wormlike animals</a> differ from most other organisms in the soil, such as bacteria and fungi, which are single celled. Nematodes are equipped with a digestive system. They’re also transparent, making it easy for scientists to examine their feeding habits.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-space-travelling-nematode-a-worm-like-no-other-47949">All you need to know about the space travelling nematode: a worm like no other</a>
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<p>I study nematodes to use as biological control agents and also represent Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in the <a href="https://nemedussa.ugent.be">NEMEDUSSA project</a>. This is a consortium of 16 research and educational institutes across Africa and Europe who work on and study nematodes. We want to increase awareness, research and teaching about nematodes, especially in agricultural disciplines.</p>
<p>We also believe it’s important for everyone, especially those working in the <a href="https://extension.umn.edu/soybean-pest-management/soybean-cyst-nematode-management-guide">agricultural sector</a>, and even just casual food gardeners, to know about nematodes. If you grow tomatoes in your garden, for instance, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8820211">root-knot nematodes</a> can cause total crop failure.</p>
<p>Four main types of nematodes occur in soil. Each group has expert scientists studying their behaviour and how they can be managed in agricultural practice to minimise the amount of damage they cause. </p>
<h2>Free-living nematodes</h2>
<p>Free-living nematodes are non-parasites. They tend to feed on almost anything in the soil, including fungi, bacteria and other nematodes. In fact, without these free-living nematodes, soil is regarded as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.08.008">biologically dead</a> and unhealthy for plant growth. </p>
<h2>Plant-parasitic nematodes</h2>
<p>The unchecked build-up of plant-parasitic nematodes in unbalanced soil is every farmer’s nightmare. Such nematodes feed through a needle-like stylet, which they use as a syringe for obtaining food from the roots of plants. They have adapted their lifestyle from feeding on the outside of the root to inside it, where they are protected against the harsh soil environment.</p>
<p>Plant-parasitic nematodes can never be fully controlled. However, researchers have developed ways to keep them from multiplying to damaging levels. These techniques include planting crops that are resistant to specific nematodes or rotating with crops that the nematodes do not like.</p>
<h2>Entomopathogenic nematodes</h2>
<p>Entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control agents are <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Antoinette-Malan">my special interest</a>. They are plant allies. They feed on pest insects such as larvae and pupae that are in contact with the soil, rather than on plants. Researchers recommend that every farmer or food gardener should have entomopathogenic nematodes present in their soil because they help to keep insect numbers low. Yes, you can buy them: they’re <a href="https://www.e-nema.de/en/about-us/">available commercially</a>, including from <a href="https://biobee.co.za/solutions/biosf/">some South African companies</a>.</p>
<h2>Slug-parasitic nematodes</h2>
<p>Many slug species are in close contact with soil, so certain nematodes have adapted their feeding habits over millions of years to feed on slugs, as well as <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-44210-5_23">some snails</a>.</p>
<p>Researchers realised that the slug nematode could be used as a biological control agent. Biocontrol involves using living organisms like pathogens or insects to control pests, rather than using more environmentally damaging chemical products. A commercial product, available under the trade name <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JopdT8cmrh0">Nemaslug</a>®, was created in 1994 which harnessed the slug nematodes’ feeding habits for biocontrol. But it’s only available in Europe: research is ongoing to identify whether the nematode species used in the commercial product is found in South Africa and whether it’s non-toxic to local endangered molluscs.</p>
<h2>Monitor soil health</h2>
<p>My advice to gardeners and farmers, even those working at a small scale, is to regularly send soil samples for laboratory testing. This will allow you to find out what sorts of nematodes are living among your tomato plants – the “good guys” who take care of pests, or the plant parasites. There are a number of private companies (<a href="https://www.nemlab.co.za">Nemlab</a> is one example) in South Africa to do these sorts of analyses and offer advice based on the results.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224165/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Antoinette Paula Malan receives funding from NEMEDUSA, Erasmus+ NEMEDUSSA project, Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE): Nematology Education in Sub-Sahara Africa (NEMEDUSSA). The project is funded by the European Union.</span></em></p>Four types of nematodes occur in soil.Antoinette Paula Malan, Researcher in Nematology, Parasitology, Systematics, Stellenbosch UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2215372024-01-22T13:11:22Z2024-01-22T13:11:22ZUrban agriculture isn’t as climate-friendly as it seems, but these best practices can transform gardens and city farms<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570382/original/file-20240119-29-d52zd3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C3%2C2035%2C1358&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Recycling construction materials and water can make urban agriculture more sustainable.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/52760659431">Lauren Moore/USDA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Urban agriculture is expected to be an important feature of 21st century sustainability and can have many benefits for communities and cities, including providing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00859-4">fresh produce</a> in neighborhoods with few other options. </p>
<p>Among those benefits, growing food in backyards, community gardens or urban farms can shrink the distance fruits and vegetables have to travel between producers and consumers – what’s known as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00531-w">the “food mile” problem</a>. With transportation’s greenhouse gas emissions eliminated, it’s a small leap to assume that urban agriculture is a simple climate solution.</p>
<p>But is urban agriculture really as climate-friendly as many people think?</p>
<p><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pBxU-2sAAAAJ&hl=en">Our</a> <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5VCGc9kAAAAJ&hl=en">team of</a> <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rSS0xmMAAAAJ&hl=en">researchers</a> partnered with individual gardeners, community garden volunteers and urban farm managers at 73 sites across five countries in North America and Europe to test this assumption. </p>
<p>We found that urban agriculture, while it has many community benefits, isn’t always better for the climate than conventional agriculture over the life cycle, even with transportation factored in. In fact, on average, the urban agriculture sites we studied were <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-023-00023-3">six times more carbon intensive</a> per serving of fruit or vegetables than conventional farming.</p>
<p>However, we also found several practices that stood out for how effectively they can make fruits and vegetables grown in cities more climate-friendly.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A young man kneels down with an older farmer in a hat to tend vegetables growing behind a row of brownstone homes." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570457/original/file-20240120-21-u7h9ur.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Community gardens like Baltimore’s Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm provide a wide range of benefits to the community, including providing fresh produce in areas with few places to buy fresh fruits and vegetables and having a positive impact on young people’s lives.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/51337806809">Preston Keres/USDA/FPAC</a></span>
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<h2>What makes urban ag more carbon-intensive?</h2>
<p>Most research on urban agriculture has <a href="https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac1a39">focused on a single type</a> of urban farming, often high-tech projects, such as aquaponic tanks, rooftop greenhouses or vertical farms. Electricity consumption often means the food grown in these high-tech environments has a big carbon footprint.</p>
<p>We looked instead at the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac1a39">life cycle emissions</a> of more common low-tech urban agriculture – the kind found in urban backyards, vacant lots and urban farms.</p>
<p>Our study, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-023-00023-3">published Jan. 22, 2024</a>, modeled carbon emissions from farming activities like watering and fertilizing crops and from building and maintaining the farms. Surprisingly, from a life cycle emissions perspective, the most common source at these sites turned out to be infrastructure. From raised beds to sheds and concrete pathways, this gardening infrastructure means more carbon emissions per serving of produce than the average wide-open fields on conventional farms.</p>
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<img alt="People work in a garden with a rain barrel in front of them." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570458/original/file-20240120-16-pmcpjd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Capturing rainwater from gutters to feed gardens can cut the need for fresh water supplies. Water pumping, treatment and transportation in pipes all require energy use.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mpcaphotos/31795954978">Minnesota Pollution Control Agency</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
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<p>However, among the 73 sites in cities including New York, London and Paris, 17 had lower emissions than conventional farms. By exploring what set these sites apart, we identified some best practices for shrinking the carbon footprint of urban food production.</p>
<h2>1) Make use of recycled materials, including food waste and water</h2>
<p>Using old building materials for constructing farm infrastructure, such as raised beds, can cut out the climate impacts of new lumber, cement and glass, among other materials. We found that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-023-00023-3">upcycling building materials</a> could cut a site’s emissions 50% or more.</p>
<p>On average, our sites used compost to replace 95% of synthetic nutrients. Using <a href="https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home">food waste as compost</a> can avoid both the methane emissions from food scraps buried in landfills and the need for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-015-0348-4">synthetic fertilizers</a> made from fossil fuels. We found that careful compost management could cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 40%.</p>
<p><iframe id="cdWs8" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cdWs8/4/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Capturing <a href="https://greenportal.wca.ca.gov/strategies/water-capture">rainwater or using greywater</a> from shower drains or sinks can reduce the need for pumping water, water treatment and water distribution. Yet we found that few sites used those techniques for most of their water.</p>
<h2>2) Grow crops that are carbon-intensive when grown by conventional methods</h2>
<p>Tomatoes are a great example of crops that can cut emissions when grown with low-tech urban agriculture. Commercially, they are often grown in large-scale greenhouses that can be <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/fakulteterne/teknik/nyt_fra_det_tekniske_fakultet/tomater-fra-varme-lande-bedre-for-klimaet">particularly energy-intensive</a>. Asparagus and other produce that must be <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/airfreight/asparagus-moves-worldwide-from-lax">transported by airplane</a> because they spoil quickly are another example with a large carbon footprint.</p>
<p><iframe id="wu0oj" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/wu0oj/1/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>By growing these crops instead of buying them in stores, low-tech urban growers can reduce their net carbon impact.</p>
<h2>3) Keep urban gardens going long term</h2>
<p>Cities are constantly changing, and community gardens can be <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su2082499">vulnerable to development pressures</a>. But if urban agriculture sites can remain in place for many years, they can avoid the need for new infrastructure and keep providing other benefits to their communities.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A man with hoe stands in front of the community farm with play equipment to one side and buildings in the background." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/570383/original/file-20240119-27145-g0di1q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Taqwa Community Farm in the Bronx, New York, has provided space to grow fresh vegetables for the community for over three decades. The farm composts food waste to create its own natural fertilizer, reducing its costs and climate impact.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/52196085319/">Preston Keres/USDA/FPAC</a></span>
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</figure>
<p>Urban agriculture sites provide ecosystem services and social benefits, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00859-4">fresh produce</a>, community building and education. Urban farms also create <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00859-4">homes for bees and urban wildlife</a>, while offering some <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.826437">protection from the urban heat island effect</a>. </p>
<p>The practice of growing food in cities is <a href="https://www.contrivedatuminsights.com/product-report/urban-farming-market-248549/">expected to continue expanding</a> in the coming years, and many cities are looking to it as a key tool for climate adaptation and environmental justice. </p>
<p>We believe that with careful site design and improved land use policy, urban farmers and gardeners can boost their benefit both to people nearby and the planet as a whole.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221537/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Benjamin Goldstein receives funding from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jason Hawes and Joshua Newell do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A study of dozens of city gardens and urban farms across the US and Europe found several ways to boost their benefits, not just for their neighborhoods, but for the planet.Jason Hawes, Ph.D. Candidate in Resource Policy and Behavior, University of MichiganBenjamin Goldstein, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Systems, University of MichiganJoshua Newell, Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of MichiganLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2177942023-12-06T19:07:24Z2023-12-06T19:07:24ZA great year to be a cabbage white butterfly: why are there so many and how can you protect your crops?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562916/original/file-20231201-25-m00fvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3849%2C2558&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/picture-three-cabbage-white-butterflies-flying-2360264617">Christian Mueller/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Cabbage white butterflies – <em>Pieris rapae</em> – are one of the most common garden visitors across southern and eastern Australia. The butterfly looks elegant in white with black dots on its wings: females have a pair of black spots and males a single spot on each forewing. But their velvety green caterpillars are ravenous beasts on brassicas – the plant family that includes common vegetable crops such as cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, kale and bok choy. </p>
<p>The species was accidentally introduced into Melbourne in 1929 from Europe. Since then, cabbage whites have spread all over Australia, finally reaching Perth in 1943. </p>
<p>Because of their caterpillars’ addiction to eating brassicas, it is one of the most pervasive pests of any crop worldwide. Recent conditions have been favourable, resulting in large numbers of cabbage whites.</p>
<p>One female can lay up to 800 eggs. When they hatch, the caterpillars prefer densely planted hosts in moist, warm habitats. The caterpillars’ <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36735-8">biomass can double each day</a>, making them one of the fastest-growing cabbage-feeding caterpillars. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A female cabbage white butterfly on yellow flowers" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562635/original/file-20231130-17-dos5eb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">One female cabbage white can lay up to 800 eggs that hatch into very hungry caterpillars.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:55_Pieris_rapae.jpg">Anna N Chapman/Wikimedia Commons</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-red-fire-ants-and-yellow-crazy-ants-have-given-themselves-a-green-light-to-invade-australia-208479">Why red fire ants and yellow crazy ants have given themselves a green light to invade Australia</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Why are there so many this season?</h2>
<p>Cabbage whites’ ability to exploit the moist and warm conditions over the past winter are one reason they are so pervasive at the moment. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="A leafy green plant ravaged by caterpillars" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562630/original/file-20231130-23-u6r9en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">In a mild year caterpillar numbers build up quickly and can badly damage crops.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/scotnelson/16219288137/in/photolist-qHf6hV-9qbfH7-56axMY-2mkVnAd-2mgW5ct-2mjSyfT-8ukR2h-8uhKLp-v1iPtW-wxYha2-26NRmoQ-Li7o8u-2nBFKqQ-Dfnx5-rGQMAE-c8XLQJ-fsd49T-VNcvP7-przrCq-wj5pbK-przrxL-w7j4Aw-hNZAz-7RUzhT-2ao8mJW-JLJAkm-dqRDLc-4KuD1E-bDN6e6-hNZtq-4KqkVz-2omzFLM-qHfwRH-nS36Xe-4KuBhU-4KuCpu-e3wMHE-4KuCwh-9XccTk-2ogRrSC-2oTcia2-2mwNQAK-8uYH2q-4Kqmyk-4KuCRL-4KuPB5-4KuBEE-4KuAsU-4KuCbs-4KuCCC">Scott Nelson/Flickr</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>They can also cope with cold. The pupae – the stage in which a caterpillar metamorphoses inside a cocoon into an adult butterfly – can survive temperatures as low as -20°C. Their cells can produce antifreeze proteins, which lower their freezing point if it does get cold. </p>
<p>Milder winters mean the overwintering pupae emerged and mated early. The female adults soon started to lay their eggs on planted brassicas. </p>
<p>The next generation of caterpillars can then start feeding without being predated on as their natural enemies take longer to emerge after milder weather. Cabbage white numbers then build up extraordinarily quickly.</p>
<h2>What’s the appeal of brassicas?</h2>
<p>The caterpillars are attracted and addicted to chemicals found in brassica leaves. These are the mustard oil glucosides (glucosinolates) – particularly sinigrin, which initiates caterpillar feeding. </p>
<p>Adult females are attracted to brassicas by another glucosinolate – glucobrassin – which prompts them to lay their eggs on the leaves. Females can “taste” these chemicals with hairs on their front legs. </p>
<p>The females also prefer greener plants – which they’ll find in well-watered and fertilised vegetable gardens – to lay their eggs.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A female cabbage white lays her eggs on the leaf of a brassica plant" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562629/original/file-20231130-23-x1qnwq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Female cabbage whites prefer greener plants to lay their eggs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bramblejungle/3746635280/">bramblejungle/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How to live with them</h2>
<p>A key way to control the caterpillars is to deny them access to your crops in the first place. Once the leaves start developing, cover the crop with insect-proof mesh. You can use garden hoops or bamboo as a supporting frame for the mesh. </p>
<p>When you remove the mesh to water or weed, do it in the early morning or late afternoon when the adults are not flying.</p>
<p>White butterfly decoys suspended on sticks generally <a href="https://entomologytoday.org/2018/01/23/mothbusters-testing-a-common-myth-about-a-small-butterfly/">don’t work to stop females laying their eggs</a>. There is no evidence cabbage white females are territorial.</p>
<p>It can be useful to provide a “sacrificial” plant. Leave these out in the open to attract the adult female to lay her eggs. </p>
<p>As caterpillars increase in numbers, they will start to attract beneficial predators and insect parasitoids that lay their eggs on the caterpillars. Parasitoids are primarily wasps and can be very effective biocontrol agents. Their larvae feed on the bodily fluids or the internal organs of the host caterpillar, eventually killing it. </p>
<p>These beneficial insects need a nectar source to stay active. They will be attracted to gardens that are a bit “messy” with different habitats and flowers. </p>
<p>Remember, some green caterpillar-like animals <a href="https://cesaraustralia.com/pestfacts/hoverfly-facts/">are good guys</a>. So, if you are fond of squishing the caterpillars, make sure they are the ones eating the foliage; not the voracious predators, especially aphids, eating the herbivores. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-secret-agents-protecting-our-crops-and-gardens-94304">The secret agents protecting our crops and gardens</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1479424996518899717"}"></div></p>
<p>Just to make things more interesting, caterpillars, in general, that are feeding are about <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227552350_Feeding_by_lepidopteran_larvae_is_dangerous">100 times more likely</a> to fall prey to predators and parasites than caterpillars that are hiding. Longer caterpillar feeding bouts usually happen on plants with <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1940958">lower nitrogen levels</a> – so if you have a sacrificial plant, don’t fertilise it.</p>
<p>It can also help not to plant all your brassicas together. Mix up your vegetables and herbs. This provides your prized kale with companion plants and makes it harder for caterpillars to move from one plant to another. </p>
<p>Companion planting allows beneficial insects to find hiding places closer to the caterpillars, and also makes it harder for the female butterflies find your brassicas.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/these-3-tips-will-help-you-create-a-thriving-pollinator-friendly-garden-this-winter-157880">These 3 tips will help you create a thriving pollinator-friendly garden this winter</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="cabbages planted in among flowering marigolds" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/562918/original/file-20231201-15-rzdprj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Companion planting helps protect brassicas from cabbage whites while also attracting beneficial insects.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">VeMa/Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Avoid pesticides as much as possible</h2>
<p>Don’t spray your garden plants with pesticides unless you desperately need to feed lots of family or are a serial entrant in the fruit and vegetable exhibition at your local show. The cost is huge relative to the benefit the chemicals bring you. In most cases you will be killing off many beneficial creatures in your garden. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-battle-against-bugs-its-time-to-end-chemical-warfare-111629">The battle against bugs: it's time to end chemical warfare</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>If you must, the least harmful spray for humans and other natural enemies of the cabbage white is Dipel. This is an insecticidal product containing toxins derived from a bacterium, <em>Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki</em> (Btk), which occurs naturally in soil and on plants. But it may be toxic to other butterflies and moths that pollinate your veggies, so be very careful where and when you spray.</p>
<p>Protecting your patch with mesh, rather than spraying, and providing space and food for natural enemies are great ways to keep the diversity up in your garden. Allowing a little bit of damage to your prized backyard crops enables some interesting biological interactions to occur in areas where it may have been missing for decades.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/217794/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nigel Andrew has received funding from the Australian Research Council, Grains Research Development Council, Meat and Livestock Australia, NSW Environmental Trust, and NSW Local Land Services. He is a Board member of the Ecological Society of Australia, the Australian Fulbright Alumni Association, and the NSW Entomological Society..</span></em></p>Conditions this year have been perfect for a cabbage white population boom, but you can do a few things to stop their caterpillars from shredding your plants.Nigel Andrew, Professor of Entomology, Southern Cross UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2055692023-10-30T04:17:57Z2023-10-30T04:17:57ZAustralian school students are experimenting with ‘space veggies’ in a NASA initiative<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556542/original/file-20231030-29-ezg678.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C1997%2C1715&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://science.nasa.gov/sciact-team/growing-beyond-earth/">Growing Beyond Earth</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>A pink glow is shining on the faces of enthusiastic students as they tend to plants in purpose-built grow boxes for space stations. </p>
<p>These students are the first in Australia to experience <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/sciact-team/growing-beyond-earth/">Growing Beyond Earth</a> – a schools citizen science program from NASA and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in the United States.</p>
<p>In Australia, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is working with the La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food, and Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools. The educational initiative ties into the Australian curriculum and gives students a unique introduction to gardening through science.</p>
<p>In this project, students grow plants in controlled conditions to test if they would be suitable for NASA missions, to help feed a future cadre of astronauts.</p>
<p>Plants evolved on Earth, so they might not grow so well in space. Before we start sending plants “off-world” to the Moon and Mars, we need to test their suitability. That way we can select the best for success. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A photo of three Catholic Regional College students posing with a plant inside a growth chamber." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556474/original/file-20231030-15-9wvlbl.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Catholic Regional College students Zalaika Farrugia, Natalie Duquemin, and Hamish MacGregor with a growth chamber.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/humans-are-going-back-to-the-moon-and-beyond-but-how-will-we-feed-them-189794">Humans are going back to the Moon, and beyond – but how will we feed them?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Gardening on the Moon and beyond</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/">NASA Artemis</a> mission aims to establish a long-term presence on the Moon and send astronauts to Mars. If all goes to plan, humans will be living and working on the Moon by 2030. </p>
<p>Currently, astronauts on the International Space Station rely on a pre-packaged diet that is frequently resupplied. But in the long term, space gardens providing fresh, edible plants will be essential to maintain astronaut health and wellbeing. </p>
<p>For Growing Beyond Earth, students build the “growth habitat” inside a box roughly the size of a large microwave fitted with LED lights and sensors. </p>
<p>Then they plant the seeds of a leafy green called misome, which grows reliably and quickly – both on and off-Earth. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A closeup photo of the green leafy vegetable misome growing in a bed of soil" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556513/original/file-20231030-25-11of4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The green leafy vegetable misome grows well on Earth and in space.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/healthy-asian-greens-including-bok-choi-422775190">Jacqui Martin, Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The students gain valuable experience in running their own experiments, including planting the seeds in pots and using growth media that match the NASA Vegetable Production System (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/veggie_fact_sheet_508.pdf">Veggie</a>). </p>
<p>They monitor growth and water use, making notes about plant size, colour and fitness. Students learn what plants need, how fast they can grow, what can be recycled and how much can be harvested. Also, would anyone want to eat it?</p>
<p>Students can extend their skills in a second experiment to test other plant types. So far, nearly 200 plants have been trialled and several new candidate plants, including pak choi, cress and kale, were found suitable.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TzQKqOKdJY?wmode=transparent&start=64" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Introducing Growing Beyond Earth (FairchildChallenge)</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Supporting the curriculum and connecting to nature</h2>
<p>Growing Beyond Earth ties into the Australian curriculum through “science as a human endeavour”. This relates to the role of science in society, including how scientific knowledge influences people’s lives and can be used to make decisions.</p>
<p>A growing body of evidence shows student-led, activity-based projects lead to <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1223709">better learning outcomes</a>. When students are exposed to real-world content, they remember it better, earn better grades and improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These students can then apply their knowledge to new situations.</p>
