In Your Own Landscape
A cold winter night couldn’t deter an audience determined to learn how to make their homes and gardens more resilient to drought, floods, brush fires, wind damage, and extreme storms.
On January 8, 2025, Sustainable Middleborough sponsored a lively talk about protecting your landscape from wetter, warmer weather ahead, with Plymouth Extension agricultural educator Meg Riley and certified ecologist Breeka Lí Goodlander.
A sampling of suggestions from Meg and Breeka Lí:
- Start keeping a record of observations on your property: when pollinators and buds appear, rainfall, climate events, last and first frosts, etc. Within our town, there are many microclimates, no one solution fits all, and creativity is key. Anyone can do it, and your records can help.
- Notice whether early-budding plants are mismatched with pollinator emergence. You may even have to pollinate some plants yourself. If you notice pests, such as squash borers, are showing up earlier, consider planting squash (or other pests’ favorite foods) a little later.
- A soil test for pH, nutrients, and textural classification is useful for selecting hardy native plants that will do well for you. Plymouth County Extension will test your soil for $20. Agricultural educator Meg Riley is also available for any growing questions: MRiley@plymouthcountyma.gov, 774-404-7022.
- To learn more about climate forestry and wildlife habitat on your property, become familiar with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation’s forestry programs for landowners. Get to know the forester for our region: Jim Rassman, jamesrassman@mass.gov, 508-269-1645.
- The white pines that grow throughout southeastern Mass. don’t like winds over 65 mph. If you lose some or need to create a wind break, consider planting eastern red cedar, which are also native. They like sandy soils and provide berries for birds and other wildlife.
- Plant native deciduous trees on the south side of your house to shade from summer sun, and hardy coniferous trees on the north to break winter winds.
- Encourage the outer parts of your property to return to natural wetland or meadow, which can store groundwater and protect from flooding.
- Seek out seeds that have been adapted to the region, such as Johnny’s Seeds, Dragonfly Natives (run by Jasmin Callahan in Middleborough), Ivory Silo Farm and Freed Seed Federation (offering a Seed School on 2/25), both in Westport.
- Breeka Lí invites members and friends of Sustainable Middleborough to visit her Gillotti Farms for a free consult. Contact her via Facebook Messenger or at gillottifarms@gmail.com
Use this link for more resources and to look through the slideshow.
You can watch the video of the January 8 event below:
