A Blank Slate
Saving small remnants of land matters and here's why
Until recently, many of the building lots where I (Vera) live were undeveloped. For so long I had taken these green spaces for granted, until now - there is almost nothing left to take for granted.
As each sold sign went up, trees came down to make way for more homes, but one sign impacted me more than the others. The new owners of that lot worked tirelessly to clean the green from the land. When not a tree remained standing, every square inch was meticulously covered with gravel, over the ditch to the street. Not even a single blade of grass remained.
Walking by one day the owner asked me,
“What do you think?”
“What is it?” I asked, kinda dumbfounded.“It’s a blank slate.”
This “blank slate” reference hit me hard. A “blank slate”...wow! I walked away from the conversation with a heavy heart - a sad heart.
Saving small remnants of land matters and here is why
Across Saskatchewan these “blank slates” are getting larger and larger. Fields dotted with “marginal land”, the small remnants of bush, sloughs, and shelterbelts are being wiped clean - erased.
Let’s think about this for a second. We may think that to preserve biodiversity there has to be huge tracts of land like parks and nature reserves but research is showing that the biodiversity and the ecological value of small pieces of wild and naturalized land, scattered across the fields, matter.
Landscape ecologist Lenore Fahrig explains that conversion of land for agriculture remains the main cause of species declines in Canada. If we want to address biodiversity loss, she says, this needs to be addressed.
Shathi Akhter, a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, is assessing the role of field boundary habitats (non-cropped areas adjacent to annual crops) to determine if it’s advantageous for producers to maintain these habitat area of landscapes that support thousands of species of native plants, natural pest control, insects, birds, mammals and reptiles. She is actually doing some of her research on Wendy’s farm who we interviewed here.
She points out that these ecosystem services are classified as “non-market goods and services” so it is difficult for farmers to identify these services and include them in their farm operation management decisions. With data, she hopes to encourage producers to consider the hidden ecosystem benefits before removing habitats. The preliminary data was positive - here is the article.
A video from Delta Waterfowl supports the research about the role of small remnants. It explains how important lots of small wetlands scattered about are important to breeding ducks. If you have 10, one-acre wetlands they will support 10X more ducks than one large 10-acre wetland. Again, small matters.
There is this way of thinking in our western civilization that if land isn’t “being used”, then there is no value in it. Relocate or destroy anything that gets in the way of so-called “progress” or economic growth. But what about the plants and animals that are using it? Don’t they matter?
As a kid, I was taught to cooperate with my friends, to share my toys. If I believe everything in this world is interconnected, how can I apply this lesson to the natural world?
After seeing the “blank slate” that day I returned home to look at my own backyard. I had insisted we place small rocks around the edge in a decorative pattern with a thick layer of landscape fabric underneath to keep the weeds out. Did you know that stuff is terrible for bees? And worms. I didn’t!! It simply had never entered my mind before.
We are all complicit, but we have a choice. I am trying to find ways I can cooperate with rather than dominate the land. I may not be able to do much about what is happening in the big picture across Saskatchewan, and elsewhere, but I can change what I’m doing at home in our yard. I can leave those dandelions and plant native plants as a start, and I am thinking about what land means.
I’m reminded of this quote I recently read,
“I used to think the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy and to deal with these we need a spiritual and cultural transformation. We scientists don’t know how to do that.”
Gus Speith, Former Administrator UN Development Program, Author, Environmental Advisor
Remember, small things matter when it comes to transformation. Even a short conversation around the kitchen table might plant a seed for change. I love what Robin Wall Kimmerer says,
“For what good is knowing, unless it is coupled with caring? Science can give us knowing, but caring comes from someplace else.”
Buffalo Postcards
Many thanks for such a great response to our Buffalo Postcards post. If you asked for a postcard, yours should be in the mail. If you would like to receive a buffalo postcard, let us know in the comments below. (Check back to the Buffalo Postcard post for all the details.) Here are a few examples of photos.
“Where will the frogs sing?” is the collaboration of two rural settler artists responding to the beauty and destruction of remnants of land in the aspen parkland of Saskatchewan to encourage discourse on the land’s intrinsic value.
It does my heart and spirit good to read what you write here Vera. As a steward and companion of a small remnant of native prairie in Loon Creek I have sometimes thought that such a small 'saving' doesn't really have much significance. That is wrong thinking. Thank you Vera and Sue for your insights, wisdom, love, courage and for ... Where will the frogs sing. Your post is going to my FB page.
The small remenants of land around here are alive with the sound of frogs, birds and insects singing there hearts out these days, and worms moving the earth.
Although I find the "clean slate" story shocking, I do feel like it is ingrained within me to approach the "care" of the yard with a kind of mindlessness for the ways my actions may bring harm to soil, plants and creatures, all in the name of having a well-kept yard. I have to admit at times I have fallen into the trap of trapping moles, and mowing grass often in dandelion season, etc. Im grateful for conversations like this which are helpful in raising awareness. They inspire openness to learning new ways, commitment to changing my ways, and a deeper connection and love for the more than human world. Thanks for the insightful posts.