<p>Another important part of the project is the connection with plants and nature. The positive effects of nature on wellbeing came to the fore during COVID lockdowns. Studies show indoor plants helped <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132322010290">reduce mental stress during isolation</a>, and people <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866722000267?via%3Dihub">chose to garden</a> to connect with nature, release stress and address issues with food supply. </p>
<p>Nature has a strong influence on student learning too. Greater academic achievement and personal development comes from connection to the environment. For example, students in classrooms that have a view of nature report <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00305/full">lower levels of stress and perform better on concentration tests</a> compared to windowless rooms.</p>
<p>Better learning could also simply come from being in a good mood. Students are more interested and self-motivated during nature-based activities. This finding has very real implications for students who are normally disengaged.<br>
Time spent with nature also has a greater influence on how we view the environment than knowledge of conservation alone. Simply knowing climate change is contributing to species loss is less likely to inspire conservation action than frequently observing environmental change during time spent outdoors.</p>
<p>Emotional connection with nature <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378016305787?via%3Dihub">promotes interest in learning</a> about sustainability and in turn, caring for natural resources. </p>
<h2>Exploring an exciting new frontier</h2>
<p>The influence of the Growing Beyond Earth program on student attitudes to gardens, conservation and food is still being assessed. As the program expands to more countries, it will track student achievement, career paths and leadership. </p>
<p>So far, surveys reveal Growing Beyond Earth students are more knowledgeable and confident about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) topics and related careers.</p>
<p>These students may go on to play crucial roles in building future crop production systems on Mars, designing space plants for food and medicines, and using nature to improve the wellbeing of people experiencing isolation.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205569/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kim Johnson works for La Trobe University, conducting work on growing plants in controlled environments. She is an investigator in the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space and collaborates on the NASA Growing Beyond Earth program with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. She receives funding from ARC and Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources. </span></em></p>Astronauts living and working on the Moon will need something to eat. The Growing Beyond Earth program supports international space crop research.Kim Johnson, Senior lecturer, La Trobe UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2162642023-10-26T19:03:06Z2023-10-26T19:03:06ZGrowing your own food and foraging can help tackle your ballooning grocery bill. Here’s how<p>Up to 3.7 million Australian households have been hit by <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-23/food-insecurity-rising-in-australia-foodbank-hunger-report-shows/103002120">food insecurity this year</a> – many for the first time. </p>
<p>Of these households, four in five say the reason is the rising cost of living, as interest rate rises and many other cost increases force them to make unwelcome trade-offs – such as food. </p>
<p>These figures come from a new <a href="https://reports.foodbank.org.au/foodbank-hunger-report-2023/">hunger survey</a> from Foodbank, which found almost half of us (48%) now feel anxious about putting food on the table or struggle to access food consistently. About 70% of those polled said rising food prices were a reason for their food insecurity and 48% reported cutting back on buying fresh food. </p>
<p>Cutting back on food waste helps control costs. But what about growing your own food – is that financially sensible? Yes, to a degree. It’s generally not feasible to grow enough food to support yourself. But done cleverly and cheaply, you can <a href="https://theconversation.com/fennel-looking-a-bit-feeble-growing-enough-veggies-to-feed-yourself-depends-on-these-3-things-182475">cut your food bills</a> with fresh greens, vegetables, herbs and even by foraging. </p>
<h2>Growing food on the cheap</h2>
<p>If you don’t already have an established veggie patch or balcony garden, the set-up cost can be enough to put you off. </p>
<p>It’s worth looking first to see if there are community gardens near you. These let you <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1809707115">grow your own food</a> without having to shell out for garden beds, compost and gardening tools. </p>
<p>Some gardens have been running for decades. They’re usually run by local like-minded gardeners who can share their knowledge of what grows well where you are. </p>
<p>For those hoping to grow closer to home, you could consider “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-22/guerilla-gardeners-in-race-to-beat-the-heat/11448242">guerrilla gardening</a>”, where you convert your neighbourhood nature strips to food gardens. Before starting, it’s important to check if your <a href="https://theconversation.com/farming-the-suburbs-why-cant-we-grow-food-wherever-we-want-80330">local planning laws</a> allow it. Some councils do, but some do not. To get started, consult the guidelines by <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_g4B1Yu6fZdPxUMVYE5J1sVjWKtLtfI5/view">Farmers of the Urban Footpath</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="community garden plots with vegetables" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/555984/original/file-20231026-25-ekzom4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Established community gardens are an easy way to start growing your own food.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If you have the space, you could set up your own veggie patch. Many <a href="https://localfoodconnect.org.au/community-gardening/why-wicking-beds/">raised garden beds operate as closed systems</a>, saving water and nutrients for later use by the plants. Good quality growing compost will improve harvest yields and save you money longer term. </p>
<p>What about apartment residents? If you have sunlight, you can grow food cheaply. Old food-safe containers, plastic pots or even repurposed household items can be an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/plant-into-anything/12727654">easy way to start growing</a>. Make sure to consider <a href="https://themicrogardener.com/choose-safe-containers-for-growing-food/">potential contaminants</a> if you take this approach, to make sure your soil and the food growing in it is clean. </p>
<p>If you get more serious, you could even dispense with soil entirely and look at retail hydroponic units. These allow you to produce a vast quantity of leafy greens from seed in just two or three weeks. While more expensive up front, hydroponics offer a more controlled growing environment to ensure higher yields and protect your plants against <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-06/climate-change-causes-indoor-farming-grows-in-popularity-qld/101718034">extreme or unpredictable weather</a> as the climate changes.</p>
<h2>Does it make financial sense?</h2>
<p>If you plant onions, cabbage and broccoli, you’ll find they take up space in the garden, grow reasonably slowly and only yield a harvest once. Similarly, it’s not usually worth planting carrots and potatoes as they’re among the cheapest to buy. </p>
<p>Instead, go for plants that offer you several harvests over many weeks. These include herbs, lettuces, cucumbers, zucchinis, silverbeets, peas, beans and tomatoes. Consult sites <a href="https://gardenate.com/">such as Gardenate</a> for month-by-month guides on what to grow in your growing zone, as well as tips on companion planting and how long until you can eat your produce. </p>
<p>When you’re starting out, it can be easy to get carried away by the thought of exotic vegetables. Artichokes? Rhubarb? Asparagus? But to cut your food bill, focus on what your household actually eats. </p>
<p>It’s common for beginner vegetable gardeners to plant once and then wait. But this can result in a glut and then nothing. Instead, explore <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/succession-planting/9429992">succession planting</a>, where you plant new plants every few weeks to extend your harvest. </p>
<p>When it’s time to harvest, pick only what you need for each meal. Lettuce and herbs are great because they can be picked by the leaf. That means there’s little to no waste and the plant can regrow. Savings add up particularly fast for herbs. Coriander, oregano and so on are often the most expensive produce per kilogram. Worse, they’re sold in bunches too big for one meal and can then quietly rot in your fridge. </p>
<h2>Grow and swap</h2>
<p>Sharing your excess veggies, lemons and eggs is a great way to share the abundance of your crops with like-minded people. You can also do produce swaps. Sharing harvests is as old as agriculture, but what’s new now is the variety of ways we can share it, whether by <a href="https://theconversation.com/food-sharing-with-a-21st-century-twist-and-melbournes-a-world-leader-96106">app, website or regular meeting</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/food-sharing-with-a-21st-century-twist-and-melbournes-a-world-leader-96106">Food sharing with a 21st-century twist – and Melbourne's a world leader</a>
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</em>
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<h2>For advanced cost-cutting, consider foraging</h2>
<p>Perhaps the ultimate way to avoid any cost associated with growing your own is not to do it at all. Instead, you could make the most of <a href="https://theconversation.com/rosemary-in-roundabouts-lemons-over-the-fence-how-to-go-urban-foraging-safely-respectfully-and-cleverly-167883">foraging and edible weeds</a> – going out and actively looking for food.</p>
<p>It’s not new – during the Great Depression, many Australians supplemented food from the markets with rabbits, dandelions and foraged fruit. It’s important to be respectful in where and how you harvest – and be mindful of the safety of the produce. Avoid foraging near busy roads, for instance, as the soil may have lead or other heavy metals in it. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="mallow plant leaves, edible weed Malva parviflora" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/556006/original/file-20231026-28367-23mm2l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Edible weeds like mallow (Malva parviflora) sprout seemingly everywhere in gardens and suburbs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The largest edible weeds and foraging <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/255804947779277">Facebook group</a> in Australia has almost 90,000 people. Communities like this are an excellent source of knowledge, suggestions and recipes, such as swapping <a href="https://www.diegobonetto.com/blog/on-mellow-mallow-the-edible-weed">mallow</a> for expensive kale when you make kale chips. Of course, it’s vitally important to eat only what is safe. When starting out, use <a href="https://www.eatthatweed.com/weed-id/">foraging guides</a> to confirm identification.<br>
Whatever you choose, the most important benefit of growing or foraging your own produce are the social connections you can make. After all, times are tough and one of the best things we can do is stay connected to our local communities and feel comforted by knowing we’re not alone – help is at hand.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/supermarket-shelves-stripped-bare-history-can-teach-us-to-make-do-with-food-135304">Supermarket shelves stripped bare? History can teach us to 'make do' with food</a>
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<p><em>Horticulturist and green infrastructure expert Michael Casey contributed to this article</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216264/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kate Neale receives research and project funding from various not-for-profit organisations for her work in therapeutic horticulture. She is a member of Therapeutic Horticulture Australia and has previously been a Foodbank Ambassador. She also runs her own consultancy business Digability. </span></em></p>As the cost-of-living crisis bites into our household budgets, growing or foraging food can save you money.Kate Neale, Researcher, Southern Cross UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2130222023-10-11T13:42:31Z2023-10-11T13:42:31ZMale domestic workers in South Africa – study sheds light on the experiences of Malawian and Zimbabwean migrants<p>An estimated <a href="https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2672/1644">800,000 people work as domestic workers</a> in South Africa. Most are black women from marginalised backgrounds. It’s therefore not surprising that the bulk of the literature about domestic work focuses on females performing cleaning, cooking and care work. What’s missing in debates about domestic workers’ job-related experiences and relationships with their employers is the experiences of men performing domestic work, a job traditionally linked to <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/24713312">femininity</a>. </p>
<p>However, paid domestic work in South Africa hasn’t always been dominated by women. In the 1880s when the <a href="https://books.google.co.za/books/about/New_Babylon_New_Nineveh.html?id=DiDtAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y">mining industry</a> was being established in Johannesburg, black men, rather than women, were the preferred servants in white households. Known as <a href="https://books.google.co.za/books/about/From_Servants_to_Workers.html?id=ha_3GUYK6FwC&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=houseboy&f=false">houseboys</a>, they cooked, cleaned, nursed and cared for white colonial families.</p>
<p>But over the next decade the landscape of domestic work underwent significant changes. This was due to a few factors, among them:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>a scarcity of labour in the mines, which drew black men away from domestic roles to join the <a href="https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/brief-history-domestic-service-south-africa">mining sector</a> </p></li>
<li><p>the increasing <a href="https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/brief-history-domestic-service-south-africa">urbanisation of black women</a> </p></li>
<li><p>racial stereotypes about black men as <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2637313">sexually aggressive or promiscuous</a>.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>A small proportion of men still work as domestic workers, however. Some are <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---africa/---ro-abidjan/---ilo-pretoria/documents/vacancynotice/wcms_789648.pdf">migrants</a>. Due to South Africa’s relative stability and economic opportunities, there has been <a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/south-africa-immigration-destination-history">an increase in migration</a> from countries like Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique since apartheid ended in 1994. The migrants come seeking education, employment and improved livelihoods. They rely on friends and family already in South Africa <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-92114-9_2">to find jobs</a>. </p>
<p>While African migrant women from poor backgrounds often find work in <a href="https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/edar2018_BP1_en.pdf">domestic service or the hospitality sectors</a>, most migrant men work as <a href="https://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/2019-05/20767_mangezvo_xenophobic_2015.pdf">gardeners, painters or security guards</a>. Some Malawian and Zimbabwean male migrants work as <a href="https://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/2019-05/20767_mangezvo_xenophobic_2015.pdf">waiters or domestic workers</a>, jobs that are traditionally associated with women. </p>
<h2>Exploring unfamiliar territory</h2>
<p>As a researcher of domestic work in South Africa, I noticed that few studies had focused on male migrants performing domestic work in South Africa. Consequently, such work is commonly viewed as an employment arrangement involving affluent female employers and black female domestic workers from marginalised backgrounds. The intersections of race, class and gender between employers and domestic workers often lead to <a href="https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/74795/Masterson_Domestic_2019.pdf?sequence=1">unequal power relations and economic exploitation</a> entrenched within the employment relationship. </p>
<p>In my study, I examined <a href="https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2677">the experiences of migrant male domestic workers in Johannesburg</a>, with the aim of shedding some light on their duties and working conditions. </p>
<p>A male Malawian domestic worker employed by an acquaintance referred me to other male domestic workers in Johannesburg. Interviews were conducted with six male Malawian and four male Zimbabwean domestic workers employed by affluent white employers in Johannesburg. All had been employed for more than five years. </p>
<p>Migrant men’s experiences add a new layer of complexity to the study of domestic work, where complex intersections of class, race and gender occur. </p>
<h2>Migrant male domestic workers in South Africa</h2>
<p>My study showed that domestic work offered a viable employment path for men. </p>
<p>They faced similar challenges to their <a href="https://www.academia.edu/13215366/_Help_somebody_who_help_you_The_Effect_of_the_Domestic_Labour_Relationship_on_South_African_Domestic_Workers_Ability_to_Exercise_their_Rights">female counterparts</a>. These included long working hours, a paternalistic employer-employee dynamic, and a marginalised job status.</p>
<p>The respondents said they had an array of indoor and outdoor responsibilities. Indoors, their tasks encompassed cleaning and tidying their employers’ residences. They also handled laundry and ironing, alongside duties such as grocery shopping and meal preparation.</p>
<p>Outdoors, their responsibilities extended to garden maintenance, swimming pool upkeep, pet waste disposal, cleaning outdoor grilling areas (braais), and sweeping driveways. They were also entrusted with securing the homes and taking care of pets when their employers were away. </p>
<p>The daily life of male live-in domestic workers was much the same as <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---travail/documents/publication/wcms_230837.pdf">live-in female domestic workers</a>. The working day started at 06:30, preparing breakfast for employers. Once employers had left for work, they cleaned the house, prepared lunch, did laundry and attended to the garden.</p>
<p>The long working day often ended at 20:00 after dinner was prepared for employers. Most weekends were spent on additional piece jobs, working as gardeners or painters for others.</p>
<p>While the homes of employers were opulent, male domestic workers, just like their female counterparts, lived in small rooms in the back yard, hidden away from the employers’ gaze, as other researchers have <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3514408?seq=1">also found</a>. The one-room accommodation was often equipped with basic furniture, differing little from the <a href="https://books.google.co.za/books?hl=en&lr=&id=c89wfLEahEIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=living+quarters+of+domestic+workers+apartheid&ots=oumA3GgaGq&sig=Cjco7oSLcK6vGAgKpM_kgF0HTzQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=living%20quarters&f=false">squalid living quarters of domestic workers during apartheid</a>.</p>
<p>The men said they considered their wages reasonable. They earned on average between R5,000 (US$260) and R8,000 (US$416) a month. This was much higher than <a href="https://personal.nedbank.co.za/learn/blog/domestic-workers-minimum-wage.html#:%7E:text=The%20minimum%20wage%20for%20domestic%20workers%20in%202023&text=Employing%20someone%20for%20more%20than,with%20the%20Department%20of%20Labour.">the minimum wage of R4,067</a> (US$216) for a domestic worker working eight hours a day, five days a week in South Africa. Most said they could engage in wage negotiations, which enabled them to improve their wellbeing and that of their families.</p>
<p>None of the male domestic workers in this study had written employment contracts with their employers, or were members of a trade union, such as the <a href="http://www.sadsawu.com/">South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union</a>. Work contracts need to be renewed every few years, which is costly and time consuming. Job security is precarious. </p>
<h2>The recurring issues of domestic work</h2>
<p>In South Africa, domestic work continues to be associated with <a href="https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2672/1644">marginalised black individuals</a>, perpetuating a historical and societal imbalance. </p>
<p>Paid domestic work continues to occupy a low-status position. No formal qualifications and little specialised expertise are required. Domestic workers’ contributions to the functioning of households are essential but frequently taken for granted, as other studies have <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/book/42905/">also confirmed</a>. </p>
<p>Despite the <a href="https://www.pulp.up.ac.za/edited-collections/exploited-undervalued-and-essential-domestic-workers-and-the-realisation-of-their-rights">legislation</a>, domestic workers work long hours and perform physically demanding work. While male domestic workers in this study could negotiate better working conditions and pay, others might not be successful, and might remain in a precarious working environment. </p>
<p>Job security is not assured, a vulnerability most <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---migrant/documents/publication/wcms_535598.pdf">migrant domestic workers</a> experience. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---africa/---ro-abidjan/---ilo-pretoria/documents/vacancynotice/wcms_789648.pdf">Practical protection remains constrained</a>. For instance, migrant domestic workers often encounter difficulties when seeking healthcare.</p>
<p>To safeguard this group from exploitation and elevate their overall livelihoods, regulators, enforcement agencies and trade unions must protect and recognise all domestic workers, including migrants, in South Africa.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213022/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>David du Toit does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Paid domestic work has a low status in South Africa. The labour of domestic workers is often undervalued and unrecognised.David du Toit, Sociology Lecturer, University of JohannesburgLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2130372023-10-04T09:14:44Z2023-10-04T09:14:44ZGuerilla gardening: how you can make your local area greener without getting into trouble<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551691/original/file-20231003-23-2458g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=12%2C12%2C4181%2C2779&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">What are your rights if you want to become a guerrilla gardener?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/planting-new-trees-gardening-tools-male-2156988725">Goami/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>When Richard Reynolds first started gardening around London’s streets, he was so worried he might be arrested that he worked under the cover of darkness. Reynolds was one of the UK’s <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/guerrilla-gardening-meet-the-man-who-plants-flowers-in-the-night-to-make-london-a-greener-city-a3236816.html">first modern guerrilla gardeners</a>, a movement that encourages people to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/06/the-guardian-view-on-guerrilla-gardening-go-forth-and-grow">nurture and revive</a> land they do not have the legal rights to cultivate.</p>
<p>Gardening, in general, offers <a href="https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/field_publication_file/Gardens_and_health.pdf">physical and mental health benefits</a>. But as many as <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/oneineightbritishhouseholdshasnogarden/2020-05-14">one in eight</a> British households have no access to a garden or outdoor space of their own.</p>
<p>This issue is particularly pronounced among city dwellers, ethnic minorities and young people. A 2021 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-data-and-publications-from-adults-survey-year-1-april-2020-march-2021-official-statistics/the-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-data-and-publications-from-adults-survey-year-1-april-2020-march-2021-official-statistics-main-finding#group-differences-in-engagement-with-nature">survey conducted in England</a> revealed that those aged 16-24 were more than twice as likely to lack access to a garden or allotment compared to those aged over 65.</p>
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<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="Quarter life, a series by The Conversation" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/quarter-life-117947?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">This article is part of Quarter Life</a></strong>, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.</p>
<p><em>You may be interested in:</em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-community-gardening-could-ease-your-climate-concerns-211316">How community gardening could ease your climate concerns</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/three-ways-to-get-your-nature-fix-without-a-garden-210829">Three ways to get your nature fix without a garden</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-often-do-you-think-about-the-roman-empire-tiktok-trend-exposed-the-way-we-gender-history-214425">How often do you think about the Roman empire? TikTok trend exposed the way we gender history</a></em></p>
<hr>
<p>Guerrilla gardening is a particularly good option for these groups of people. It can involve planting herbs or vegetables for a whole community to enjoy, spreading seeds or plants, tidying weeds, or even something as simple as picking up litter. </p>
<p>But if you’re considering becoming a guerilla gardener, it’s important to understand your rights. Could you be arrested for it? And should you wait until after dark?</p>
<h2>Can you be prosecuted?</h2>
<p>It’s important to remember that much of the unused or abandoned land that is potentially suitable for guerilla gardening in towns and cities throughout the UK is owned by local councils. Common examples of such locations include broken pavements with missing slabs, wasteland and the central areas of roundabouts. </p>
<p>Although much of this land is already open for the public to walk over, actively gardening on it would become an act of trespass. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://greenandblackcross.org/guides/laws/5-trespass-aggravated-trespass/">law of trespass</a> sounds scary. However, gardening on this land would be a breach of civil law rather than a crime. This means that most guerrilla gardeners are unlikely to receive a fine or a criminal record. </p>
<p>Landowners do have the legal right to use “reasonable force” to remove trespassers from their land. But, fortunately, it seems most councils have ignored guerrilla gardeners, having neither the time, money or inclination to bring legal action against them.</p>
<p>Colchester Council, for example, were unable to track down the identity of the “<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-31939776">human shrub</a>”, a mysterious eco-activist who restored the flowers in the city’s abandoned plant containers in 2009. The shrub <a href="https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/11811938.is-the-human-shrub-back/">returned again in 2015</a> and sent a gift of seeds to a local councillor.</p>
<p>In other areas of the UK, the work of guerilla gardeners has been <a href="https://www.urbanallotments.eu/fileadmin/uag/media/STSM/Binder_shortreportSTSM_final.pdf">cautiously welcomed</a> by local councils. In Salford, a city in Greater Manchester, there is a formal requirement to submit an application and obtain permission to grow on vacant spots in the city. But the local authority tends not to interfere with illegal grow sites.</p>
<p>There seems to be an unwritten acceptance that people can garden wherever they want, given the abundance of available space and the lack of active maintenance. This also offers the additional advantage of saving both time and money for the local council.</p>
<p>You should still be careful about where you trespass though. In some areas, guerrilla gardening can lead to unwelcome attention. During the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/may/02/mayday.world">May Day riots</a> of 2000, for example, guerrilla gardeners <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/821747.stm">were accused</a> of planting cannabis seeds in central London’s Parliament Square.</p>
<p>Gardening at night may draw the wrong attention too, particularly if you are carrying gardening tools that might be misunderstood by the police as threatening weapons.</p>
<h2>How can you start?</h2>
<p>There are many different types of guerrilla gardening that you could get involved in, from planting native plant species that benefit pollinators and other wildlife to tidying derelict land to create safer places for the local community.</p>
<p>One of the simplest forms of guerilla gardening is planting seeds. Some environmental projects circulate “<a href="https://vanessaharden.com/#624158/The-Subversive-Gardener">seed bombs</a>” and others use biodegradable “seed balloons” that are filled with helium and deflate after a day, <a href="https://heavypetal.ca/archives/2008/07/garden-gnome-seed-bombs/#:%7E:text=a%20biodegradable%20helium%20balloon">distributing seeds by air</a>.</p>
<p>Whatever you try, as a guerrilla gardener you shouldn’t harm the environment or spoil other people’s enjoyment of the space around you. Remember that weeds and wilderness have an environmental value too. And think carefully about the species you are going to plant so that you can protect local plants and wildlife.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A man dropping a seed bomb on the ground in front of a grey building." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5491%2C3655&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551475/original/file-20231002-21-9jzewe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Some projects circulate seed bombs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-holding-throwing-seed-balls-bombs-1442539253">Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>The most attractive species to humans might not provide the best home or food for wildlife. Some can even outcompete native plants and <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66923930">drive them towards extinction</a>. Planting certain harmful, invasive or poisonous species like <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/ragwort">ragwort</a>, <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/japanese-knotweed">knotweed</a> or <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/himalayan-balsam">Himalayan balsam</a> is even <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69">prohibited by law</a>.</p>
