In a
world in which we are bombarded with images and stories of environmental
destruction, it’s all too easy to feel powerless and shut off from how we can
make the world a better place. We are however a fortunate generation, in that
we can make a real difference to the preservation of our local rainforests and
all of the animals that call them home. Best of all you can enjoy the benefits of
saving our local rainforests while reclining in the comfort of your favourite
chair on your back verandah with a cuppa and a good book!
Your
backyard is the frontline when it comes to saving our local rainforests. Our
local rainforests are unique, but they are under threat due to the isolation caused
by the clearing for farmland in the past. Our rainforest remnants such as Mary
Cairncross Scenic Reserve are precious remnants of the great rainforests that
once covered large areas of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Now to
save you some time… while saving the rainforest. Too many backyards on the
hinterland have too much grass. All of that grass needs mowing, which takes
time, uses precious resources and of course contributes to the increase carbon
in the atmosphere. As a result of all this grass our local rainforests have
become fragmented islands, isolated by oceans of grassland. So here is a win-win situation for the
environment and you, the time poor landholder. By revegetating or landscaping
with local rainforest plants, we see an increase in the amount of habitat for
our local flora and fauna and you reduce the time you spend as a slave to your
mower.
Property
boundaries are a good place to start planting, just make sure you don’t pick
anything too big or plant too close to the boundary. A Strangler Fig planted a
metre off the fence line and ripping up foundations and septic systems in the
years to come, may not be conducive to neighbourhood harmony!
Our
local rainforests are also home to an awesome range of beautiful and
interesting plants that include groundcovers, vines, shrubs and small trees. There
are local natives, for all situations, all gardens, even small town blocks!
So do
yourself and the environment a favour, ask yourself do we realy need all that
lawn (and if you decide no), then come and visit us at Forest Heart Local
Native Plants and hunt down some of our great local rainforest plants and an
amazing array of plants from a range of other ecosystems from the coast to
mountain tops and from across South East Queensland.
As the old saying goes “if a tree falls in the forest and no
one is there, does it still make a sound?” This often causes one to pause and
say either “of course it does” or the eyes of the listener to wander as this
existentialist conundrum confounds and questions the very nature of reality!
My new version of this saying – in an age when we need to be
planting trees in massive numbers, rather than waiting for them to fall (so as
to achieve enlightenment), is “If a tree
seedling is planted in the field, grows to be part of a forest, sequesters
carbon, becomes a source of life and biodiversity for the wider ecosystem,
improves water filtration and quality in the landscape, and even looks pretty, but then eventually dies and falls over, only
to again sequesters carbon, becomes a source of life and biodiversity for the
wider ecosystem, improve water filtration and quality in the landscape, does it
actually matter if it makes a sound when it falls over?” My thoughts are no,
not really… Planting, growing, making life is what really matters, that’s all
really (I’m sure that quite possibly that there is something deep and
meaningful in this, but I’m too much on the material plane to get that
perhaps…)
So to focus on the practicalities of planting, let’s think of
some good reasons we all need to be investing and planting and restoring
vegetation. 1) As discussed last month you can plant your own fire wood (we are
currently harvesting some 15-20m high flooded gums that we only planted 12
years ago! 2) In these turbulent and uncertain times there’s never been a
better time to plant fruit trees to help grow your own food. 3) Although the
weather is cool now, summer will eventually return with a vengeance and the
more shade we can grow, will help ease the midsummer blues. 4) There’s also the
very good reason of planting habitat for our local wildlife as their beauty and
the ecological benefits they bring are considerable.
At Forest Heart we have the plants and knowledge to help
you. We have a great range of local natives (for revegetation, timber,
firewood, windbreaks), cultivar natives, fruit trees, mulches, fertilisers,
pots, books etc…
This August, Forest Heart our retail nursery celebrates its
5th birthday! We are part of Brush Turkey Enterprises a family
business operated by long term locals for 22 years and we’re as passionate as
ever about small enterprises role in preserving our unique biodiversity and
creating healthier lifestyles with great gardens, farms and natural areas.
Thankyou Maleny for you support and we look forward to continuing to work with
you all to help green your little bit of the world.
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