Dear Humble Human
What happens when you Let it Grow? Let nature grow, and she expands, in way’s you can’t imagine, but fill your with such joy, and wonder. Butterflies love tall grass. Often they rest on the reeds to dry their new formed wings. Their dance will delight your eyes, and open your heart, as a reminder we live in a connected universe. Butterflies have a way of floating into your heart.
When we were stationed in San Diego California, we planted milkweed. What seemed like day’s later we had plants full of tiny green caterpillars.
Before long I had a monarch butterfly nursery going on. I’d spend hours watching and moving the little ones from leaf to leaf and so delighted in how fast they grew from day to day. Once a chrysalis even grew off one ripe tomato! Nature a marvel to watch in real time. So much so, that I had to set a timer or I’d miss my editor’s deadline…oops.
Butterflies Love Tall Grass!
Spring comes around. Round, pink, thick, spiky balls of lychee grow wild in the yard. White and purple the flowers begin to fall away and tiny green balls replace them. But soon, the ants eat away the flowers and sweet nectar of the budding passion fruit. We only harvest a few off the vine.
Evidence that we live in a shared space. All bugs and each species of vegetable, fruit, or flowering plant have its very own life force. Each one has a purpose, and each one is woven into an intricate fabric. Every insect has a unique function. Therefore, it seems to be to everyone’s benefit to weave ourselves into that natural fabric.
How about growing extra for the bugs. For us, that is one way to win. Think like a bug.
The next season we planted extra passion fruit and used vinegar water to spray on the areas we knew we would eat and share. We planted marigolds between the pepper and tomato plants because the green horn worm doesn’t like the smell.
Ants have sticky suction cups to make it easier to navigate over the vegetation, so we sprinkled cinnamon around the passion fruit, so they wouldn’t be attracted to the vines we wanted and left the others bare. Interesting, the ants didn’t touch the ones with the cinnamon, but had their fill with the ones we left for them.
Think in terms of biology, not chemistry. Yes. it is true, certain plants are the only thing some insects eat. For instance, milkweed is the only food source for Monarch butterflies. So, that means we get to share our bounty with them. Everyone wins.
When you condition the soil with local compost or dig holes in your yard to regenerate the soil with food waste, the bugs stop attacking the plants.
For Real?
Yeah!
Why?
Because the soil has become nutrient dense. A high volume of insects attacks weak plants. What makes plants weak? Hard packed earth with a thin layer of dust. When dust acts as soil, the plants, trees, fruits, and vegetables, have very little chance to thrive.
Don’t want to dig holes in your yard; cover the area you want to thrive with healthy heaps of composted soil. Grow your food in humus, the thick dark fudgy completed compost. Spread, compost all around the base of trees, plants, and vegetables like a blanket. Cover those roots.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the series on Let it Grow, and maybe even been inspired to make a few changes. Perhaps you’ve decided to only have the landscapers come once a month, and ask them to leave the mower on the highest setting.
Want to reduce the amount of aphids on your lemons, roses, and other plants? Find out what Watch the video and download your guide to natural plant pest control.
Here is your guide to Natural Companion Planting
Thank you for reading musings from this master composter and author. If you like the topic, please share on your social media. Have a look at the Compost Coach Patreon Page to learn more, or feel inspired to act.
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PLANET PEOPLE PROSPER