<p>That said, some guerrilla gardeners have used social media to organise <a href="https://www.groundwork.org.uk/bigbalsambash2023/">“balsam bashing” events</a>, where people come together to pull up this harmful invasive plant. </p>
<p>Guerrilla gardening takes many forms and can bring great benefits for people and the environment. You’re unlikely to be arrested for planting and growing trees and other greenery in public spaces. But remember that these spaces should be shared with everyone, including your local wildlife.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213037/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ben Mayfield does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Many people are gardening on land that is not theirs – here are some things to consider to avoid getting into trouble.Ben Mayfield, Lecturer in Law, Lancaster UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2113162023-09-28T15:52:32Z2023-09-28T15:52:32ZHow community gardening could ease your climate concerns<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550227/original/file-20230926-21-14uatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C8%2C5572%2C3701&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-people-girls-boy-volunteers-outdoors-1547175437">Viktoriia Hnatiuk/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Every day, we are bombarded with messages about a world in crisis. Alongside the ongoing reminders of wars, economic recessions and social unrest is news about <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-66799518">natural disasters</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/extreme-weather-continues-across-europe-as-more-hot-weather-looms">extreme weather</a> – be that prolonged droughts, freak heatwaves and wildfires or devastating floods and landslides. </p>
<p>It’s possible that our growing awareness of climate issues may arise from the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/17/steven-pinker-media-negative-news">overreporting of negative news</a> in a media-fuelled and hyperglobalised world. But what’s happening to our environment also appears unprecedented. Global sea levels rose <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/09/ipcc-sea-level-rise-report/598765/">two-and-a-half times faster</a> between 2006 and 2016 than they did throughout nearly the whole 20th century, and climate-related disasters have <a href="https://humanitarianaction.info/article/climate-crisis-humanitarian-crisis">tripled over the past three decades</a>. </p>
<p>Many people are becoming understandably anxious. This is especially true for young people, who have their whole lives ahead of them on a planet inherited from those who, generally speaking, have neglected to care for it. A YouGov poll from 2020 found that <a href="https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/over-twothirds-young-people-experience-ecoanxiety-friends-earth-launch-campaign-turn">70% of 18–24 year olds</a> were worried about the environment.</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="Quarter life, a series by The Conversation" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/quarter-life-117947?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">This article is part of Quarter Life</a></strong>, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.</p>
<p><em>You may be interested in:</em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/three-ways-to-get-your-nature-fix-without-a-garden-210829">Three ways to get your nature fix without a garden</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/three-mindfulness-and-meditation-techniques-that-could-help-you-manage-work-stress-208328">Three mindfulness and meditation techniques that could help you manage work stress</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-rewire-your-brain-to-feel-good-on-mondays-199236">How to rewire your brain to feel good on Mondays</a></em></p>
<hr>
<p>Worrying can be a problem when it becomes overwhelming and prevents you from living your life. <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/climate-anxiety/">Studies</a> have shown that climate anxiety (distress about climate change and its impacts on the planet, future disasters and the future of human existence) can lead to shortness of breath, worsen physical health and interfere in social relationships or functioning at school or work.</p>
<p>The growing awareness of this emerging mental health issue has led to some suggestions on <a href="https://theconversation.com/eco-anxiety-climate-change-affects-our-mental-health-heres-how-to-cope-202477">how to cope with climate anxiety</a>. We can take action by recycling more, buying goods with less packaging or cutting down on consumption and waste. No matter how small they seem, actions like these can promote conversations and awareness and prompt more substantial lifestyle shifts.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, some people may find it hard to manage their emotions, especially younger people who have, according to research, <a href="https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2021/emotions-get-better-age">less control of their feelings</a>. Trying to reduce your carbon footprint might also feel too trivial to convince yourself that any actual difference will be made.</p>
<p>One potentially more engaging and effective way to cope with the anxiety brought on by the climate crisis is community gardening. This is an activity where people come together to harvest and maintain plants and crops on designated plots of land.</p>
<p>In 2018, the Woodland Trust (the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity) set up the UK’s <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-65350704">first Young People’s Forest</a> in Derbyshire. The project involved enlisting schools, scout groups and other young people to cultivate the area, resulting in the planting of 250,000 trees. </p>
<p>The young volunteers who participated expressed that these activities helped “massively” in reducing their climate anxiety.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A group of people holding soil in their hands." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=447&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=447&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=447&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=561&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=561&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550228/original/file-20230926-25-731qkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=561&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A community garden is a piece of land where people collectively manage and harvest plants and crops.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/group-volunteer-sprout-growing-ecology-concept-1240961104">Prostock-studio/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<h2>In it together</h2>
<p>Community gardening is beneficial because it allows people to deal directly with their climate concerns by doing good for the environment. The act of planting, for example, makes a tangible difference. Growing flowers that attract bees can make you feel like you’ve done something good for the ecosystem.</p>
<p>Gardening – whether it involves digging, sowing or harvesting – is also inherently good for your physical and mental health. <a href="https://permaculture.com.au/why-gardening-makes-you-happy-and-cures-depression/">Research</a> has even likened getting your hands dirty in the garden to a natural anti-depressant. Contact with a soil bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae can trigger the release of serotonin, while foraging in a garden leads to more dopamine in the brain (both of which are hormones associated with feelings of happiness). </p>
<p>Community gardening also requires collective planning and cooperation. Working towards shared goals can foster a sense of togetherness. </p>
<p>A feeling of deep connection may develop not just with others, but with nature as a whole. Research on residents in Singapore suggests that people who garden frequently are more likely to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866722001984">self-identify with nature and care for it</a>.</p>
<h2>Immersed in nature</h2>
<p>Engaging in community gardening also encourages people to spend more time in nature. Even something this simple has several health benefits. </p>
<p>In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries introduced the therapeutic practice of “shinrin-yoku”, the Japanese ritual of forest bathing or immersing oneself in the presence of trees. Since then, it has formed part of Japan’s public health programme. It was developed as a response to the substantial rise in <a href="https://silvotherapy.co.uk/articles/the-origins-of-forest-bathing">anxiety and stress-related illness</a> brought about by rapid urbanisation and long working hours.</p>
<p>Wood, plants and some fruit and vegetables emit essential oils – generally called phytoncide – as a natural defence against germs and insects. Inhaling phytoncide seems to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/">improve the ability</a> of the immune system to function. And <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19568835/">research</a> from Chiba University in Japan has demonstrated that spending just 30 minutes in the company of trees exhibited reduced concentrations of cortisol (a stress hormone), pulse rates and blood pressures. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A woman sitting in a forest." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550249/original/file-20230926-17-2czfg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Forest bathing has formed part of Japan’s public health programme since the 1980s.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/woman-sitting-green-forest-enjoys-silence-1806334207">avanna photography/Shutterstock</a></span>
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</figure>
<p>Community gardening could emerge as an effective method for addressing climate anxiety. It is fun and engaging, allows people to feel like they are making a direct impact on the environment and carries plenty of physical health benefits.</p>
<p>In this way, people can maintain a healthy concern about climate change, which is necessary for positive steps to be taken in order to protect our planet, without tipping over the edge into climate anxiety.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211316/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jose Yong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Could community gardening emerge as an effective method for addressing climate anxiety?Jose Yong, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Northumbria University, NewcastleLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2061562023-09-06T15:47:34Z2023-09-06T15:47:34ZA slacker’s guide to climate-friendly gardening<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546454/original/file-20230905-25-qc53py.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=60%2C10%2C6720%2C4456&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">You can help wildlife in your garden thrive if you just stop doing several simple things.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-man-resting-comfortable-hammock-green-1533550202">New Africa/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>A pristine garden can come with an environmental cost. The chemicals we use to kill weeds and bugs rely on fossil fuels, and can disrupt local wildlife. </p>
<p>But gardening doesn’t have to be a guilt-inducing chore. In fact, it can be a liberating act of eco-conscious laziness.</p>
<p>You won’t single-handedly solve all the world’s woes with your plot of land. But there are several simple things that, if you just stop doing them, will help the environment and wildlife. </p>
<p>So stop being so tidy. And say goodbye to herbicides and pesticides. </p>
<p>Becoming a lazier gardener can have many positive effects. It can contribute to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46024-y">lowering your garden’s carbon footprint</a> and help to reduce the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02626667.2015.1128084">risk of flooding</a>.</p>
<p>But that’s not all. In a world where <a href="https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/biologies/item/CRBIOL_2020__343_3_267_0/">insects are in decline</a> due to global warming and changes in how land is used and managed, your less manicured garden can also <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-015-0342-x/">become a haven</a> for these essential creatures.</p>
<p>These same insects serve as vital sustenance for hungry <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723005314?via%3Dihub">birds</a>. A single <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/blue-tit/">blue tit</a> chick can alone eat <a href="https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2017/06/know-blue-tit-chick-needs-around-100-caterpillars-every-day/#:%7E:text=forth%20with%20food.-,Did%20you%20know%20a%20blue%20tit%20chick%20needs%20around%20100,to%20keep%20their%20chicks%20happy">around 100 caterpillars</a> each day.</p>
<h2>Keep carbon in the ground</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46024-y">Exposing soil</a> through digging causes the carbon that is stored in it to be released. It can also degrade the soil’s structure and make it less fertile. </p>
<p>If you’re mindful of the environmental cost of carbon escaping from your soils (in addition to all of the toil involved in digging, planting and weeding) then it may be worth planting perennial fruit and vegetables that live for many years, rather than plants that last one season and then die off. </p>
<p>There will always be some soil disturbance as you manage your beds – particularly when you first plant your crops. But the use of perennial crops can help to reduce this, with the added benefit of requiring less of your time.</p>
<p>Planting soft fruit bushes and strawberries means that, with a bit of effort, you can harvest fruit every year. And if you have plenty of room, you could also consider planting asparagus and using strawberries as a <a href="https://joybileefarm.com/how-to-grow-strawberries-asparagus/">companion crop</a> planted in between to help suppress weeds and keep your soil covered.</p>
<p>Fennel plants come back every year, too, and produce lovely flowers and edible seeds as long as you don’t harvest their bulbous stems. Globe artichoke plants are another option to liven up your summer meals. But remember to leave a few to bloom as this will provide pollen for bees and butterflies later in the year.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/bees-and-hoverflies-are-key-to-growing-more-fruit-and-veg-in-cities-new-research-207665">Bees and hoverflies are key to growing more fruit and veg in cities -- new research</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<p>That said, annual plants do have their benefits, too. These plants add organic matter to the soil as they die off each year and should reseed to come again. But, if you have to constantly dig over the bed and replant from scratch, then this will have an environmental, energy and financial cost.</p>
<p>Keep it covered, stay lazy.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A close-up shot of a fennel plant." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546458/original/file-20230905-24-27kq7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Fennel plants will come back every year as long as you don’t harvest their stems.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/growing-fennel-garden-218475082">Maria Bobrova/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Become a wildlife haven</h2>
<p>Another excellent way to keep soil covered and add variety to your little patch is by planting a meadow – or rather an unruly lawn with the addition of a few wildflower species. </p>
<p>Many people have dipped their toe into the lazy gardener’s life through <a href="https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/">“no mow May”</a> – a national campaign to encourage people not to mow their lawns until the end of May. But you could opt to extend this practice until much later in the summer for even greater benefits.</p>
<p>Allowing your grass to grow longer, and interspersing it with pollen-rich flowers, can benefit many insects – especially bees. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866722002576?via%3Dihub">Research</a> finds that reducing mowing in urban and suburban environments has a positive effect on the amount and diversity of insects.</p>
<p>Your untamed lawn won’t only benefit insects. It will also encourage more birds, such as <a href="https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/a-z-garden-birds/goldfinch">goldfinches</a>, to use your garden to feed on the seeds of common wildflower species such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/dandelion">dandelions</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A goldfinch feeding on dandelion seeds." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546460/original/file-20230905-31-v5vjj1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">A goldfinch feeding on dandelion seeds.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/european-goldfinch-feeding-on-dandelion-seeds-2164981297">Vladimir Woitscheck/Shutterstock</a></span>
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</figure>
<h2>Store more water</h2>
<p>A well-left lawn encourages a more diverse root structure. Different plants have different types of roots. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/grass">Grasses</a>, for example, have thin roots that form a dense mat, plants like dandelions and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Plantago">plantago</a> have tap roots (like a skinny carrot), and legumes like <a href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/clover/623792#:%7E:text=Encyclop%C3%A6dia%20Britannica%2C%20Inc.-,Encyclop%C3%A6dia%20Britannica%2C%20Inc.,green%20or%20the%20dry%20stage.">clover</a> have wide roots that form channels in the soil. </p>
<p>A more complex root structure encourages water infiltration, helping our gardens manage large deluges of rain. This can prevent runoff from our properties, potentially <a href="https://www.research.lancs.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/using-a-plant-functional-trait-approach-to-increase-buffer-zone-efficiency-and-reduce-diffuse-agricultural-pollution(20889c7f-f662-4abb-acb0-c9966f00dd00).html;%20https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-014-2373-5">reducing localised flooding</a>.</p>
<p>Our unruly, rain-soaked refuges not only hold water when there is too much. But they also preserve it when there isn’t enough. </p>
<p>During droughts and heatwaves – which are becoming a <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2549136060?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true">more common feature</a> of Europe’s summer season – longer lawns will capture more dew and direct it down towards the roots. This not only keeps water where it’s needed but also maintains the soil’s coolness, benefiting animals like <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/worm">worms</a> that live beneath the surface. Cutting grass during droughts and heatwaves can <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/drought-care">exacerbate stress for the plants</a>, adding to their misery during such conditions.</p>
<p>So an excellent way to avoid a brown, parched patch is to be slack. Mow it towards the end of summer and bask in your climate-friendly gardening success. And remember, the concept of laid-back gardening isn’t just for summer; it’s equally important during autumn and winter too.</p>
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<img alt="Imagine weekly climate newsletter" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Aimee Brett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Your less manicured garden has the potential to combat tackle climate change and help wildlife survive.Aimee Brett, Lecturer in Ecology & Conservation, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2108292023-08-11T14:17:03Z2023-08-11T14:17:03ZThree ways to get your nature fix without a garden<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542134/original/file-20230810-23-t5iq0h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=7%2C518%2C4232%2C2713&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">There are plenty of ways to benefit from nature in and around your home.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/thoughtful-girl-sitting-on-sill-embracing-793940824">fizkes/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Spending time in a garden is good for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re watering plants or simply chilling on a deck chair – there’s a whole <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036923">range of benefits</a> that come with it. These include <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103836">improved health and wellbeing</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.01.013">reduced mental fatigue</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101545">better sleep quality</a>. </p>
<p>Those who get stuck into gardening also experience <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105310365577">less stress</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103118">more physical activity</a>. Research finds that these people even tend to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS1368980020001329">eat more fruit and vegetables</a>. </p>
<p>But not everyone is able to access a garden. With <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-inflation-rate-slows-to-7-9-per-cent-in-june-td5vgdn7h">inflation squeezing incomes</a>, owning a home with a garden is more difficult than ever, particularly for young people, and rental accommodation may not always come with outside space. </p>
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<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="Quarter life, a series by The Conversation" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p><em><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/quarter-life-117947?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">This article is part of Quarter Life</a></strong>, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.</em></p>
<p><em>You may be interested in:</em></p>
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<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/three-mindfulness-and-meditation-techniques-that-could-help-you-manage-work-stress-208328">Three mindfulness and meditation techniques that could help you manage work stress</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/house-prices-are-falling-but-that-doesnt-mean-you-should-buy-now-heres-what-first-time-buyers-should-consider-207938">House prices are falling, but that doesn’t mean you should buy now – here’s what first-time buyers should consider</a></em></p>
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<p>An <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-data-and-publications-from-adults-survey-year-1-april-2020-march-2021-official-statistics/the-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-data-and-publications-from-adults-survey-year-1-april-2020-march-2021-official-statistics-main-finding#group-differences-in-engagement-with-nature">English survey</a> from 2021 revealed that those aged 16-24 were more than twice as likely to lack access to a garden or allotment compared to those aged over 65. My own research team dug into this issue too. We found that younger people and those on a lower income in the UK had a <a href="https://openresearch.surrey.ac.uk/esploro/outputs/report/Gardens--Wellbeing-During-the-First/99587222502346">harder time accessing a garden</a> than older and richer people.</p>
<p>But don’t despair if you’re unable to access a garden. There are plenty of ways to benefit from nature in and around your home without stepping foot in a garden. Here are three ways research suggests you can bring nature into your life.</p>
<h2>1. Visit a park</h2>
<p>The presence of nature – such as plants and trees, natural sounds like <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.570563">birdsong</a>, and water – is part of what makes gardens so good for us. Research finds that contact with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182443">nature</a> can reduce stress and depression, improve work and educational performance, increase wellbeing and help us live longer. </p>
<p>It’s not just gardens that offer this dose of nature. In fact, nature can be found in many urban parks, even in tiny <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ufug.2021.127294">pocket parks</a> (small areas of public green space). </p>
<p>These parks are more than just serene spots. They can also be great places to meet up with friends and family, particularly if they include <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2014.894006">cafés, tables and seating areas</a>. Building <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022146510383501">social relationships</a> like this comes with a number of added health benefits too.</p>
<p>Many people will find a park close to their home. The Office for National Statistics <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/oneineightbritishhouseholdshasnogarden/2020-05-14">estimate</a> that more than a quarter of people in Great Britain live within a five-minute walk of a public park, and 72% within a 15-minute walk.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="People relaxing on the grass at Hampstead Heath." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542135/original/file-20230810-25-ax7kkt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">People relaxing on the grass at Hampstead Heath, London.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/london-august-24-2019-young-people-1706410039">Alex Segre/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>However, inequalities exist here too. The quality of urban parks tends to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.05.017">better in wealthier areas</a> compared with those in areas with lower socioeconomic status.</p>
<h2>2. Get some houseplants</h2>
<p>Houseplants are a great way to bring nature into your home if you have no outdoor space. As with other forms of nature, indoor plants are linked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph19127454">reduced blood pressure</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2009.05.001">lower levels of stress</a>. </p>
<p>They also help make a space more <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2021.2014021">attractive</a>, turning it into somewhere you want to spend time in. In <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101557">one study</a>, students showed a preference for studying in a room with potted plants compared to a room without them.</p>
<p>Many people also value the act of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2021.2014021">caring for their houseplants</a> – whether this is watering them, feeding them or “giving them a haircut”. </p>
<p>Houseplants may also help if you have to spend long periods of time indoors. During the COVID lockdowns, for example, exposure to greenery helped residents in Shanghai, China, by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109799">reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms</a>.</p>
<p>If you spend a lot of time working or studying at home, houseplants may also improve your ability to work. In an office setting, people who had plants in the room <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.11.005">performed better</a> when working on demanding tasks. Separate research on Norwegian office workers also found that the presence of indoor plants <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.42.3.581">improved productivity and reduced sick leave</a>.</p>
<p>There are lots of houseplants to choose from and it can be difficult to know where to start. But there are plenty of <a href="https://theconversation.com/owning-houseplants-can-boost-your-mental-health-heres-how-to-pick-the-right-one-202197">online guides</a> to help you choose the right one. And for those of you that worry you’ll accidentally kill your new houseplant, know that even <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/28/killing-plants-is-a-gardeners-rite-of-passage">qualified horticulturalists</a> regularly lose plants – it’s all trial and error. </p>
<h2>3. Make use of digital nature</h2>
<p>If you live somewhere you can’t own houseplants, or you are not ready for the responsibility, try surrounding yourself with digital nature instead. During Israel’s initial COVID lockdown, a survey of 776 people revealed that viewing images of nature on a computer screen was linked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101714">lower levels of stress and fewer negative emotions</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A woman sitting on a sofa watching a nature documentary." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542137/original/file-20230810-16-ysxrqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Try surrounding yourself with digital nature.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-woman-watching-television-subtitles-while-1331135633">Ellyy/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>You could also watch some nature documentaries, or clips of animals and birdsong on your social media. In our recent research, we found that <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701769">watching videos of nature on social media</a> – specifically highlights from the BBC’s Springwatch TV series and from Chris Packham’s (a UK TV presenter and naturalist) livestream videos on Facebook – helped support wellbeing during the COVID lockdowns.</p>
<p>No matter your circumstances, there’s always a way to bring a bit of nature into your life.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210829/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emma White has previously worked on a project funded by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council, examining the role that nature played for people during the pandemic. Emma also previously worked on a review of greenspace, which was funded by Natural England. </span></em></p>Here are a few ways you can benefit from nature in and around your home without stepping foot in a garden.Emma White, Visiting Research Fellow in Environmental Psychology, University of SurreyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2054572023-07-04T22:14:59Z2023-07-04T22:14:59ZWhat listening to the soil can tell us about our relationship with the land<p>How often do you think about the soil beneath our feet? We humans rely on the soil to provide us with a stable supply of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/07/secret-world-beneath-our-feet-mind-blowing-key-to-planets-future">food, clean water and clean air</a>. Soils have lived histories and stories to tell. They are alive. <a href="https://openpress.usask.ca/soilscience/">Soil exists as a varied continuum across Earth’s surface</a> reflecting the intersection of air, water, rock and life linked by the passage of time. </p>
<p>The soil can tell stories of their past to anyone who takes the time to listen.
