Naturalized Areas & Buffer Zones

Naturalized areas and buffer zones 🌱✨ Do you encourage these to thrive in your space? They're vital for beneficial insects, birds, ground nesting mammals, and wildlife.

Containing a mix of various native plants and wildflowers, they're simple to create but make a big impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

These areas help prevent topsoil erosion thanks to the deep roots of perennial grasses and plants. Like rotationally grazed pastures, they support soil health, only they're even more diverse and untamed. Their established root systems along with healthy soil biology allow rainwater to soak in easily and be retained, rather than run off.

Naturalized zones invite nature to return to places that would otherwise be left unused. You can also thoughtfully integrate them within your production areas to increase biodiversity and resilience.

Take milkweed for example. It's the only food source for monarch caterpillars and monarch populations are in serious decline due to habitat loss and industrial farming. Leaving some milkweed to grow can mean everything for this iconic pollinator.

There are so many ways to work with nature while stewarding land 🌼 The excitement of seeing a monarch land in a space you helped create is unmatched. Or identifying a rare or uncommon bird that only nests in specific conditions and areas. It's like seeing the secret behind a magic trick. You realize that you have the ability to create, help, and heal the land. Which is always such an incredible thing to witness in real time!

If you're curious some of the native plant species pictured here in zone 6 New York: purple asters, joe pye weed, goldenrod, wild bee balm, black eyed susan. To name a few 🤗🌸 Medium red clover isn't native, but it's highly beneficial for fixing nitrogen and improving soil health plus pollinators love it.