O N E W I T H N A T U R E
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Honeybee enjoying a snack on a "weed" Aster (Symphyotrichum sp.) in a patch left to grow unmowed.
©Pinewoods Farms
"One with Nature" is the mantra here at Pinewoods Farms
Nature in all of its forms is revered and respected. While there are some plant and animal species that are best left to their own or shooed to the further distance (like Poison Ivy, Black Widow Spiders and Copperhead Snakes), and a few which are not at all welcome (Mosquitoes, Ticks and Fleas), the overwhelming majority are welcome and encouraged in daily life here, and are part of the family. Many are actually seen as big blessings and are given 'sacred status'.
Our best animal allies here are the Black Ratsnakes, the Copperbelly Water Snakes and the Eastern King Snakes (a rare treat to see), the Honeybees and other Bees, other Pollinators, Spiders, some Parasitic Wasps, the Dragonflies (they LOVE to take down obnoxious, attacking Deerflies and munch on them), Cockroaches (are welcome to do their thing out in the woods where they serve an important role), Toads, Frogs, Bats, and Crows (they are "guardian angel birds" for my hens, driving away Hawks, Black-Faced Buzzards, and Owls).
And so many of the wild "weeds" are beneficial, -Chickweed (a yummy Spring Green for salads), Cleavers (makes a lovely Spring Tonic Tea), the Plantains...Broadleaf and Narrowleaf (make an excellent bug bite poultice/"bandage"), Jewelweed (my favorite for Poison Ivy rash), Clovers and Dandelions (both for the Honeybees and for human use), Goldenrod (an excellent therapeutic herb, as well as for Pollinators). Many of these are also good, nourishing supplemental feed for the hens. These plants would grow naturally in our yards if left to do their own thing and are quite beneficial to the environment overall. Mowing wipes out a lot of these free opportunities. Just think how many problems would be minimized if we would grow more gardens instead of mowing lawns.
When you actually get to live with nature, you see these "pests" from a whole new, less stressful perspective, and life becomes that much more enjoyable.
It is my mission to inspire folks to incorporate as many healthy, earth-friendly practices as they can into their own homes and backyards, and find that magic of living 'One with Nature'.
Nature in all of its forms is revered and respected. While there are some plant and animal species that are best left to their own or shooed to the further distance (like Poison Ivy, Black Widow Spiders and Copperhead Snakes), and a few which are not at all welcome (Mosquitoes, Ticks and Fleas), the overwhelming majority are welcome and encouraged in daily life here, and are part of the family. Many are actually seen as big blessings and are given 'sacred status'.
Our best animal allies here are the Black Ratsnakes, the Copperbelly Water Snakes and the Eastern King Snakes (a rare treat to see), the Honeybees and other Bees, other Pollinators, Spiders, some Parasitic Wasps, the Dragonflies (they LOVE to take down obnoxious, attacking Deerflies and munch on them), Cockroaches (are welcome to do their thing out in the woods where they serve an important role), Toads, Frogs, Bats, and Crows (they are "guardian angel birds" for my hens, driving away Hawks, Black-Faced Buzzards, and Owls).
And so many of the wild "weeds" are beneficial, -Chickweed (a yummy Spring Green for salads), Cleavers (makes a lovely Spring Tonic Tea), the Plantains...Broadleaf and Narrowleaf (make an excellent bug bite poultice/"bandage"), Jewelweed (my favorite for Poison Ivy rash), Clovers and Dandelions (both for the Honeybees and for human use), Goldenrod (an excellent therapeutic herb, as well as for Pollinators). Many of these are also good, nourishing supplemental feed for the hens. These plants would grow naturally in our yards if left to do their own thing and are quite beneficial to the environment overall. Mowing wipes out a lot of these free opportunities. Just think how many problems would be minimized if we would grow more gardens instead of mowing lawns.
When you actually get to live with nature, you see these "pests" from a whole new, less stressful perspective, and life becomes that much more enjoyable.
It is my mission to inspire folks to incorporate as many healthy, earth-friendly practices as they can into their own homes and backyards, and find that magic of living 'One with Nature'.