Yet despite our reliance on soil, humans entrenched in colonial mindset and systems have been poor soil stewards and generally ignorant to <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315685366-8/colonialism-development-degradation-piers-blaikie-harold-brookfield">the destructive and extractive practices</a> we inflict on soil.</p>
<p>If we do not listen to the stories of the soil, we as humans might destroy the soil which supports countless lives. Only by understanding our past and current relationship with soil can we reflect and change our partnership with soil from extraction and exploitation to respect, relationality and reciprocity.</p>
<p>Whether we know it or not, soils are the silent partner that sustains us. In the years and decades to come, what will our lasting legacy be in the story the soil tells?</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Some soil in the palm of a hand." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533604/original/file-20230623-26366-dohtac.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">We must listen to the stories the soil tells, and repair our relationship with it.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Author provided)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Impacts of human activity</h2>
<p>Over the past three years, <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/1880/113973">we have worked</a> with our community partner, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/land-of-dreams-indigenous-garden-farm-newcomer-families-1.5574833">Land of Dreams</a>, a 30-acre community urban farm in southeast Calgary. The region has traditionally been stewarded by the Niitsitapi, Îethka Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations, and more recently Métis Nation Region 3. </p>
<p>The vision of Land of Dreams is to create a place where communities who are forcefully displaced from their land gather and reconnect to the soil through small-scale agricultural practices, while learning about <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0uGuMvlde8aEuntOaeGmhK">Indigenous ways of stewarding the land</a>. Our goal is to use <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.1655">STEM education to press for social justice and environmental protection</a>.</p>
<p>Enacting this vision requires using Indigenous knowledge to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-020-09983-7">carefully listen to the stories the soil reveals</a>. </p>
<p>Digging deeper into this land, we encounter various faces of the soil shaped by <a href="https://soilsofcanada.ca/soil-formation/factors.php">climate, topography, parent material and time</a>. </p>
<p>The Prairie Pothole region, where Land of Dreams is located, is typified by a mosaic of grasslands and wetlands. </p>
<p>Before European colonization, Indigenous communities had <a href="https://www.aupress.ca/books/120256-living-on-the-land/">long histories of stewarding the land</a> and <a href="https://nativesoilnerd.com/invited-talks-webinars">living reciprocally with the soil</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533605/original/file-20230623-20-vmahw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A tipi on the Land of Dreams site. Indigenous communities have long histories of stewarding the land and living reciprocally with the soil.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(University of Calgary/Fritz Tolentino)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We try to imagine, from the soil’s point of view, how detrimental the impacts of human activity have been. Until 2009, the soil experienced the cycle of harvest which involved the disruptive effects of annual soil tillage, vehicle traffic and the application of biocides for plants and animals deemed pests. </p>
<p>In 2010, the soil’s life-rich surface was stripped away and it was then pressed for the construction of a highway. This caused <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.08.009">soil compaction</a>, where the soil pores are pressed together and the soil becomes more rock-like. In this single event, human activity undid the thousands of years it took for the soil to be a space where life could thrive in harmony with the local climate.</p>
<h2>Repairing our relationship with the soil</h2>
<p>However, this is not the end of the soil’s story. Despite compaction causing the soil’s surface to become dry and dusty, some plants still grow. Ironically, plants such as dandelions and thistles that were carried here <a href="https://anpc.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dandelion.pdf">alongside European colonization</a> also thrive on the soil impacted by <a href="https://theconversation.com/decolonize-your-garden-this-long-weekend-dig-into-the-complicated-roots-of-gardening-listen-205720">colonial legacy</a>. </p>
<p>Our observations show how some of the pasture soil continues to act as a refuge of native plants and animals, patiently watching the dandelions and thistles and waiting for a time when the compacted soil will be able to welcome them back.</p>
<p>Despite years of being forced into agricultural production, the soil of the nearby wetland quickly resumes its place as a home and provider to countless insects, birds, frogs, plants and mammals when left to be itself.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Two young boys throwing seeds in a feild." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=780&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=780&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=780&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=981&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=981&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534635/original/file-20230628-17-tqziv.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=981&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Soil Campers throwing native plant seed balls onto the land.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Author provided)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Over time the compacted soil will recover, but it will never be the same. It will carry the stories of disturbance and compaction, and of resilience and recovery. </p>
<p>As we envisage our future relationships with the soil, we should let the land guide us. We should listen to <a href="https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/des/article/view/22170">the soil as our teacher</a> and relative. Despite the central role that soils play in the ecosystem and our food security, school curricula do not fully teach young minds about the soil. We run the <a href="https://www.soilcamp.ca/">Soil Camp</a>, an educational project that explores what more soil-centric relationships could look like in action. </p>
<p>The next time you are walking on a sidewalk, a well-used trail in an urban park or your backyard, take a moment to think about the land and soil. Imagine what it was like five, 50 or 5,000 years ago. What or who has impacted and changed it? Is the soil still connected with its surrounding natural habitat? Asking these questions can help us take action to be a better partner to the soil beneath our feet.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205457/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mathew Swallow is supported by funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Environmental and Climate Change Canada.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kori Czuy is works for the the TELUS Spark Science Centre.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Miwa A. Takeuchi receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Environmental and Climate Change Canada. </span></em></p>Only by understanding our past and current relationship with soil can we reflect and change our partnership with soil from extraction and exploitation to respect, relationality and reciprocity.Mathew Swallow, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mount Royal UniversityKori Czuy, Manager, Indigenous Science Connections, TELUS Spark Science CentreMiwa Aoki Takeuchi, Associate Professor, Learning Sciences, University of CalgaryLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2030802023-06-22T11:55:18Z2023-06-22T11:55:18Z‘We need to be acknowledged’: how Caribbean elders navigate belonging in the UK<p>We all belong somewhere. And wherever we are, people either see us as belonging, or they don’t. In the UK, this has been made only too clear in the last decade by the government’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/hostile-environment-the-uk-governments-draconian-immigration-policy-explained-95460">anti-migration policy</a>, known as the <a href="https://mappingimmigrationcontroversy.com/findings/">hostile environment</a>, instituted when Theresa May was Home Secretary between 2010 and 2016. </p>
<p>This <a href="https://mappingimmigrationcontroversy.com/findings/">controversial government stance</a> is underpinned by overt racism and hostility. It triggered the Windrush scandal, which, from 2017, saw people of retirement age – many of whom had lived as British people in the UK since early childhood – denied citizenship and residency rights, and the attendant healthcare, housing and wider social support. </p>
<p>The scandal is emblematic of what many Caribbean elders have faced throughout their lives in the UK – the discrimination and poor outcomes they have experienced in terms of employment, criminal justice, housing, education, health and social welfare. The question “Where are you from?”, an all-too-familiar and enduring trope, encapsulates a narrative of non-belonging.</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528239/original/file-20230525-19-6vicuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><em>This article is part of our <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/windrush-75-139220?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=Windrush75&utm_content=InArticleTop">Windrush 75 series</a>, which marks the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush arriving in Britain. The stories in this series explore the history and impact of the hundreds of passengers who disembarked to help rebuild after the second world war.</em></p>
<hr>
<h2>Spending time together</h2>
<p>We derive <a href="https://sk.sagepub.com/books/globalization-and-belonging">our sense of belonging</a> from being recognised and accepted as being connected with – rightly placed in – a specific <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/a41364">environment</a>. Irrespective of dominant narratives to the contrary, people and communities in Britain have always found ways to foster connection and belonging.</p>
<p>For the last decade I have explored ideas of place-making and community-based knowledge through studies with older people of Caribbean descent in Britain. I have captured the ways they have found to belong in a place in which many have lived for decades, and in which they will die. I have found that, in migrant and diasporic communities, in particular, belonging is fostered in what sociologists term the “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/1467-954X.12432">microsocial</a>”: the everyday practices and rituals, as well as in the spaces people claim for themselves. </p>
<p>For older church-going women who arrived in the UK during the Windrush era, <a href="https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/235683/The_Voices_of_African_Caribbean_and_Bla.pdf">luncheon clubs</a> often played an important role in their lives. As Mrs Faith, a woman in her early 70s, told me during an interview in 2011:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We used to meet regularly, and it was nice … we had lunch, usually had a guest speaker and then just spent time with each other. It’s how we take care of each other – and, where we come from, taking care of each other is what we had to do.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For her, the club not only created bonds between members but was also a caring, diasporic space. Participants came to find a sense of kinship and connection in shared values and “ways of knowing”, drawn from their countries of birth. </p>
<p><a href="https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/publications/representing-a-sense-of-place-for-social-and-health-related-polic">Domino clubs</a> elicited similar sentiments. One that I visited was established over 30 years ago. Members meet twice a week to play dominoes. They also take part in the annual tournament with five or six other small clubs from around the country. One 71-year-old member said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It’s time for us … we take over here … some people come to play dominoes and are serious about it; others come to have a laugh and a talk … to make sure we are all right. That’s what it all about. We can relax, talk about old times and back home … and check on each other.</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Ladies are seated in a row." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=421&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=421&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=421&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=529&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=529&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528574/original/file-20230526-27-m9kgkc.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=529&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The African-Caribbean Elder Sisters in Cardiff take part in a workshop.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Roiyah Saltus</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Carving out one’s own space</h2>
<p>Togetherness is not the only route to belonging. <a href="https://twilightleisure.wordpress.com/2021/02/08/on-land-life-and-be-longing-mr-bridgeman/">In another study</a>, I looked at the leisure activities of Caribbean people over 85 years of age. One man I spoke to, Mr Bridgeman, was born on a small holding in Barbados 90 years ago. He remains connected to the land – albeit land meted out by his local council in the UK – through an allotment, to which he has tended, daily, for nearly half a century. </p>
<p>When I checked on Mr Bridgeman during the pandemic he was continuing with his daily routine, drawing on the old ways. His allotment remained his refuge, a place in which to grow vegetables like he did as a boy – and, importantly, to just “be”. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Two old men embrace." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=511&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=511&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528611/original/file-20230526-15-qomsmx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=511&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">‘We can relax, talk about back home and check on each other.’</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Roiyah Saltus</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I have found that these elders very seldom rage against injustice. There has been, in the main, a quiet resistance to generational hostility and to being made to feel like they did not belong. </p>
<p>The strongest response I have received was from a Mrs Jeffers who, in answer to a question on the importance of conducting research rooted in the lives of her generation, said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Older people from the Caribbean need to be asked. We have played a valuable role in the development of British society and our views and experiences should be sought; we need to be acknowledged, respected and accepted.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The pandemic has <a href="https://twilightleisure.wordpress.com/2020/05/23/one-making-connections-with-the-old-ways-in-the-time-of-covid-19/">taken its toll</a>. Of the many spaces frequented by the Caribbean elders with whom I have spent the last decade, the luncheon club no longer exists, the domino club has lost significant members and Mr Bridgeman cannot get to his allotment as often as he once did. </p>
<p>Sociologists including the US writer <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Feminist-Theory-From-Margin-to-Center/hooks/p/book/9781138821668">bell hooks</a> have called for the need for “<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/26758837?seq=2">epistemic levelling</a>”. The idea is that in order for social policy and service delivery to be effective, it needs to be grounded not in the theoretical but in the parochial – in the knowledge that emerges from people’s everyday lives. This is especially the case for racialised communities, whose own knowledge production is so often ignored.</p>
<p>Many of the elders I have worked with are nearing the final chapters of their lives in the UK. Understanding both the strategies they have put in place to carve out their own spaces and sense of connectivity, and the very real fears they have too, remains pressing. We need to amplify their voices, and pay attention to what they have to say.</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=144&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=144&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=144&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=181&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=181&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533175/original/file-20230621-18-hw1fuf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=181&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>You can <em><a href="https://bit.ly/43SBm9d">download the e-book here</a></em>. Thank you for your interest.</p>
<hr><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203080/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Roiyah Saltus is a Professor of Sociology at the University of South Wales). Her studies referred to in this article were funded by the Welsh Government, AHRC, and by the George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling (University of South Wales)</span></em></p>People’s sense of belonging is fostered in everyday social practices and in the spaces they claim for themselves. Our elders need be acknowledged, respected and accepted.Roiyah Saltus, Professor of Sociology, University of South WalesLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2062202023-05-30T13:56:08Z2023-05-30T13:56:08ZFour dangers lurking in your garden – and how to protect yourself<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529077/original/file-20230530-29-d5un5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C8%2C5487%2C3638&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The soil you use for your roses may contain something sinister.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/woman-gardener-transplanting-red-roses-flowers-1675428565">Mariia Boiko/ Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Many people see gardening as a relaxing pastime – an easygoing way to spend hours outdoors when the weather’s nice. But as a consultant in emergency medicine, I deal with all manner of medical emergencies and injuries arising from what may appear to be a harmless hobby.</p>
<p>Over the years, I have seen hand wounds from cutting implements and foot wounds from lawn mowers and garden forks. In recent weeks, I have seen falls from ladders, head wounds from falls on concrete – and, sadly, confirmed the death of a person in their later years whose enthusiastic shovelling proved too much. </p>
<p>Even in times past, the garden could be quite the health hazard. One of the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/science-blog/penicillin-oxford-story">first patients</a> to be treated with penicillin was a police officer who had apparently contracted sepsis after a scratch from a rose thorn. In those days, the most minor of wounds could have the deadliest of consequences – and it turns out this can still happen, with a UK woman recently dying from sepsis after <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/03/solicitor-dies-from-sepsis-five-days-after-injuring-her-hand-gar/">scratching her hand while gardening</a>. </p>
<p>But these aren’t the only dangers lurking in your garden. Here are just a few things to look out for before you next head out to tend your plants:</p>
<h2>1. Tetanus</h2>
<p>Tetanus is a particularly nasty disease. The muscles go into spasm due to the effects of the toxin from the bacteria, <em>Clostridium tetani</em>. The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459217/#:%7E:text=The%20clinical%20features%20of%20tetanus,that%20may%20cause%20respiratory%20distress">suffering</a> is almost indescribable, causing painful muscle spasms and a locked jaw. </p>
<p>Many associate tetanus with objects such as rusty nails. But this surprisingly common organism is also <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/causes-transmission.html#:%7E:text=Tetanus%20is%20an%20infection%20caused,spread%20from%20person%20to%20person.">found in the soil</a>, particularly if manured, because <em>clostidia</em> are found in the gut. Roses like soil with manure, so this could turn these beloved flowers deadly if you get cut by contaminated thorns or if the soil gets into a cut. </p>
<p>Luckily, I have yet to see any cases in the emergency room because the UK immunises against tetanus. And I never want to see a case, because of how nasty it is. The case fatality rate can exceed 50% in people who aren’t immunised. This is why it’s important to check that your tetanus jab is up to date.</p>
<h2>2. Bacteria and fungi</h2>
<p>Lurking in a humble bag of compost is an ingredient many of us wouldn’t expect: <em>Legionella</em>.</p>
<p>This bacteria can cause an infection called <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legionnaires-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis">Legionnaires’ disease</a> which is particularly harmful for the elderly and people with a compromised immune system. It can lead to a nasty and often fatal pneumonia when inhaled. Warm, stagnant water involved in the composting process may account for its presence. </p>
<p>It isn’t only pre-packaged compost that’s hazardous. Your own compost heap is also be filled with various bacteria and fungi, which, if properly maintained, should cause you no trouble. But often the mould <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-022-01091-2?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PHSS_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID100060515&CJEVENT=2b6b1daafeca11ed826d8a170a18b8fb#change-history">Aspergillus</a></em> can grow when it’s hot outside. This can give rise to some <a href="https://thorax.bmj.com/content/70/3/270">nasty lung lesions</a> and may even become more widespread in the body – especially in the elderly and immunosuppressed and can be fatal.</p>
<p>Mould spores can also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7719883/">trigger allergies</a> in some people, a condition known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis or “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557580/">farmer’s lung</a>”. This condition was classically due to exposure to mouldy hay, but compost heaps can also do the same because of the presence of organisms such as <em>Aspergillus</em> and the bacteria <em>Actinomycetes</em>.</p>
<h2>3. Leptospirosis</h2>
<p><em>Leptospira</em> is a bacterium that may be found in water contaminated with rat urine. With rats often building habitats near humans, it might be best to take care near the pond or rainwater barrels when gardening. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A rat in a garden looking at a wooden fence." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529078/original/file-20230530-23-iaic5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Beware if you have rats in your garden.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/rat-garden-1842737110">battybattrick/ Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><em>Leptospira</em> can cause leptospirosis, a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/symptoms/index.html">rather unpleasant infection</a> that causes headaches, fevers, chills, vomiting, jaundice and then later, liver failure, kidney failure and meninigitis. </p>
<h2>4. Power tools</h2>
<p>While power tools can make our work easier in the garden, they can also make it much easier to injure ourselves, too. Hedge trimmers may be a great way to tame trees and bushes, but they can also amputate digits and <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9441081/Tragedy-man-dies-injuring-hedge-trimmer-Sydneys-leafy-northern-suburbs.html">inflict wounds</a> very efficiently. Be sure to wait until the hedge trimmer is fully turned off before clearing any branches you’ve removed. </p>
<p>Hedge trimmers and lawn mowers can also easily cut through electric cables, which can lead to electrocution. Power tools can also be <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/wife-killed-in-chainsaw-accident-7081566.html">disastrous</a> if you fall while up a ladder and if you have <a href="https://news.stv.tv/east-central/death-of-man-electrocuted-by-hedge-trimmer-could-have-been-prevented">power lines crossing your garden</a>, then please avoid them.</p>
<h2>Stay safe</h2>
<p>While these hidden dangers are certainly a risk, luckily there are many simple things you can do to avoid harm from them, including: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Cleaning and covering wounds while gardening.</p></li>
<li><p>Make sure your <a href="https://www.rose.org/single-post/2018/04/27/tetanus-some-things-you-should-know">immunisations</a> are up to date (especially for tetanus). </p></li>
<li><p>Keeping <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/health-and-wellbeing/minimising-health-risks-in-the-garden">compost bags</a> away from your face when you open them.</p></li>
<li><p>Deter rats by not putting cooked food on <a href="https://www.growveg.com/guides/how-to-keep-rats-out-of-your-compost/#:%7E:text=Rats%20don't%20like%20disturbance,and%20fats%20to%20the%20bin.">compost heaps</a>, <a href="https://www.ciphe.org.uk/public/plumbing-health-hazards/gardens/">covering water butts</a> and setting up traps if you have an infestation.</p></li>
<li><p>Set up ladders firmly on even ground away from power lines.</p></li>
<li><p>Enjoy having wildlife but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/07/man-bitten-three-times-adder">leave it alone</a> (snakes can be just as much a danger as rats).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And one last piece of advice from me. Every year the burns unit at my hospital sees a number of people who have tried to speed up the process of lighting their barbecue or bonfire by <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/dad-suffers-horrific-burns-after-21844521">using petrol</a>. Not all survive. So if you are planning to cook the fruits of your labours on a barbecue in your garden, make sure you don’t use inflammable liquids to get the flame started, and have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.</p>
<p>Gardening is a rewarding hobby that has many health benefits. Just be sure to take sensible precautions.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206220/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Stephen Hughes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Gardening is often seen as a relaxing, harmless pasttime – but that isn’t always the case.Stephen Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Medicine, Anglia Ruskin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2057202023-05-18T14:37:02Z2023-05-18T14:37:02ZDecolonize your garden: This long weekend, dig into the complicated roots of gardening — Listen<p>The May long weekend is the unofficial start of summer. And for those of you with home gardens or access to community space, this is the weekend to dust off your gardening tools and visit the garden centre for the growing season ahead.</p>
<p>As we approach the start of gardening season, it’s good time to ask some questions about its origins.</p>
<p>Whether you plan to get marigolds, plant a vegetable garden or create a pollinator patch — all gardens have complicated roots. </p>
<p>In fact, the practice of gardening is <a href="https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/the-coloniality-of-planting">deeply tied to colonialism</a> — from the <a href="https://www.noemamag.com/the-long-shadow-of-colonial-science">formation of botany as a science</a>, to the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01865-1">spread of seeds, species and knowledge.</a> </p>
<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/92c92d2a-9628-4da6-9b3f-8bf5ec67d7cf?dark=true"></iframe>
<p><em><a href="https://dont-call-me-resilient.simplecast.com/episodes/decolonize-your-garden-this-long-weekend-visit-the-complicated-roots-of-gardening-listen">In this episode of Don’t Call Me Resilient</a>, we explore the complicated roots of the garden, including who gets to garden. We also discuss practical tips about what to plant with an eye to Indigenous knowledge. We speak with researcher Jacqueline L. Scott and also chat with community activist, Carolynne Crawley, who leads workshops that integrate Indigenous teachings into practice.</em></p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=826&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=826&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=826&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1039&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1039&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526840/original/file-20230517-5572-g2q2yt.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1039&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Watercolor illustration of Tulipa sylvestris in I Cinque libri di piante.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Pietro Antonio Michiel, Venice ca. 1550–1576, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Coveted tulips</h2>
<p>Some of the most recognizable plants today, such as <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/there-never-was-real-tulip-fever-180964915/">tulips</a>, are the result of early colonial conquests. Originally found growing wild in the valleys where current China and Tibet meet Afghanistan and Russia, tulips were first cultivated in Istanbul as early as 1055. </p>
<p>Later, after they were hybridized and commodified by the Dutch, they became highly coveted status symbols because of their gorgeous, but fleeting, blooms. </p>
<p>Exploratory botanical voyages by colonial European powers were integral to the expansion of empire. These trips fueled the big business of collecting global plant samples and also led to the emergence of botany as a scientific discipline. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=585&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=585&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526841/original/file-20230517-21-yooz26.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=585&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">227 figures of plant anatomical segments with descriptive text. Botany. Plant anatomy. Plant morphology. Plants. Roots (Botany). Roots (Botany) – Morphology. Roots (Botany) – Anatomy. Rootstocks. Tubers. Leaves. Leaves – Morphology. Flowers – Morphology. Flowers. Fruit – Morphology. Bulbs (Plant anatomy). Plants – Variation. Botany – France. Stems (Botany).</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Botanical gardens served as labs</h2>
<p>Botanical gardens played a key role, serving as the laboratories where plant specimens were organized, ordered and named. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100196">“Scientific objectivity”</a> asserted a Eurocentric point of view, disrupting and displacing Indigenous Knowledge and ecological practices. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=481&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=481&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526842/original/file-20230517-12607-80m0ex.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=481&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A 1913 illustrated depiction of African American people picking cotton.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CottonpickHoustonWhere17.png">Jerome H. Farbar: 'Houston: Where Seventeen Railroads Meet the Sea.' Page 31/40, 'Cotton Pickers'</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The movement and transfer of plants around the world went hand in hand with the transportation of people to provide a labour force, through slavery and indentured servitude. </p>
<p>The plantation system cleared out local ecosystems and replaced traditional farming methods with growing cash crops — like <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/sugar-slave-trade-slavery.html">sugar-cane</a>, <a href="https://thecorrespondent.com/222/the-history-of-tea-is-darker-than-a-builders-brew">tea</a> and <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/8/16/20806069/slavery-economy-capitalism-violence-cotton-edward-baptist">cotton.</a> These were products meant for European curiosities, markets and profit and not for the local populations.</p>
<h2>Plant and racial hierarchies</h2>
<p>This colonial system of <a href="https://open.oregonstate.education/cultivatedplants/chapter/colonialagriculture/">organizing agriculture</a> laid the groundwork for <a href="https://www.sapiens.org/biology/race-scientific-taxonomy/">categorizing people</a> in a similar way, establishing a social hierarchy which dehumanized non-Europeans, helping justify slavery and Indigenous genocide, and eventually leading to racial categories.</p>
<p>This history has shaped our current relationships to the land, and our gardens. It also informs beliefs about land ownership and access; who has a right to enjoy the land, versus who is expected to be working on it. Who has the literal and figurative space and freedom to garden?</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=547&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=547&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526848/original/file-20230517-13420-luw1sy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=547&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">On the left is a lawn (Stephen Cobb/Unsplash) and on the right is a native plant garden in Streeterville, Chicago (Shutterstock).</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Shifting attitudes</h2>
<p>But the soil is shifting. There is a growing shift away from <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-is-it-time-to-decolonize-your-lawn/">the colonial status symbol of the lawn</a> and <a href="https://chatelaine.com/living/quiet-quitting-garden/">manicured gardens</a>, in favour of <a href="https://broadview.org/lorraine-johnson-interview/">pollinator-friendly</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/13/realestate/why-some-of-your-annuals-should-be-native-plants.html">native plants</a>. </p>
<p>There is also a growing understanding that <a href="https://broadview.org/grandfather-teachings-gardening/">centuries-old Indigenous land-based knowledge</a> and practices — like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/21/wildfire-prescribed-burns-california-native-americans">controlled burns</a> — can help manage wildfires, and foster a more resilient landscape.</p>
<p>With concerns about our climate crisis growing, one of the possible avenues for <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-urban-gardens-can-boost-biodiversity-and-make-cities-more-sustainable-162810">creating more sustainable cities may very well lie in our gardens</a>.</p>
<p>Could we have an impact simply by thinking a little differently about the seeds we sow and the “weeds” we pull?</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=993&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=993&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=993&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1248&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1248&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526851/original/file-20230517-10717-ww5ofa.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1248&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Monarch butterfly on purple coneflowers.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jeffrey Hamilton/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Listen and Follow</h2>
<p>You can listen to or follow <em>Don’t Call Me Resilient</em> on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dont-call-me-resilient/id1549798876">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9qZFg0Ql9DOA">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/37tK4zmjWvq2Sh6jLIpzp7">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://dont-call-me-resilient.simplecast.com">wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts</a>. </p>
<p><a href="mailto:DCMR@theconversation.com">We’d love to hear from you</a>, including any ideas for future episodes. Join The Conversation on <a href="https://twitter.com/ConversationCA">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationCanada">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theconversationdotcom/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@theconversation">TikTok</a> and use #DontCallMeResilient.</p>
<h2>Resources</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/01/29/news/tiffany-traverse-rare-indigenous-seed-project">Tiffany Traverse on seeds and their endless power to give, heal and grow</a> - <em>Canada’s National Observer</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/the-coloniality-of-planting">The coloniality of planting: legacies of racism and slavery in the practice of botany</a> - <em>The Architectural Review</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.noemamag.com/the-long-shadow-of-colonial-science/">The Long Shadow Of Colonial Science</a> - <em>Noema Magazine</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-is-it-time-to-decolonize-your-lawn/">Is it time to decolonize your lawn?</a> - <em>Globe and Mail</em></p>
<p><a href="https://turtleprotectors.com">Turtle Protectors</a> in Toronto’s High Park</p>
<p><a href="https://gardeningoutloud.substack.com/p/guest-episode-1-spring-joy-with-ateqah">Spring joy with Ateqah Khaki</a> - <em>Gardening Out Loud</em></p>
<h2>From the archives - in The Conversation</h2>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-colonial-past-of-botanical-gardens-can-be-put-to-good-use-104786">How the colonial past of botanical gardens can be put to good use</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/director-of-science-at-kew-its-time-to-decolonise-botanical-collections-141070">Director of science at Kew: it's time to decolonise botanical collections</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/a-shortage-of-native-seeds-is-slowing-land-restoration-across-the-us-which-is-crucial-for-tackling-climate-change-and-extinctions-199049">A shortage of native seeds is slowing land restoration across the US, which is crucial for tackling climate change and extinctions</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/526355/original/file-20230515-24343-lszaxe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">An aerial view of small green seedlings in pots.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Markus Spiske PG/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205720/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
As we approach the start of gardening season, it’s a good time to ask some questions about what to plant and who gets to plant.Vinita Srivastava, Host + Producer, Don't Call Me ResilientAteqah Khaki, Associate Producer, Don't Call Me ResilientLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2031532023-05-04T20:04:12Z2023-05-04T20:04:12ZFriday essay: peyotes in suburbia – the secret world of Sydney’s psychoactive cacti growers<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523571/original/file-20230501-22-j5x0c8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=43%2C76%2C3598%2C3560&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Before I met the cactus expert, I didn’t even know psychoactive gardens existed. Of course I wanted to see one. </p>
<p>So on a cool, rainy day in February 2022, I drove west to the foot of the Blue Mountains to visit Liam Engel. It took longer than I thought. There is something about Emu Plains at Penrith that is more relaxed than the inner city. Maybe it’s the bigger expanse of sky or the wider street verges. The earth smells good and you get the taste for a more rural life.</p>
<p>Liam works with Entheogenesis Australia an educational <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnobotany">entheobotanical</a> and psychedelic non-profit. He has spent time in Mexico and South America learning about cactus culture and has a large collection himself, with an even larger propagating garden.</p>
<p>Entheogenesis Australia is the heart of a community where like-minded, research oriented, plant people gather and contribute to education about, and communication of, plant information. The team are working on a book about common Australian psilocybin mushrooms. At the moment, Liam particularly wants to find <em>Pelecyphora aselliformis</em> seeds. </p>
<p>These seeds grow what some people might call a “false peyote” – a plant that looks similar to and grows in similar habitats to peyote and might be used as a peyote substitute due to its mescaline content. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=368&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=462&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=462&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524279/original/file-20230504-16-m5k4fd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=462&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Liam Engel, founder of the Mescaline Garden.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Liam’s garden at Emu Plains is abundantly full of <a href="https://cactusculture.com.au/shop/p/san-pedro-trichocereus-pachanoi">san pedros</a> (large cacti, with thick stems), peyotes and false peyotes (but not <em>Pelecyphora aselliformis</em>). It teems with innumerable seed-grown, cloned and grafted plants. The back yard has a pool surrounded by more san pedros. Liam tells me the conditions are perfect for cactus in western Sydney as the temperature often gets up in the high 40s. </p>
<p>I love the native <em>Callistemon brachyandrus</em> in Liam’s front yard because he has trimmed back all the branches and on some he has nailed round wood pieces and placed cactus on these little stands. The result is a cactus candelabra.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519440/original/file-20230404-20-ceruea.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A backyard brimming with san pedros.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As I follow Liam around his property, I begin to understand that while he presents as a laid-back person with street cred, he also has an extremely sharp eye, and a keen intelligence. He is one of those people whose expertise, experience and knowledge creeps up on you. Liam has committed a lot of time and passion to being a crusader for safe and informed cactus care and consumption.</p>
<p>He is also a gardener. “This is nothing,” Liam says, as I gaze at all his garden beds and propagation trays. “Wait until you see the psychoactive gardens I’m about to take you to.”</p>
<p>I have to admit I am extremely excited to see the next two gardens, but I know I can’t share their locations or the names of the owners. Soon enough, we drive for about 20 minutes to meet Liam’s first friend. Let’s call him Graham (not his real name).</p>
<h2>An atmosphere of other-worldliness</h2>
<p>Graham has a large backyard with a shed and a greenhouse. He has a forest of san pedros, including what he tells me is called a TBM (<em>Trichocereus bridgesii monstrose</em>), otherwise called the “penis plant” or <em>frauenglück</em>, meaning “woman’s luck” or “happy woman” in German. The origin of this clone is unknown but it has spread throughout the world and I am told it is known for being “good food” and having potent mescaline content. </p>
<p>Mescaline produces altered awareness, a different sense of time passing, and changes to visual experiences. Sometimes perceptual experiences become enhanced, even euphoric. Some people I’ve spoken to have had bad reactions such as headaches and dizziness.</p>
<p>Today is a meet-the-mescaline-plants day. Clouds start to cover the garden and a few spots of rain fall. I want to photograph all the cacti. I ask Graham why he started his garden. His answer: “To eat it all.”</p>
<p>He first ate a cactus back in 2014. He had a few dud experiences, both brewing and eating it, but learned to choose the right plants and has grown his own ever since.</p>
<p>This is an understatement. His garden has hundreds and hundreds of plants. All in neat rows, some raised up in garden beds. Some eight to nine years old. Many in neat pots that have been grafted or cloned. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519218/original/file-20230404-26-6obvvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Hundreds and hundreds of plants.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I can tell Graham doesn’t trust me. I don’t really blame him. I don’t look like part of the trusted psychoactive community because I’m not. I look privileged, middle-aged, white, a woman. So it’s not surprising that he is a little wary, but he offers me a wine.</p>
<p>I decline the wine as I have to drive home for my daughter round 6pm. But I feel really grateful to be in Graham’s garden, even if he keeps casting me sidelong glances. On the one hand, it is like every suburban garden in Australia with mown open lawns (in between the cacti beds), a squeaking metal gate and a redbrick house. On the other hand, it also has a subtle energy. Whatever it is, there is an atmosphere of other-worldliness. It’s almost as if the culture of another country has been plonked into a suburban Sydney location. An odd schism of sorts.</p>
<p>While Liam and Graham disappear into a shed and speak in hushed tones as they inspect something within, I wander into the greenhouse on the other side of the garden, which is full to the brim with san pedro with peyotes grafted on top. Peyote are tiny little button cacti that look like pin cushions.</p>
<p>When they come back, I ask Liam and Graham about these double plants. They explain the peyotes are very slow growing and so being grafted onto cactus makes their growth rate increase. Plus they look very cool. Graham’s greenhouse is in excellent order. Everything is neat and tidy, like the lawn and beds outside.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523574/original/file-20230501-24-hmu9o0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Peyote: tiny little button cacti that look like pin cushions.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But Graham is a curious individual who says he wants “to try loads of different cacti” and “to brew them all up and see what they are all like”. </p>
<p>Liam tells me that Graham is, “well known and respected for being the terscheckii connoisseur because only [Graham] and Peruvian Indigenous people can be bothered to eat that one.”<em><a href="http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/8746/Trichocereus_terscheckii">Trichocereus terscheckii</a></em> is known to have mescaline – the active hallucinogenic ingredient for psychoactive experience – but is a much bigger and more difficult cactus to eat or brew than san pedro. </p>
<p>Graham cuts out the dark layer of green under the skin, avoiding prickles, and makes a cacti soup.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/when-did-humans-start-experimenting-with-alcohol-and-drugs-161556">When did humans start experimenting with alcohol and drugs?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519219/original/file-20230404-26-nq3k5f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">San Pedro cactus.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The greenhouse is full of variegated cactus and it is brimming with propagated plants in pots. There are bags of soil and stone and fertiliser and the air is cool and dry. There are plants from habitat (cuttings, not seed) and there is stuff from the Chacun Chacun tribe of Vilcabumba. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.tierrasvivas.com/en/travel-blog/vilcabamba">Vilcabumba</a> is known as the lost city of the Incas in Peru, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Even though we are in Sydney and even though Liam and Graham are not Indigenous people, there is still a strong sense, in this garden, of an older culture, an older place. Much of what makes up the garden has been brought from overseas and sent by express post.</p>
<p>“Don’t the drug dogs sniff it out at customs?” I ask.</p>
<p>“Border police are looking for drugs, not plants. You order ten and one might get through,” explains Graham. “But some of these are old and from Bendigo.”</p>
<p>Bendigo! I marvel that the Victorian city of Bendigo was a source of mother cacti, purebreeds.</p>
<p>Graham explains, </p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Bendigo garden is heritage now. Yeah, the owner was a cactus gardener, he got too old, he was a cactus import station back in the day, when it was legal. And they made it heritage, so it’s heritage now. In the 1930s, they sent a bunch of people down to South America to collect habitat pieces of cactus, but not long after that it became illegal and you couldn’t get anything imported into Australia by Australian law.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Liam explains that his favourite cactus, the san pedro, is considered to be a weed because it grows in great quantities, whereas peyote is more rare and very slow growing.</p>
<p>Graham breeds his plants, too: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Yeah, they’ve got stigma, male and female, you get the pollen and put it on the stigma and yeah, that’s hybridisation. And you bag the flowers so the other pollen doesn’t get into there. Yeah, you get babies in between two plants. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. But the grafted plants, they are not so good for consuming.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Liam and Graham discuss which plants are psycholeptic (having a calming effect) while I busy myself taking photos and absorbing all the different specimens and species, shapes and combinations. I feel like I need to give the young people space to catch up. But soon enough Liam is bustling both of us out of Graham’s backyard and through his side gate back to the cars. “Quick, we’re late to visit the next garden,” he says.</p>
<p>Before we leave, Graham pulls out some succulent cuttings from a pot near the gate and gives them to me. Maybe he is not so wary of me, after all.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523572/original/file-20230501-20-8re5rg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Closeup shot of young san pedro cactus growing on old stems.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-real-promise-of-lsd-mdma-and-mushrooms-for-medical-science-100579">The real promise of LSD, MDMA and mushrooms for medical science</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>The oldest psychoactive garden</h2>
<p>Graham and Liam and I drive for another half hour through the suburbs of western Sydney. This time, eastwards. I suppose it might be time to wonder why I’m doing this.</p>
<p>Why am I roaming around the suburbs of Sydney seeking out gardens of psychoactive plants?</p>
<p>My plant project so far has been to respond to the collection at the <a href="https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/science/national-herbarium-of-new-south-wales">Sydney Herbarium</a>. That involved our team commissioning poets, filmmakers and artists to respond to plant specimens and to test out the strengths and weaknesses of such collecting institutions. We partnered with the herbarium and also with Bundanon, the old homestead of artist Arthur Boyd, south of Sydney. Bundanon has an exciting remit of environmental art and care. My overall research questions, shared with Bundanon, are about why plants are so important, and why colonial knowledge has left out a chunk of First Nations cultures, and why plant people are so interesting.</p>
<p>It is this last point that is driving me right now. Plant people are special. I had mentioned this to the curator down at Bundanon on one of our zoom calls, and she cried, “Yes of course they are more interesting!” </p>
<p>So I am not alone in my thinking. Plant people are different from mainstream people. This may be because some microdose or imbibe plants for an hallucinogenic experience and know things that others may not. Or maybe it’s because they spend so much time caring for plants. Either way, this is the position I have put myself in. That’s that.</p>
<p>So it’s drizzling with rain as we travel to this final garden but the weather is lovely and cool. I wonder what the cacti make of all the recent wet heat. We can refer to the owner of the next garden as James (not his real name) to protect his identity and also his garden, which is hugely valuable in terms of variety, quantity and dollars. </p>
<p>So we arrive at garden number three. Again, we have turned up at a lovely suburban house. The front gate has been left ajar, for us I guess, and halfway up the driveway an alarm goes off. I notice a sensor to the right and realise this is some serious security. With good reason, I soon find out. I hope there are no guard dogs and fall in behind Liam and Graham, just in case. If a chunk of flesh is going to be bitten, I’d rather it wasn’t mine. But there are no dogs.</p>
<p>A tall man wearing a baseball cap ambles towards us. He has a cactus shirt (so does Liam, by the way) and a gentle demeanour. This is James. First we move into the heart of the large garden, and pause, naturally gazing up towards a towering tree. Well, it’s not a tree. It’s a vine that has completely engulfed a tree. A tree and a vine as one!</p>
<p>It’s <a href="https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/ayahuasca/">ayahuasca</a>, a vine that is growing on a large pine. It’s enormous, two storeys high, and its healthy leaves are fluttering brightly in the rainy light of the late afternoon. It is beautiful as it rises up behind the house. This grand ayahuasca vine is probably near-strangling the pine. The four of us stare up at it in silence. I’m amazed at its excellent condition.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/ayahuasca-just-how-safe-is-this-psychoactive-brew-194475">Ayahuasca: just how safe is this psychoactive brew?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>James murmurs, </p>
<blockquote>
<p>I secretly brought a piece of the ayahuasca plant back in my suitcase back in 1993, after visiting Peru. I stayed with a shaman. We slept on dirt and there was no power except batteries for a few hours per day, no electricity. But that guy [he gestures to vine] came back with me in my bag. I was young and silly.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>James lifts up the skirt of the vine to show me the tangle of roots beneath. “Ayahuasca means divine,” he says.</p>
<p>His shaman taught him that the best way to prepare ayahuasca was to cut a length of vine that was the same diameter as the recipient’s thumb and then same length as their height. Different tribes do it differently, but that’s how he was taught. And that vine was mixed with five to ten <em>Psychotria viridis</em> leaves, which have the DMT alkaloid and look a little bit like a marijuana plant.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519216/original/file-20230404-28-gdtkan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The psychotria viridis plant is in this greenhouse.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>James shows me a few pots of psychotria he has growing at the back of a small greenhouse. The plants are maybe 60 centimetres high. Apparently these are psychotria hybrids designed to cope with Australian conditions. James had brought leaves of these plants back from South America in his toothpaste container.</p>
<p>Liam, Graham and James start talking about the inbreeding and inappropriate naming of varieties of cactus in Australia. They seem particularly dissatisfied with a plant named “hope”. </p>
<p>I start to look at all James’ cacti. Huge old blue ones. Most of his collection is seed grown. He tells me that the v-marks on the cactus show their age. One “v” is one season of growth. Like the rings of a tree trunk. The gardeners start talking about a large cactus nursery called Hamilton’s and how they used to have the oldest and best cactus and peyote but someone tipped them off and plants were stolen.</p>
<p>We move to another part of the garden to see the large greenhouses and stop to talk to James’ mother. She is sitting in front of a round prickly cactus in a pot. The mound of cactus is three times the size of one I have at home. With gloves on, she is using huge tweezers to pull out weeds. James’ mother is 84 and has her hair pulled back in a complex bun.</p>
<p>She smiles and seems happy to meet her son’s friends. I wonder if she knows how immersed her son is in the psychoactive plant world. Does she approve, turn a blind eye, not really care?</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/519441/original/file-20230404-28-uzlbrn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">An intense, widespread garden.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This garden is intense and widespread and must be worth an absolute motza. But James starts to tell me a story that is incredibly important for people who use plant-based drugs.</p>
<p>A story that really makes you wonder about the human brain and how connected or disconnected or reconnected humans are, or could be, with plants. We are standing in his greenhouse, which has state of the art exhaust fans and temperature and humidity gauges and dehumidifiers. James explains that about three or four years ago, </p>
<blockquote>
<p>I had an aneurism. One day I was at work and thought ‘Something is wrong here.’ And then my gums were so sore, I had tears coming out of my eyes. And everyone is telling me, ‘Man, you don’t look good. Like, something is wrong. You’re really white and you’ve lost a shit ton of weight’. Because I used to be 100 kilos. <br></p>
<p>Anyhow, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m not feeling well. I’ll go home.’ So before I went to go home, I fainted. So I wake up and they said, ‘Oh yeah man, go home’ … Mind you, before this, I knew something was wrong so I went to tell the doctors. And they gave me an MRI. But they didn’t see anything.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>James went to three doctors. One said it was chickenpox. Another said it was measles. Basically he took himself to hospital twice, to no avail, and kept being sent home. Finally he went back to hospital and had a second MRI and at last the doctors could see the aneurism and operated, leaving him to recover for six months.</p>
<p>What is so interesting about this story is why James didn’t die. Few people survive a brain bleed, and James’s was six millimetres by nine millimetres and lasted three days. One doctor believes part of the reason is that James is ambidextrous. The second reason is that they discovered what James had been doing for the three days of brain bleeding, which was agonising and caused intense vomiting and sickness.</p>
<p>He had been consuming constant amounts of mushrooms and cactus and cannabis. Nonstop. He tells us that one of his doctors believed this slowed down the brain and probably slowed the bleed and probably delayed death until they worked out what was wrong. Of course, this makes me wonder if the magic mushroom, cannabis and cactus caused the bleed in the first place. There is a long history of medicine as cure/kill. Too little, and the medicine is not enough to cure. Too much, and the medicine acts as a poison.</p>
<p>Isn’t this the narrative that creates such fear? That we, as consumers, want solutions to our ailments but are wary of the side effects? These issues are true for both approved and unregulated medicines: the impact of certain drugs can’t be understood until a later stage. </p>
<p>Addictive drugs, such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bex_(compound_analgesic)">analgesic Bex</a>, were not understood for years. Bex was a popular drug in the 1950s and 1960s and it wasn’t until 1975 that phenacetin was removed from Bex because it was deemed addictive and could cause kidney cancer. Do these stories strike a chord of terror among mums and dads?</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/five-australian-medical-stories-everyone-should-know-27581">Five Australian medical stories everyone should know</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>The cactus fail</h2>
<p>The thing about taking psychoactive medicines is that there are all kinds of risks, including the risk of failure. What happens when nothing happens? Is this a reflection of the plant – that it deems the human subject unworthy of the experience they are looking for? Perhaps some people take these substances but it’s not meant to be, it’s not their time, the plant decides they are not ready. Or – maybe they dodged a bullet.</p>
<p>I had a friend and her husband over for dinner and was telling them about these amazing secret gardens I had visited and the generous people who owned and cared for them. My friend told me her eldest son had tried to eat a cactus once and had become very sick.</p>
<p>I immediately asked if I could talk to him. They agreed but requested that I use a pseudonym for him – so let’s call him Joe. I rang Joe the next day and asked him about his experience.</p>
<p>He explained that one of his close mates – let’s call him Jason – had been on holiday in South America and, in a Peruvian hostel, had taken san pedro cactus. Jason’s experience was euphoric and amazing. Jason had eaten a forearm’s length of cactus after taking off the skin and eating the green part above the white matter. This all sounded exactly like the process Liam and Graham had explained.</p>
<p>Jason had told Joe that while it was disgusting to eat, after a half hour the experience had kicked in and was completely joyful. So Joe decided to grow some cactus and thought about eating it. He bought one off eBay and grew it for many months. He had bought it as a san pedro and it seemed legitimate. Eventually there came the day that he wanted to take it. </p>
<p>So he de-spined the cactus, cut off a forearm’s length and planned to eat it on a weekend when he was not at work. However, on the Thursday night, he decided to eat a handful of it, just to test the waters. He went to bed and on Friday started to suffer agonising cramps. He had to work but was nauseated and cramped and the pain and exhaustion were insufferable.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523575/original/file-20230501-22-xizo1o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Consuming cactus can lead to agonising cramps.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>By Friday night he called his mother for help and it eventually passed, after much vomiting and pain. I asked if he was disappointed. “Yes, because my friend had such a good experience so it was a bit of a bummer that I had no psychoactive experience.”</p>
<p>I just had one more question for Joe. Why did he want to take cactus in the first place? There are many other substances that are much less hard work. Joe explained that he was attracted to the idea of working straight with nature. He liked the idea of finding a plant and growing it himself, and then sourcing something directly from nature and preparing it himself. He felt an affinity with the idea of the ritual of preparation and cultural history and feeling connected to the thing that provides a different experience – the cactus.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=935&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=935&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=935&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1176&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1176&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524015/original/file-20230503-574-6p3lw4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1176&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Joe is not alone. There is a large and growing interest in psychedelics and the reasons are a drug high, medicine, ritual, curiosity, therapy and a natural experience. A combination of these reasons for taking psychoactive plants is often at play. I am grateful to all these people for sharing their experiences with me. There is a lot of stigma attached to these kinds of activities. Like all negative stereotypes, these attitudes do little more than attract shame and then shameful secrecy. These issues are loaded with politics and the ethics of care.</p>
<p>Ultimately, though, they take us back to the herbarium. Is this information about psychoactive plants included in its data? And if not, should it be? In a way, the herbarium dances around the stigma around psychoactive plants for recreational use. Is that wise? </p>
<p>The herbarium wants to reduce harm and avoid injury, of course, but is there a risk that more harm is caused by a lack of information? The herbarium also doesn’t want to be seen to advocate for these elements of plant–human sociality. Nor do I. But the activity is there. It’s not entirely helpful to pretend it’s not.</p>
<p><em>This is an edited extract from <a href="https://unsw.press/books/the-plant-thieves/">The Plant Thieves: Secrets of Herbarium</a>, published by New South Books.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203153/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Prudence Gibson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>They tend backyards brimming with cactus varieties, consuming the produce. Prudence Gibson meets a hidden group of gardeners and ponders the allure – and – danger of psychoactive plants.Prudence Gibson, Author and Research Fellow, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2036382023-05-01T19:51:16Z2023-05-01T19:51:16ZHow greenwashing can lead us astray in the pursuit of wildlife-friendly gardens<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523462/original/file-20230428-24-z56vto.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=28%2C28%2C3826%2C2444&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The greater the diversity of plant and animal species in a wildlife-friendly garden, the more healthy and resilient it is.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;" allowtransparency="" allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write" src="https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/how-greenwashing-can-lead-us-astray-in-the-pursuit-of-wildlife-friendly-gardens" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
<p>In recent years, declining wildlife populations have motivated people to find ways to protect and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.07.016">conserve the biodiversity</a> in their neighbourhoods. And one such initiative that has gained prominence is <a href="https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/gardening-for-wildlife/">wildlife-friendly gardening</a>. These urban gardens create a variety of habitats and conserve biodiversity.</p>
<p>Gardens on private property can make up considerable portions of the greenspace in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2006.11.009">urban landscapes</a>. And so, when individual gardeners decide to plant certain tree species or retain mature trees, these spaces can help meet wildlife needs in human-dominated areas.</p>
<p>But instead of focusing their limited time, energy and finances in these interventions that deliver effective results, many individual gardeners are falling prey to <a href="https://www.terrascope.com/blog/what-is-greenwashing-why-should-large-enterprises-care#:%7E:text=Greenwashing%20refers%20to%20the%20practice,without%20adequate%20evidence%2Dbacked%20data">greenwashing</a>. Greenwashing describes a practice whereby a product’s environmental benefits are exaggerated or misrepresented.</p>
<p>In my work as an ecologist, I have seen people spending money on products that have relatively smaller environmental benefits compared to alternative (and less costly) interventions.</p>
<h2>Hummingbirds don’t use birdhouses</h2>
<p>Hummingbird houses (also called hummingbird nest boxes or baskets) are small structures that are built from wood or straw. These products have been popping up in gardening catalogues and in the offerings of <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Eeaivnm-Hummingbird-Outdoors-Roosting-Chickadee/dp/B08NPHTW9L/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3P1K7X85UKP5L&keywords=hummingbird+nest&qid=1682940721&sprefix=hummingbird+nest%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-13">online vendors</a>. The concept is simple: hang the structures outdoors, wait patiently, and soon the nest boxes will be occupied by nest-building hummingbirds. </p>
<p>In much of North America, this intervention is targeted toward the <a href="https://www.bobvila.com/articles/hummingbird-nest/">ruby-throated hummingbird</a> — a common garden visitor with the largest geographical distribution of all hummingbirds. During its breeding season, its range extends beyond <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/maps-range">a million square kilometres</a>. </p>
<p>When I was first asked about the usefulness of hummingbird houses, I delved into the literature and found no evidence to suggest that hummingbirds actually <a href="https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-hummingbirds/hummingbird-birdhouse/">use the hummingbird houses</a>. Many organizations working to conserve hummingbirds and other bird species have been trying to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NW.CornellLab/posts/weve-been-seeing-hummingbird-houses-for-sale-lately-and-want-to-send-a-friendly-/10156584877167543/">address this misinformation</a> and redirect gardeners.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A female ruby-throated hummingbird with her young ones in a nest built on a tall tree." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Ruby-throated hummingbirds build nests on tall deciduous tree.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hummingbird nests tend to be very <a href="https://birdwatchingbuzz.com/hummingbird-nests/">hard to locate</a>, typically occurring high in the canopy of deciduous trees. While hummingbird houses are unlikely to have any negative impact, they are unlikely to provide much value to hummingbirds and can be a waste of time, energy and money. </p>
<p>Gardeners must, instead, maintain tree and shrub cover (so hummingbirds have a place to build their nests), and choose plants that <a href="https://hummingbirdscanada.ca/provinces/ontario/plants">produce lots of nectar</a>. If you want to provide a nesting structure for birds, <a href="https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/right-bird-right-house/">build or purchase a larger nest box</a> that will be used by other cavity nesting birds like the eastern bluebird, tree swallows or chickadees.</p>
<h2>Bee hotels are often occupied by wasps</h2>
<p>Of the 3,600 species of bee found in Canada and the United States, <a href="https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/wild-bees">30 per cent are classified as cavity-nesters</a>. These bees create stores of pollen in protected cavities like the hollow ends of twigs or stems that are made by wood-boring insects. </p>
<p>In recent years, bee hotels have become widely available to provide cavity-nesting bees safe places to nest. Bee hotels are constructed from a variety of materials including hollow tubes or pithy stems, where a solitary bee can create her nest. </p>
<p>The idea behind this was that providing solitary bees with a selection of nesting sites would increase the populations of solitary bees (especially native species). </p>
<p>But research paints a more complex picture. A comprehensive study of bee hotels in Toronto found that native bees accounted for less than 25 per cent of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122126">insects using bee hotels</a>. Most of the residents using the “bee hotels” were solitary wasps, which usually form their nests from mud, providing their larvae with insects and spiders to eat.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A collection of different bee hotels showing the variability in design, and negative interactions between" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A. Bee hotel; B. Cartridge-style bee hotels made by bundling wood or plastic cartridges; C. Bee hotel having different nesting tube widths made of cardboard and enclosed in a PVC pipe for protection. D. Ant colony taking over an unmaintained bee hotel. E. An ichneumonid wasp parasitizing a mason bee through a cardboard nesting tube. F. Damage to the faceplate and nesting tubes in a bee hotel by an unknown bird.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122126">(2015 MacIvor, Packer)</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>During the study, the authors found that native bees using the hotels were attacked by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/parasitoid">parasitoids</a> at a rate about three times higher than introduced bee species. A parasitoid is an insect that feeds on tissues of an insect host (in this case, a bee) leading to the eventual death of the host. </p>
<p>The authors of the study found that at their worst, bee hotels might be serving as a way of concentrating bees into high density aggregations where they may be more vulnerable to predation, parasites or pathogens.</p>
<p>Most home gardeners find it difficult to determine whether the bee hotel is working as intended or to determine whether the bees within them are native or non-native. Understanding this before setting up such bee hotels is crucial because the rapid increase in non-native mason bee numbers has been linked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75566-9">the decline of native mason bees</a>, most likely through the transmission of diseases.</p>
<p>Choosing plants that offer <a href="https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-friendly-plant-lists">lots of nectar and pollen</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1869">maintaining patches of bare soil</a> in a sunny part of the garden (most bees live in the soil) and retaining or bringing in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12128">deadwood</a> and old stems are all useful alternatives to bee hotels. </p>
<h2>Nature is messy</h2>
<p>Ecological systems are full of variation. The more <a href="https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-ecological-variation.html#:%7E:text=Ecological%20variation%20refers%20to%20the,the%20health%20of%20the%20ecosystem.">diversity in the plant and animal species</a> in it, the more healthy and resilient it is. A tidy and well-manicured garden may not fully support the needs of the native insects and birds.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A well-manicured garden with a row of houses in the background." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A tidy and well-manicured garden may not fully support the needs of the native insects and birds.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>My advice to anyone looking to make their gardens more wildlife-friendly, is to consider pushing back against <a href="http://www.douglasboyes.co.uk/blog/2018/06/09/obsessive-tidiness-disorder-or-how-we-can-learn-to-stop-worrying-and-love-natures-messiness/">obsessive tidiness syndrome</a>. Coined by ecologist Douglas Boyes, the term “obsessive tidiness syndrome” describes humanity’s fixation on keeping things looking “just so” at the expense of leaving space for wildlife. </p>
<p>Designating parts of the garden as “low-tidiness” or “wild” areas can provide wildlife habitats. </p>
<p>Greenwashing appears in many facets of our lives. Fortunately, in the case of wildlife-friendly gardening, the answers are often shared and simple to implement: pick plants that feed wildlife (<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-fight-insectageddon-with-a-garden-of-native-plants-90585">especially native plants</a>), tolerate a little messiness and learn more about the specific needs of the wildlife you wish to shelter and conserve. </p>
<p>Putting these practices into action, and encouraging others to do the same, can help ensure our coexistence with the biodiversity around us.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203638/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul Manning receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. </span></em></p>Instead of focusing their limited time, energy and finances in effective interventions in their gardens, many individual gardeners are falling prey to greenwashing.Paul Manning, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1987242023-03-08T13:40:36Z2023-03-08T13:40:36ZOnce the Callery pear tree was landscapers’ favorite – now states are banning this invasive species and urging homeowners to cut it down<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/513447/original/file-20230303-16-jjphd6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C8%2C1933%2C1283&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Bradford pear trees in bloom along a driveway in Sussex County, Del.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://flic.kr/p/9xfPoK">Lee Cannon/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>When people think of spring, they often picture flowers and trees blooming. And if you live in the U.S. Northeast, Midwest or South, you have probably seen a medium-sized tree with long branches, covered with small white blooms – the Callery pear (<em>Pyrus calleryana</em>). </p>
<p>For decades, Callery pear – which comes in many varieties, including “Bradford” pear, “Aristocrat” and “Cleveland Select” – was among the most popular trees in the U.S. for ornamental plantings. Today, however, it’s widely recognized as an <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1999-02-08/pdf/99-3184.pdf">invasive species</a>. Land managers and plant ecologists <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uRA-SZ0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra">like me</a> are working to eradicate it to preserve biodiversity in natural habitats. </p>
<p>As of 2023, it is illegal to <a href="https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/invasive-plants/callery-pear">sell, plant or grow Callery pear</a> in Ohio and <a href="https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/NIPPP/Pages/Callery-Pear.aspx">Pennsylvania</a>, and will become illegal in <a href="https://news.clemson.edu/invasive-bradford-pear-3-other-species-to-be-banned-for-sale-in-sc/">South Carolina</a> on October 1, 2024. <a href="https://news.ncsu.edu/2022/03/bounty-offered-on-bradford-pear-trees/">North Carolina</a> and <a href="https://www.lakeexpo.com/community/community_news/cut-down-your-bradford-pear-and-missouri-conservation-will-send-you-a-free-tree/article_df77978a-b51a-11ec-ab85-b39d20e73240.html">Missouri</a> will give residents free native trees if they cut down Callery pear trees on their property. </p>
<p>How did this tree, once in high demand, become designated by the U.S. Forest Service as “<a href="https://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/wow/callery_pear.pdf">Weed of the Week</a>”? The devil is in the biological details.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/txwrZ1CqzrE?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A Kentucky extension specialist explains why Callery pears initially seemed like a solution, but have proved to be a major problem.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>A quasi-perfect tree</h2>
<p>Botanists brought the Callery pear to the U.S. from Asia <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/stories/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-ornamental-callery-pear-tree/">in the early 1900s</a>. They intentionally bred the horticultural variety to enhance its ornamental qualities. In doing so, they created an arboricultural wunderkind. As The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/05/archives/bradford-pear-has-many-assets-new-ornamental-fruit-offers-sturdy.html">observed in 1964</a>: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Few trees possess every desired attribute, but the Bradford ornamental pear comes unusually to close to the ideal.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Modern varieties of Callery pear produce an explosion of white flowers in springtime, followed by deep green summer foliage that turns deep red and maroon in autumn. They also are very tolerant of urban soils, which can be <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/stories/urban-soil-problems-and-promise/">highly compacted</a> and hard for roots to penetrate. The trees grow quickly and have a rounded shape, which made them suitable for planting in rows along driveways and roadsides.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Tree with leaves mostly shaded red." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/510742/original/file-20230216-22-hkyqya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A Callery pear turning red in fall.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Ryan McEwan</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>During the post-World War II suburban development boom, Callery pear trees became extremely popular in residential settings. In 2005 the Society of Municipal Arborists named the “Chanticleer” variety the <a href="https://www.concreteconstruction.net/projects/infrastructure/arborists-select-urban-tree-of-the-year_o">urban street tree of the year</a>. But the breeding process that created this and other varieties of Callery pear was producing unexpected results.</p>
<h2>Cloning to produce an American original</h2>
<p>To ensure that each Callery pear tree had bright blooms, red foliage and other desired traits, horticulturists created identical clones through <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/graft">a process known as grafting</a>: creating seedlings from cuttings of trees with the desired characteristics. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LTqG8-OhElY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Grafting is a method for propagating new fruit trees using buds from existing trees and fusing them onto a branch or stem of another tree, which is called the rootstock.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This approach eliminated the messy complexity of mixing genes during sexual reproduction and ensured that when each tree matured, it would have the characteristics that homeowners desire. Every tree of a specific variety was a genetically identical clone.</p>
<p>Grafting also meant Callery pear trees could not make fruits. Some fruit trees, such as peaches and tart cherries, can <a href="https://extension.umaine.edu/fruit/growing-fruit-trees-in-maine/pollination-requirements/">fertilize their flowers with their own pollen</a>. In contrast, Callery pear is self-incompatible: pollen on an individual tree cannot fertilize flowers on that tree. And since all Callery pears of a specific variety planted in a neighborhood would be identical clones, they would effectively be the same tree. </p>
<p>If a tree can’t produce fruits, it can’t disperse into natural habitats. Gardeners and landscapers thought it was perfectly safe to plant Callery pear near natural habitats, such as prairies, because the species was trapped in place by its reproductive biology. But the tree would break free from its isolation and spread seeds far and wide.</p>
<h2>The great escape</h2>
<p>University of Cincinnati botanist <a href="https://culleylab.com/home-page/members-lab/theresa-culley-pi/">Theresa Culley</a> and colleagues have found that as horticulturalists tinkered with Callery pears to produce new versions, they made the individuals different enough <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9386-z">to escape the fertilization barrier</a>. If a neighborhood had only “Bradford” pear trees, then no fruits could be produced – but once someone added an “Aristocrat” pear to their yard, then these two varieties could fertilize each other and produce fruits. </p>
<p>When Callery pear trees in gardens and parks started depositing seeds in nearby areas, wild populations of the trees became established. Those wild trees could pollinate one another, as well as neighborhood trees. </p>
<p>In today’s landscape, Callery pear is astonishingly fertile. The prolific flowering that horticulturists intentionally bred into these varieties now yields tremendous crops of pears each year. Although these little pears are generally not edible by humans, birds feed on the fruit, then fly away and excrete the seeds into natural habitats. Callery pear has become one of the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/program/invasive-species">most problematic invasive species</a> in the eastern United States. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1628379085364957184"}"></div></p>
<h2>A thorny problem</h2>
<p>Like other invasives, Callery pears crowd out native species. Once Callery pear seedlings <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02861-z">spread from habitat edges into grasslands</a>, they have advantages that allow them to dominate the site. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://mcewanlab.org/">my research lab</a>, we have found that Callery pear leafs out very early in spring and drops its leaves late in fall. This enables it to <a href="https://doi.org/10.3159/TORREY-D-22-00008.1">soak up more sun than native species</a>. We also have discovered that during invasion, these trees <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.103989">alter the soil</a> and release chemicals that suppress the germination of native plants. </p>
<p>Callery pear is highly resistant to natural disturbances. In fact, when <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-maloney-51b22b112/">my graduate student Meg Maloney</a> tried to kill the trees by using <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AeaEsDTnMLw">prescribed fires</a> or applying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wtkMey4IItE">liquid nitrogen</a> directly to stumps after cutting the trees down, her efforts failed. Instead, the trees sprouted aggressively and <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/883911#info_wrap">seemingly gained strength</a>.</p>
<p>Once Callery pear has escaped into natural areas, its seedlings produce <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04892-21">very sharp, stiff thorns</a> that can puncture shoes or even tires. This makes the trees a menace to people working in the area, as well as to native plants. Another nuisance factor is that when Callery pears bloom, they produce a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2015/04/24/401943000/whats-that-smell-the-beautiful-tree-thats-causing-quite-a-stink">strong odor</a> that many people find unpleasant.</p>
<p>Currently, <a href="https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/pyca.htm">directly applying herbicides</a> is the only known control for a Callery pear invasion. But the trees are so successful at spreading that poisoning their seedlings may simply create space for other Callery pear seedlings to establish. It is unclear how habitat managers can escape a confounding ecological cycle of invasion, herbicide application and re-invasion.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="An open space studded with Callery pear trees, with dead grasses between the trees." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/513473/original/file-20230304-14-ct0blo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A Callery pear invasion is crowding out native species on this agricultural land, converting it to woodland.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/the-invasive-callery-pear.html">Oklahoma State University Extension</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Banned but not gone</h2>
<p>In response to work by the <a href="https://www.oipc.info/">Ohio Invasive Plants Council</a> and other experts, Ohio has taken the extraordinary step of <a href="https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-901:5-30-01">banning Callery pear</a> to thwart its ecological invasion into natural habitats. But the trees are common in residential areas across the state and have established vigorous populations in natural habitats. Ecologists will be working well into the future to maintain openness and biodiversity in areas where Callery pear is invading. </p>
<p>In the meantime, homeowners can help. Horticulturists recommend that people who have a Callery pear on their property should <a href="https://dyckarboretum.org/callery-pear-cut-them-down/">remove it and replace it</a> with something that is not an invasive species. Few trees possess every desired attribute, but many <a href="https://moinvasives.org/2018/03/29/plant-this-not-that-10-native-trees-to-plant-in-place-of-callery-pear/">native trees</a> have visually attractive features and will not threaten ecosystems in your region.</p>
<p><em>This article has been updated to reflect current state bans on Callery pear trees as of March 2024.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/198724/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ryan W. McEwan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>They’re beautiful in bloom, but Callery pear trees crowd out native plants and turn productive open land into woody thickets.Ryan W. McEwan, Professor of Biology, University of DaytonLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1917712023-01-23T00:06:24Z2023-01-23T00:06:24ZDon’t kill the curl grubs in your garden – they could be native beetle babies<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/501433/original/file-20221215-19-5mtmdl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=6%2C165%2C4594%2C3283&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Have you ever been in the garden and found a large, white, C-shaped grub with a distinctive brown head and six legs clustered near the head? </p>
<p>If so, you’ve had an encounter with the larva of a scarab beetle (family: <em>Scarabaeidae</em>) also known as a “curl grub”. </p>
<p>Many gardeners worry these large larvae might damage plants. </p>
<p>So what are curl grubs? And should you be concerned if you discover them in your garden?</p>
<h2>What are curl grubs?</h2>
<p>Curl grubs turn into scarab beetles.</p>
<p>There are more than 30,000 species of scarab beetles worldwide. Australia is home to at least 2,300 of these species, including iridescent Christmas beetles (<a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/christmas-beetle/"><em>Anoplognathus</em></a>), spectacularly horned rhinoceros beetles (<em>Dynastinae</em>), and the beautifully patterned flower chafers (<a href="https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/aus_museum/flower_chafers/key/Cetoniinae/Media/Html/key.htm"><em>Cetoniinae</em></a>). </p>
<p>While the adults might be the most conspicuous life stage, scarabs spend most of their lives as larvae, living underground or in rotting wood. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A bird holds a curl grub in its beak." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499922/original/file-20221209-25133-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Curl grubs make an excellent meal for hungry birds.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Scarab larvae can help the environment</h2>
<p>Soil-dwelling scarab larvae can aerate soils and help <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.library.sydney.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0006320708001420">disperse</a> seeds. </p>
<p>Species that eat decaying matter help recycle nutrients and keep soils healthy. </p>
<p>Most scarab larvae are large and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684676/">full of protein and fat</a>. They make an excellent meal for <a href="https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2018/08/12/organic-control-of-curl-grubs-in-lawn/#:%7E:text=The%20most%20useful%20natural%20enemies,digging%20them%20out%20of%20lawns.">hungry birds</a>.</p>
<p>Besides being important for ecosystems, scarabs also play a role in <a href="https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1093&context=entomologypapers">cultural celebrations</a>.</p>
<p>For example, the ancient Egyptians famously worshipped the sun through the symbol of the ball-rolling dung beetle. </p>
<p>In Australia, colourful Christmas beetles traditionally heralded the arrival of the holiday season. </p>
<p>Sadly, Christmas beetle numbers have <a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/christmas-beetles/">declined</a> over the last few decades, likely due to habitat loss. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1332262556560453632"}"></div></p>
<h2>Are the curl grubs in my garden harming my plants?</h2>
<p>Most scarab larvae feed on grass roots, and this can cause damage to plants when there’s a lot of them.</p>
<p>In Australia, the <a href="https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/517487-Cyclocephala-signaticollis">Argentine lawn scarab</a> and the <a href="https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/olives/african-black-beetle-horticulture">African black beetle</a> are invasive pest species that cause significant damage to pastures and lawns. </p>
<p>Native scarab species can also be pests under the right circumstances.</p>
<p>For example, when Europeans began planting sugar cane (a type of grass) and converting native grasslands to pastures, many native Australian scarab species found an abundant new food source and were subsequently classified as <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/1/54/htm">pests</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we know little about the feeding habits of many native scarab larvae, including those found in gardens.</p>
<p>Some common garden species, like the beautifully patterned <a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/fiddler-beetle/">fiddler beetle</a> (<em>Eupoecila australasiae</em>), feed on decaying wood and are unlikely to harm garden plants. </p>
<p>Even species that consume roots are likely not a problem under normal conditions. </p>
<p>Plants are surprisingly <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-011-2210-y">resilient</a>, and most can handle losing a small number of their roots to beetle larvae. Even while damaging plants, curl grubs may be helping keep soil healthy by providing aeration and nutrient mixing.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/testing-the-stress-levels-of-rescued-koalas-allows-us-to-tweak-their-care-so-more-survive-in-the-wild-196224">Testing the stress levels of rescued koalas allows us to tweak their care so more survive in the wild</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="manicured grass and garden" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502386/original/file-20221221-18-bs2txf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Most plants can handle losing a small number of their roots to beetle larvae.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How do I know if I have ‘good’ or ‘bad’ beetle larvae in my garden?</h2>
<p>Unfortunately, identifying scarab larvae species is challenging. Many of the features we use to tell groups apart are difficult to see without magnification.
While there are identification guides for scarabs larvae found in <a href="https://cesaraustralia.com/pestfacts/scarabs-and-cockchafers-identification/">pastures</a>, there are currently no such identification resources for the scarabs found in household gardens. </p>
<p>Since identification may not be possible, the best guide to whether or not scarab larvae are a problem in your garden is the health of your plants. Plants with damaged roots may wilt or turn yellow. </p>
<p>Since most root-feeding scarabs prefer grass roots, lawn turf is most at risk and damage is usually caused by exotic scarab species.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/501443/original/file-20221215-14-rbzlz0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Unfortunately, identifying scarab larvae species is challenging.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What should I do if I find curl grubs in my garden?</h2>
<p>Seeing suspiciously plump curl grubs amongst the roots of prized garden plants can be alarming, but please don’t automatically reach for insecticides. </p>
<p>The chemicals used to control curl grubs will harm all scarab larvae, regardless of whether or not they are pests. </p>
<p>Many of the most common treatments for curl grubs contain chemicals called “anthranilic diamides”, which are also <a href="http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/chlorantraniliprole.html#howwork">toxic</a> to butterflies, moths and aquatic invertebrates.</p>
<p>And by disrupting soil ecosystems, using insecticides might do more harm than good and could kill harmless native beetle larvae.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-has-my-home-been-overrun-by-pantry-moths-and-how-do-i-get-rid-of-them-an-expert-explains-170274">Why has my home been overrun by pantry moths and how do I get rid of them? An expert explains</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>So what to do instead? </p>
<p>Larvae found in decaying wood or mulch are wood feeders and are useful composters; they will not harm your plants and should be left where they are. </p>
<p>Larvae found in compost bins are helping to break down wastes and should also be left alone.</p>
<p>If you find larvae in your garden soil, use your plant’s health as a guide. If your plants appear otherwise healthy, consider simply leaving curl grubs where they are. Scarab larvae are part of the soil ecosystem and are unlikely to do damage if they are not present in high numbers. </p>
<p>If your plants appear yellow or wilted and you’ve ruled out other causes, such as under-watering or nutrient deficiencies, consider feeding grubs to the birds or squishing them. It’s not nice, but it’s better than insecticides.</p>
<p>Lawns are particularly susceptible to attack by the larvae of non-native scarabs.
Consider replacing lawns with <a href="https://www.sgaonline.org.au/lawn-alternatives/">native</a> ground covers. This increases biodiversity and lowers the chances of damage from non-native scarab larvae.</p>
<p>Scarab beetles are beautiful and fascinating insects that help keep our soils healthy and our wildlife well fed.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/191771/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tanya Latty volunteers for and is affiliated with Invertebrates Australia, a not for profit conservation organisation. She is also affiliated with the Australian Entomological Society and the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Chris Reid has received funding from a federal Australian Biological Resources Study grant and the NSW Department of Education.</span></em></p>Many gardeners worry these large larvae might damage plants. But before you squish them, read this.Tanya Latty, Associate professor, University of SydneyChris Reid, Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1938302022-11-21T19:04:34Z2022-11-21T19:04:34ZWhat planting tomatoes shows us about climate change<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496342/original/file-20221121-14-xam3br.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=56%2C96%2C5321%2C3499&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>There’s a piece of gardening lore in my hometown which has been passed down for generations: never plant your tomatoes before Show Day, which, in Tasmania, is the fourth Saturday in October. If you’re foolhardy enough to plant them earlier, your tomato seedlings will suffer during the cold nights and won’t grow.</p>
<p>But does this kind of seasonal wisdom still work as the climate warps? We often talk about climate change in large-scale ways – how much the global average surface temperature will increase. </p>
<p>Nations are trying to keep the temperature rise well under 2°C. Taken as an average, that sounds tiny – after all, the temperature varies much more than that when day gives way to night. But remember – before the industrial revolution, the world’s average surface temperature was 12.1°C. Now it’s almost a degree hotter – and could be up to 3°C hotter by the end of the century if high emissions continue. </p>
<p>For many of us, climate change can seem abstract. But the natural world is very sensitive to temperature change. Wherever we look, we can see that the seasons are changing. Gardening lore no longer holds. Flowering may happen earlier. Many species have to move or die. Here’s what you might notice. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="nothofagus colour change" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496376/original/file-20221121-20-bebq50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Seasons shifting: Tasmanias southern beech is Australias only native temperate deciduous tree.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Spring is coming earlier</h2>
<p>Warmer temperatures mean spring is arriving earlier and earlier. In Australia, it’s also now five days shorter than the 1950–1969 period, according to Australia Institute <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/out-of-season/">research</a>. Trees and plants put out new leaves <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2015-09-24/will-global-warming-keep-pushing-spring-into-winter/6798082">days earlier</a>. </p>
<p>For some Australian plants, earlier spring means early flowering and fruiting – an average of 9.7 days earlier <a href="https://theconversation.com/early-birds-how-climate-change-is-shifting-time-for-animals-and-plants-34766">per decade</a>. </p>
<p>Japan’s famous spring cherry blossoms are <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56574142">blooming earlier</a> than they have in centuries. The cherry blossom peak last year was the earliest recorded bloom in a data record going back to the year 812. </p>
<p>Not only are flowers blooming earlier, birds are also <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2005.00380.x">migrating earlier</a>, and may also be delaying their <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/8975/">autumn migrations</a>.</p>
<h2>Summer is getting hotter and longer</h2>
<p>A hotter planet means hotter and longer summers. </p>
<p>It might not feel like it this year with all the rain, but the overall trend is clear. In turn, this means bushfire risk is growing <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/not-normal-climate-change-bushfire-web/">year on year</a>, with more days of high to catastrophic fire danger. Every year for the last three decades, an <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-black-summer-of-fire-was-not-normal-and-we-can-prove-it-172506">extra 48,000 hectares</a> of forest has burnt across Australia. </p>
<p>Longer fire seasons are making it harder to schedule fuel reduction burns, and reducing the amount of time for firefighters to rest and recover between fire seasons.</p>
<p>Hotter temperatures are already posing challenges for salmon farmers in Tasmania. Atlantic salmon grow best in <a href="https://thefishsite.com/articles/can-salmon-farming-cope-with-climate-change">cold water</a> and climate change has already pushed ocean temperatures up. In summers now, the waters around Tasmania are <a href="https://www.imas.utas.edu.au/news/news-items/new-research-shows-impact-of-rising-ocean-temperatures-on-atlantic-salmon-physiology">close to the fish’s limit</a>. Warmer summers will be a substantial challenge for salmon farmers in the future. </p>
<p>Hotter water has also killed off <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-selective-breeding-of-super-kelp-save-our-cold-water-reefs-from-hotter-seas-170271">almost all</a> Tasmania’s giant kelp, and made it possible for warm-water fish to migrate south. </p>
<p>For millennia, the North Pole has been covered by sea ice. This, too, is changing. Arctic sea ice is melting earlier in summer and <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aafb84">freezing later in winter</a>. As warming intensifies, the central Arctic is likely to go from permanent ice cover to ice free <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00183-x">over summer</a> by 2100.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-black-summer-of-fire-was-not-normal-and-we-can-prove-it-172506">Australia's Black Summer of fire was not normal – and we can prove it</a>
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<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="tasmania salmon farms" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=491&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=491&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496343/original/file-20221121-18-7mqpih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=491&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Salmon farming only works if the water is cold – and that poses problems for a major Tasmanian industry.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Autumn is falling behind</h2>
<p>At the beginning of autumn, the leaves of nothofagus, Australia’s only <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2016-03-07/deciduous-trees-in-australia/7200608">temperate deciduous tree</a>, change colour and fall to the ground, just as many Northern Hemisphere trees do. </p>
<p>Here, too, we can see the climate changing. Around the world, warmer temperatures and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide are <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01473.x">delaying the arrival</a> of <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/fall-foliage-disrupted-by-climate-change-might-be-new-normal">autumn colours</a> by up to a month.</p>
<h2>Winter is disappearing</h2>
<p>Alpine species such as the mountain pygmy possum have life cycles built around winter snow, while many of the world’s cities rely on snow melt for their water supply. In Australia, snowfall has <a href="https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/snow">been decreasing</a> in recent decades. </p>
<p>In a warmer world, there’s less snow and ice. That’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/11/santiago-chile-ration-water-drought">posing major challenges</a> for cities like Santiago in Chile, as well as semi-arid areas in the United States which have <a href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/how-the-u-s-megadrought-will-affect-2022-and-beyond">relied on snowmelt</a>. </p>
<h2>Species are on the move</h2>
<p>What else might you notice? Different animals, birds, fish and plants. Not only are the seasons changing, but many species are now found in areas they could never have survived before. </p>
<p>Tropical corals have now been found <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-018-1727-5">happily growing near Sydney</a>. Coral reef fish, too, are heading south to areas well outside their <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2018.00031/full">historic range</a>. </p>
<p>You can see some of the surprising new finds on the citizen science project <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au">Redmap</a>, such as sightings of the tropical <a href="https://www.redmap.org.au/sightings/4157/">yellow bellied sea snake</a> in Tasmanian waters.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/thousands-of-photos-captured-by-everyday-australians-reveal-the-secrets-of-our-marine-life-as-oceans-warm-189231">Thousands of photos captured by everyday Australians reveal the secrets of our marine life as oceans warm</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>For First Australians, climate change brings a different upheaval. The seasonal link between, say, a wattle flowering and the arrival of fish species is <a href="https://theconversation.com/shifting-seasons-using-indigenous-knowledge-and-western-science-to-help-address-climate-change-impacts-183229">breaking down</a>. </p>
<h2>Changes everywhere</h2>
<p>Climate change really does mean change – both large scale and small. From extreme weather to ecosystems changing all the way through to the time when you can plant tomatoes. </p>
<p>For gardeners, this means accepted wisdom no longer holds. In Tasmania, you can now safely plant tomatoes 18 days earlier than you could in the 1900s. That’s because minimum temperatures in October are now <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries&tQ=graph%3Dtmin%26area%3Dtas%26season%3D10%26ave_yr%3D10">about 1°C</a> warmer than they were in 1910. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=404&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=404&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=404&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=508&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=508&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494010/original/file-20221108-13-bwjxqv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=508&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Hobart’s daily minimum temperature in October for three time periods: 1882-present, 1882-1990, and 1990-present. The last 30 years have been much warmer on average than the years before.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Climate change is altering our seasons and changing our world in both obvious and subtle ways. </p>
<p>So while planting tomatoes may seem like a trivial example, it’s yet another sign of the climate changing all around us. It’s no longer a problem for the far-off future. It’s our problem, now.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193830/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Edward Doddridge does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>It can be hard to grasp the changes climate change is bringing. To see it in your own life, look at the shifting seasons.Edward Doddridge, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of TasmaniaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1902962022-10-13T12:23:17Z2022-10-13T12:23:17ZBees face many challenges – and climate change is ratcheting up the pressure<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/489384/original/file-20221012-18-sw1rgp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5184%2C3880&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Bees look for water on an outdoor tap in Berlin, Germany during a hot spell, June 19, 2022.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/berlin-bees-try-to-take-water-from-the-thread-of-an-old-tap-news-photo/1241401800">Wolfram Steinberg/picture alliance via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The extreme weather that has <a href="https://theconversation.com/looking-back-on-americas-summer-of-heat-floods-and-climate-change-welcome-to-the-new-abnormal-190636">battered much of the U.S.</a> in 2022 doesn’t just affect humans. Heat waves, wildfires, droughts and storms also <a href="https://www.fws.gov/initiative/impacts">threaten many wild species</a> – including some that already face other stresses. </p>
<p>I’ve been <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=B1qAtjIAAAAJ">researching bee health</a> for over 10 years, with a focus on honey bees. In 2021, I began hearing for the first time from beekeepers about how extreme drought and rainfall were affecting bee colony health. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/drought/202113">Drought conditions in the western U.S.</a> in 2021 dried up bee forage – the floral nectar and pollen that bees need to produce honey and stay healthy. And <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/29/wettest-2021-east-us/">extreme rain in the Northeast</a> limited the hours that bees could fly for forage. </p>
<p>In both cases, managed colonies – hives that humans keep for honey production or commercial pollination – were starving. Beekeepers had to feed their bees more supplements of sugar water and pollen than they usually would to keep their colonies alive. Some beekeepers who had been in business for decades shared that they lost 50% to 70% of their colonies over the winter of 2021-2022. </p>
<p>These weather conditions <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaa114">likely also affected wild and native bees</a>. And unlike managed colonies, these important species did not receive supplements to buffer them through harsh conditions. </p>
<p>Each year, the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> and the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> host federal pollinator experts to share the latest scientific findings on bee and pollinator health, and assess the status of these important insects, birds, bats and other species. One clear takeaway from this year’s meeting was that climate change has become a new and formidable stressor for bees, potentially amplifying previously known issues in ways that scientists can’t yet predict but need to prepare for. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6tZTH5KWFqM?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Climate change threatens bees around the world. In Australia, large-scale bushfires and drought have killed millions of bees in recent years.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The scourge of <em>Varroa</em> mites</h2>
<p>Pollinators contribute <a href="https://ipbes.net/article/press-release-pollinators-vital-our-food-supply-under-threat">an estimated US$235 billion to $577 billion</a> yearly to global agriculture, based on the value of the crops they pollinate. Understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on pollinators is key for supporting healthy ecosystems and sustainable agriculture.</p>
<p>Bee health first attracted widespread attention in 2006 with the emergence of <a href="https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder">Colony Collapse Disorder</a>, a phenomenon where the majority of adult worker bees in a colony disappeared, leaving their honey and pollen stores and some nurse bees behind to care for the queen and remaining immature bees. In the past five years, reported cases have declined substantially. Now, researchers are focusing on what beekeepers call the “four Ps”: parasites, pathogens, pesticides and poor nutrition, as well as habitat loss for wild and native bees. </p>
<p>One of the most severe threats to honey bees over the past several decades has been <em>Varroa destructor</em>, a crablike parasitic mite that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1818371116">feeds on honey bees’ fat body tissue</a>. The fat body is <a href="https://entomologytoday.org/2019/02/21/inside-look-how-varroa-mite-diet-discovered/">a nutrient-dense organ</a> that functions much like the liver in mammals. It helps bees maintain a strong immune system, metabolize pesticides and survive through the winter. </p>
<p>These are vital functions, so controlling mite infestations is essential for bee health. <em>Varroa</em> can also transmit deadly pathogens to honey bees, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47447-3">deformed wing virus</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A bee flying, with two brown circular mites clinging to it" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=648&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=648&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/489395/original/file-20221012-21-7erbs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=648&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A honey bee carrying two <em>Varroa</em> mites, one above its leg and one on its back.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://flic.kr/p/2hcd9TT">USGS</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Controlling mite populations is challenging. It requires using an insecticide in an insect colony, or as beekeepers say, “trying to kill a bug on a bug.” It’s hard to find a formula strong enough to kill mites without harming the bees. </p>
<p>Monitoring <em>Varroa</em> takes significant skill and labor, and mites can build up resistance to treatments over time. Researchers and beekeepers are working hard to <a href="https://www.sare.org/publications/a-sustainable-approach-to-controlling-honey-bee-diseases-and-varroa-mites/breeding-for-resistance/">breed <em>Varroa</em>-resistant bees</a>, but mites continue to plague the industry.</p>
<h2>Pesticide microdoses</h2>
<p>Pesticides also harm bees, particularly products that cause sublethal or chronic bee health issues. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156857">Sublethal pesticide exposures</a> can make bees less able to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12292">gather forage</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077547">grow healthy larvae</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2018.01.006">fight off viruses</a> and mites. </p>
<p>However, it can be hard to document and understand sublethal toxicity. Many factors affect how bees react to agrochemicals, including whether they are exposed as larvae or as adult bees, the mixture of chemicals bees are exposed to, the weather at the time of application and how healthy a bee colony is pre-exposure.</p>
<p>Researchers are also working to understand <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-common-soil-pesticide-cut-wild-bee-reproduction-by-89-heres-why-scientists-are-worried-155985">how soil pesticides affect ground-nesting wild bees</a>, which represent <a href="https://ento.psu.edu/research/centers/pollinators/resources-and-outreach/disappearing-pollinators/nesting-sites">over 70% of the U.S. native bee</a> population. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A bee crawls out of a small hole in the dirt, overhung by grass" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=568&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=568&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=568&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=714&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=714&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/487116/original/file-20220928-6297-s2i3ld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=714&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A ground-nesting bee (<em>Colletes inaqualis</em>) emerging from its burrow.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://flic.kr/p/9GUDGz">Rob Cruickshank/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Junk food diets</h2>
<p>Like many other species, bees are losing the habitat and food sources that they depend on. This is happening <a href="https://ento.psu.edu/research/centers/pollinators/resources-and-outreach/disappearing-pollinators/habitat-fragmentation">for many reasons</a>. </p>
<p>For example, uncultivated lands are being <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22702-2">converted to farmland or developed worldwide</a>. Large-scale agriculture focuses on mass production of a few commodity crops, which reduces the amount of nesting habitat and forage available for bees. </p>
<p>And many farmers often remove pollinator-friendly plants and shrubs that grow around farm lands to reduce the risk of attracting animals such as deer and rodents, which could <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv152">spread pathogens that cause foodborne illness</a>. Research suggests that these efforts <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12707">harm beneficial insects and don’t increase food safety</a>. </p>
<p>As diverse and healthy bee forage disappears, beekeepers <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.10.007">feed their bees more supplements</a>, such as sugar water and pollen substitutes, which are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-015-0386-6">not as nutritious</a> as the nectar and pollen bees get from flowers.</p>
<h2>Climate change is a force multiplier</h2>
<p>Researchers don’t know exactly how climate change will affect bee health. But they suspect it will add to existing stresses. </p>
<p>For example, if pest pressures mount for farmers, bees will be exposed to more pesticides. Extreme rainfall can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-019-09686-z">disrupt bees’ foraging patterns</a>. Wildfires and floods may destroy bee habitat and food sources. Drought may also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14130">reduce available forage</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.628802">discourage land managers</a> from planting new areas for bees as water becomes less readily available. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1062404727995011077"}"></div></p>
<p>Climate change could also increase the spread of <em>Varroa</em> and other pathogens. Warmer fall and winter temperatures <a href="https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1394621/v1">extend the period when bees forage</a>. <em>Varroa</em> travel on foraging bees, so longer foraging provides a larger time window for mites and the viruses they carry to spread among colonies. Higher mite populations on bee colonies heading into winter will likely cripple colony health and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159615">increase winter losses</a>.</p>
<p>Studies have already shown that climate change is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20190139">disrupting seasonal connections</a> between bees and flowers. As spring arrives earlier in the year, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0573">flowers bloom earlier</a> or in different regions, but bees may not be present to feed on them. Even if flowers bloom at their usual times and locations, they may <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2022.100927">produce less-nutritious pollen and nectar</a> under extreme weather conditions. </p>
<p>Research that analyzes the nutritional profiles of bee forage plants and how they change under different climate scenarios will help land managers plant climate-resilient plants for different regions. </p>
<h2>Creating safe bee spaces</h2>
<p>There are many ways to support bees and pollinators. Planting <a href="https://theconversation.com/urban-gardens-are-crucial-food-sources-for-pollinators-heres-what-to-plant-for-every-season-174552">pollinator gardens</a> with regional plants that bloom throughout the year can provide much-needed forage. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cg8BHF_DOud/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<p>Ground-nesting native bees need patches of exposed and undisturbed soil, free of mulch or other ground covers. Gardeners can clear some ground in a sunny, well-drained area to create <a href="https://xerces.org/blog/ground-nesting-bees#:%7E:text=If%20you'd%20like%20to,growing%20plants%20to%20prevent%20erosion">dedicated spaces for bees to dig nests</a>. </p>
<p>Another important step is using <a href="https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17624">integrated pest management</a>, a land management approach that minimizes the use of chemical pesticides. And anyone who wants to help monitor native bees can join <a href="https://xerces.org/community-science">community science projects</a> and use phone apps to submit data. </p>
<p>Most importantly, educating people and communities about bees and their importance to our food system can help create a more pollinator-friendly world.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/190296/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dr. Jennie L. Durant has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. She was a AAAS Science and Technology Fellow at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2021-2022.</span></em></p>Honey bees, wild and native bees face threats from parasites, pesticides and habitat loss. Shorter winters, more extreme weather and more habitat destruction won’t help.Jennie L. Durant, Research Affiliate in Human Ecology, University of California, DavisLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1902262022-09-23T00:34:16Z2022-09-23T00:34:16ZWant noisy miners to be less despotic? Think twice before filling your garden with nectar-rich flowers<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483365/original/file-20220907-15616-uce7s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=26%2C20%2C4457%2C2964&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/australian-noisy-miner-sitting-on-a-native-blooming-flower-13024717/">Photo by Vlad Kutepov/Pexels</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Noisy miners are complicated creatures. These Australian native honeyeaters live in large cooperative groups, use alarm calls to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/28/3/724/3076238">target specific predators</a>, and sometimes <a href="https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/29/6/1380/5076038">help raise the young of other miners</a>. But they’re perhaps best known for their aggressive and coordinated attacks on other birds – a behaviour known as “mobbing”.</p>
<p>We conducted a study investigating some of the possible factors that influence mobbing. We were interested in whether access to human food left on plates at cafes, or a high nectar supply thanks to planted gardens, might give urban miners extra energy and time to mob other species more often. We also examined whether miners were more aggressive towards some species over others. </p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01584197.2022.2049608">study</a>, published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01584197.2022.2049608">Emu - Austral Ornithology</a>, found it wasn’t cafes with access to sugar-rich food that led to more miner aggression. In fact, gardens were where we recorded the highest amount of aggressive behaviour.</p>
<p>Understanding mobbing is important, because this behaviour can drive out other birds and reduce diversity. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12292.x">Smaller birds with a similar diet</a> to noisy miners are particularly vulnerable.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A noisy miner sits on a plant with bright red flowers." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=574&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=574&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=574&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=722&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=722&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483366/original/file-20220907-14-a7czet.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=722&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Noisy miners can drive out other birds and reduce diversity.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-grey-white-yellow-bird-near-on-pink-petal-flower-105805/">Photo by Mark Broadhurst/Pexels</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/should-we-cull-noisy-miners-after-decades-of-research-these-aggressive-honeyeaters-are-still-outsmarting-us-169524">Should we cull noisy miners? After decades of research, these aggressive honeyeaters are still outsmarting us</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What we did</h2>
<p>The noisy miner’s preferred habitat is along the edges of open eucalypt forest, including cleared land and urban fringes. Their numbers have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ddi.12128">grown</a> in recent decades, presenting a significant <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/key-threatening-processes/overabundant-noisy-miners">conservation problem</a>.</p>
<p>We know from <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01902.x">previous research</a> that urban noisy miners tend to be more aggressive compared with rural populations. </p>
<p>But to examine mobbing behaviour more closely, we placed museum taxidermies (stuffed animals) of different species of birds in three different types of habitat around Canberra:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>urban cafes with lots of food leftovers</p></li>
<li><p>urban gardens that had higher-than-usual supplies of nectar </p></li>
<li><p>bush areas more typical of “natural” miner habitat.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>For each habitat, we then presented the resident noisy miners with three different types of museum taxidermy models of birds:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>food competitors with a similar diet to miners, both of the same size (musk lorikeets) and a much smaller species (spotted pardalote)</p></li>
<li><p>potential predators, including a dangerous species that preys on miners (brown goshawk) and a species that robs nests but poses less of a risk to adult miners (pied currawong)</p></li>
<li><p>neutral species, meaning a bird that does not prey upon nor compete with miners for food (in our study, we used a model of an eastern rosella).</p></li>
</ul>
<p>We wanted to see how miners responded to these “intruders” in various settings. We also set up a speaker nearby to broadcast alarm calls, to see how miners reacted.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Two noisy miners mob a magpie." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484208/original/file-20220913-6373-ohyjed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Noisy miners are known for their aggressive and coordinated attacks on other birds – a behaviour known as ‘mobbing’.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What we found</h2>
<p>We found interesting differences in how miners responded to our taxidermy models and the broadcasted alarm calls.</p>
<p>Noisy miners exhibited aggressive behaviours for a much longer time in gardens and cafés in comparison to natural bush areas.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, however, access to sugar-rich food from cafes didn’t yield the most aggressive behaviour. Rather, we recorded the highest levels of aggressive behaviour near garden sites.</p>
<p>Nectar-rich plants (such as grevilleas and bottlebrushes) are attractive to birds with a sweet tooth, and miners are no exception. Newer cultivars flower for longer, meaning miners living in our gardens may have access to an almost year-round source of food. </p>
<p>Ready access to these flowering shrubs may affect aggression by providing more time, energy or reward to noisy miners defending these uber-rich resources. </p>
<p>The type of model presented also impacted miner response.</p>
<p>More miners were attracted to an area and mobbed the subject for longer when the model was of a predator.</p>
<p>Miners showed even greater aggression to food competitor models, however. They were more likely to physically strike food competitor models with a peck or swoop compared to predator models. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485205/original/file-20220919-60305-bzy2aj.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Noisy miners are often drawn to cafes.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jade Fountain</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What can gardeners do with these findings?</h2>
<p>Our research shows the importance of considering how gardens – whether in back yards, in parks or new housing estates – can affect local ecosystems, including bird behaviour. Previous <a href="https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO20019">studies</a> have drawn a link between the types of plants humans choose to plant and the local mix of bird species.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=750&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=750&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=750&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=943&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=943&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/484210/original/file-20220913-12035-z31cbw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=943&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Grevilleas look lovely but how does their presence affect miner behaviour?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>To reduce the risk of creating a perfect habitat for despotic miners in your garden, aim to:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>plant multi-layered levels in your garden – that means including ground cover, small shrubs, medium shrubs and trees to provide shelter at different heights for various birds and animals</p></li>
<li><p>consider planting plenty of dense shrubs with small flowers to attract insects and provide shelter for small birds</p></li>
<li><p>use a mix of nectar-rich and non-flowering shrubs and grasses (instead of focusing too heavily on flowering plants)</p></li>
<li><p>try to avoid planting too many exotic species; opt instead for native plants <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/WR96078">local to your area and suited to the climate</a>, as these benefit native plants and animals whilst minimising benefits to aggressive noisy miners.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-hate-certain-birds-and-why-their-behaviour-might-be-our-fault-54404">Why we 'hate' certain birds, and why their behaviour might be our fault</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/190226/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Our study found it wasn’t cafes with access to sugar-rich food that led to more miner aggression. In fact, gardens were where we recorded the highest amount of aggressive behaviour.Jade Fountain, PhD Student, University of AdelaidePaul McDonald, Professor of Animal Behaviour, University of New EnglandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1878852022-08-05T15:31:47Z2022-08-05T15:31:47ZFive easy ways to use less water at home – and not just in a drought<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476915/original/file-20220801-19-z0zuac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C6240%2C4156&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Wait for starchy cooking water to cool and then use it to water your plants.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/natural-fertilizer-water-after-boiling-eggs-1565981779">VH-studio/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>With so much of the world suffering from drought, you might think your ability to help is minimal. But when you consider the average person in the UK uses around <a href="https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/vast-majority-of-brits-have-no-idea-how-much-water-they-use-each-day/">142 litres of water a day</a>, it’s easy to see how small changes to your routine can add up.</p>
<p>More than half of the water that is extracted from rivers, streams and aquifers in the UK feeds the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env15-water-abstraction-tables">public water supply</a>. These abstractions, as they’re called, worsen drought conditions by draining local waterways, depriving vegetation, fish and other aquatic life of the water they need to survive droughts.</p>
<p>Filling paddling pools to cool off, taking multiple showers each day to stay clean, watering the garden to revive wilting plants – all these extra activities contribute to a sharp increase in public water use on hot and dry days. And these impacts can endure for months, as freshwater systems need a lot of additional rainfall to recover from droughts.</p>
<p>If each person can reduce their water use during a drought, it would significantly benefit the natural world in its recovery. Here are five things you can do, starting today.</p>
<h2>1. Shower less</h2>
<p>Most of the water you use is <a href="https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/vast-majority-of-brits-have-no-idea-how-much-water-they-use-each-day/">in the shower</a>. For every minute you’re under the shower head (depending on how powerful it is), around 10 litres of water drains away. Since most people shower for <a href="https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/blog/trends/revealed-what-brits-are-really-getting-up-to-in-the-bathroom-1/#:%7E:text=Most%20Brits%20(62%25)%20bathe,latest%20UK%20shower%20habits%20survey.">an average of seven minutes</a>, half of your daily water use takes place first thing in the morning.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A hand testing the shower water while adjusting the tap." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476514/original/file-20220728-2377-j4qs5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">For each minute you shave off your shower time, you save 10 litres of water.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/woman-taking-shower-home-female-hands-1932944879">l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Turning off the shower while shampooing your hair or applying shower gel can help conserve water, as can shortening the length of your shower overall. Be sure not to switch to a bath though – the average soak in the tub uses <a href="https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/vast-majority-of-brits-have-no-idea-how-much-water-they-use-each-day/">around 80 litres of water</a>.</p>
<h2>2. Use rainwater in the garden</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A green, plastic barrel connected to a black draining pipe and stood in a garden." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476516/original/file-20220728-11927-w6xz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Water butts can be purchased in garden centres.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/green-water-butt-brown-catch-pipe-15464518">Robert Hackett/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
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<p>During a dry spell, the average gardener can use <a href="https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/siteassets/documents/uwu-0618-web-version.pdf">hundreds of litres</a> of water to keep their plants hydrated. Some people will use a watering can (good), others might leave a sprinkler on all day (bad). Most use drinking water, which is a waste – plants are happy with rain water.</p>
<p>Add a water butt that collects the rain which falls on your roof and use it for the garden. To find out how to install one, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jk0lstsu5o">watch this</a>. </p>
<h2>3. Use the short flush</h2>
<p>Per flush, your toilet uses about <a href="https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/vast-majority-of-brits-have-no-idea-how-much-water-they-use-each-day/">5 litres of water</a>, and up to 10 litres in older models. If available, use the short flush to significantly reduce how much water is wasted.</p>
<h2>4. Cut back on car washing</h2>
<p>If you need to wash your car, do it the old-fashioned way with a bucket and soap rather than hosing it down. The water contained in a bucket (<a href="https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/vast-majority-of-brits-have-no-idea-how-much-water-they-use-each-day/">roughly 30 litres</a>) is significantly less than the average that flows through a hose (around <a href="https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/siteassets/documents/uwu-0618-web-version.pdf">15 litres per minute</a>). Better yet, avoid washing your car entirely during a drought.</p>
<h2>5. Reuse water</h2>
<p>If you’re washing vegetables, you could collect the water in a bowl in the sink and later give it to the plants in your house or outside. While you’re waiting for warm water to come out of a tap, use the cold to fill the kettle. Close the tap while you’re lathering your hands with soap or brushing your teeth. Though these are only small savings, they do make a difference over time.</p>
<p>Inflatable pools are lovely for cooling down on the hottest days. A cleaning pump can filter the water and recycle it without you needing to use more water to keep the pool clean.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A blue, plastic paddling pool in a garden with a white filter attached." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476911/original/file-20220801-20-52lc5a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Pool filters can clean and recycle water without the need for additional cleaning.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/tuscany-italy-june-29-2020-blue-1772802524">Daniele COSSU/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Save water, save money</h2>
<p>All these tips can significantly reduce your water use and combat the effects of drought on the environment. They can also save you money.</p>
<p>If you’re able to renovate your home, it’s worth installing a system for collecting rain water which, combined with a pump, can flush toilets. In Belgium, for example, it is common practice to have such a system installed (effectively, a large underground water butt) in newly built houses. </p>
<p>Most people would struggle to afford these kinds of measures, and so drought-proofing homes and communities should be part of the effort to adapt countries to the extreme weather expected in a rapidly warming world.</p>
<hr>
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<img alt="Imagine weekly climate newsletter" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p><strong><em>Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?</em></strong>
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<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Niko Wanders receives funding from the Dutch Science Foundation, the European Union and National Geographic for his work on drought and climate change. </span></em></p>Rationing water at home will benefit moisture-starved ecosystems.Niko Wanders, Assistant Professor in Hydrological Extremes, Utrecht UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1828322022-08-04T19:31:41Z2022-08-04T19:31:41ZCommunity and school gardens don’t magically sprout bountiful benefits<p>While it is widely understood that <a href="https://www.perlego.com/book/1620745/learning-gardens-and-sustainability-education-bringing-life-to-schools-and-schools-to-life-pdf?">community and</a> and school <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/2047-2382-3-20">gardening have innumerable health, well-being and educational benefits</a>, it’s important to realize these benefits don’t <a href="https://www.hepg.org/her-home/issues/harvard-educational-review-volume-88-number-4/herarticle/beyond-magic-carrots">magically </a>appear when gardens take root.</p>
<p>Over the past six years, I’ve worked closely with educators, community workers, activists and community members in <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/indigenous/land-and-peoples/learn-about-land-and-peoples-tiohtiake-montreal">Tio’tia:ke/Montréal</a> as we created, funded and sustained gardens and garden teams at schools and community organizations. </p>
<p>We set up adult education internships to provide practical gardening and teaching support to explore the extent to which gardens act as forums where people address social and environmental justice. Some participants experienced barriers to employment, food insecurity and homelessness.</p>
<p>This research and community work demonstrated how critical it is to advocate for broader social, urban and educational structural changes to support community garden work — and to understand the importance of having realistic expectations about what people can accomplish in and through gardens. </p>
<h2>Who do benefits reach?</h2>
<p>In Tio’tia:ke/Montréal, community gardening unfolds in many different ways that might include gardening efforts at community-based organizations and city-run gardens. </p>
<p>There are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-community-gardens-1.5351635">significant wait lists</a> to access a garden plot in the city, exacerbated by community gardens being historically <a href="https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/9880vx03d">more accessible to property-owning individuals</a>. </p>
<p>According to the mayor of Montréal, “<a href="http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=5977,43117560&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&id=32606">for many people, community gardens are more than just a hobby. They allow them to feed their families and to obtain fresh produce at a low cost</a>.” </p>
<p>Such statements obscure more complex issues <a href="https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/impacts-green-gentrification-homelessness-urban-greening-and-displacement-parc-extension">around who controls and accesses community gardens and deeper entrenched social inequities relating to land rights</a> in a capitalist <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2514848619868110">settler-colonial society</a> that privileges ownership, whiteness and hierarchical modes of relating.</p>
<h2>Relationship to food insecurity</h2>
<p>My findings contest claims that suggest community gardening <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/video-how-community-gardens-can-increase-food-security/">is inherently an activity</a> that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10900-011-9522-z">reduces under-served communities’ food insecurity</a>. </p>
<p>Reflecting on my efforts to grow food for organizations that work with people experiencing food insecurity, as part of a project called “Gardening for Food Security,” I cannot claim gardening helped to alleviate the concerns of people experiencing food insecurity in any quantifiable way. </p>
<p>This is despite producing an immense amount of food harvested on a weekly/bi-weekly basis from late June to early November in 2018 and 2019. </p>
<p>Although the gardens were thriving, the organization never reduced their food order to Montréal’s largest food bank. This may be because while participants ate from the garden harvest, their reliance upon it did not reduce their need for other food. The Gardening for Food Security project did, however, modestly support a food bank and a once-a-week meal service.</p>
<h2>Mixed effects for communities, individuals</h2>
<p>As we gardened and invested in gardens for different social, educational and environmental reasons in rapidly gentrifying neighbourhoods, we contributed to increasing land values in a process described as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2009.00860.x">green gentrification</a>. </p>
<p>Despite these critical observations, some benefits of the project included: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>offering relevant paid employment for young adults experiencing barriers to employment, food insecurity and homelessness; </p></li>
<li><p>providing mentorship and opportunities for under-served young adults and students to express themselves (through art, photography, <a href="https://internationalcellphilmfestival.com/2018/11/13/congratulations-to-this-years-winners/">music, film</a>, gardening); </p></li>
<li><p>facilitating partnerships between schools and organizations with mandates of social and environmental justice for mutual benefit; </p></li>
<li><p>acquiring prolonged financial, learning and human resource support to educators, learners, community workers and community members, while developing ethical relationships and collaborating to accomplish shared objectives. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>The latter three types of benefits are difficult to quantify to funders. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TeaipZkaWrc?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Video created in collaboration with some ‘Gardening for Food Security’ team members with music by one team member, Sven ‘7ven’ Creese.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Problems with schools gardens</h2>
<p>Gardening as part of environmental education is not <a href="https://doi.org/10.2304/pfie.2005.3.3.5">mandatory core curriculum in Québec</a>. School gardening often occurs outside of formal class time, during lunch hour or after school. Taken together, organizing gardening experiences for students within most public schools adds additional labour to already overworked and under-supported educators. </p>
<p>For gardening to be relevant and add educational value for both teachers and learners, gardens need to be incorporated into each core curricular area (French, English, Math and so on) and not only used before or after school hours and during lunchtime. </p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/school-community-gardens-plant-the-seeds-of-change-to-address-global-warming-134776">School-community gardens plant the seeds of change to address global warming</a>
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<p>Many of my teacher collaborators stated that they are fully committed and interested in creating garden-based learning experiences for their students. But securing permissions translates to administrative labour. This can detract from arranging other important aspects of garden creation like establishing funding, building relationships with collaborators or drawing curricular connections and so on. </p>
<h2>Small community change</h2>
<p>Tio’tia:ke/Montréal, like many Canadian cities, has a long winter and a short intense summer. For school gardens to work, the planning and administrative labour and permissions for a spring garden need to happen early in the school year to account for inevitable delays. </p>
<p>If educators or outside parties wish to support school gardens with funding and labour, I strongly recommend that students lead the creation, development and importantly the evaluation of the garden as a project.</p>
<p>When gardens are prematurely <a href="https://doi.org/10.17763/1943-5045-88.4.516">celebrated for producing anticipated outcomes</a> such as health and well-being and food security, without a larger acknowledgement of how these complex issues are affected by systemic barriers, much can be lost. </p>
<p>This includes the well-being of teachers who invest immense labour in something they believe in with limited institutional support, and affordable spaces for people to live who get dispossessed of their homes, communities and networks through green gentrification.</p>
<h2>No easy solutions</h2>
<p>There are no easy solutions to the social and environmental problems of school, community gardening or greening.</p>
<p>Often, teachers and community members want and need a garden, but they are more in need of: financial support, teaching support, human resource support, more time, fewer students, curricular freedom, relevant professional development and land that isn’t part of a bigger capitalist system of private ownership or tied up in red tape. </p>
<p>Even small community change takes time and needs ongoing collective effort. </p>
<p><em>This is an updated version of a story originally published Aug. 4, 2022. The earlier story said gardens were reserved for property-owning individuals instead of more accessible to them.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/182832/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mitchell McLarnon receives funding from Employment and Social Development Canada</span></em></p>Gardens require huge labour, and outcomes like health, well-being or food security are affected by systemic barriers people face in cities and schools.Mitchell McLarnon, Assistant Professor, Adult Education, Concordia UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.