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Guest Q&A: Julia Rogers Read Time: 3 mins  Blackberry Ridge Farm (The event venue and beneficiary of Psychoactive Last Runner Standing Event) recently dedicated their newly established Native Pollinator Habitat to HPM and we couldn't be more proud! It's no surprise that HPM is fully committed to supporting human activity and environmental advocacy and this beautiful habitat dedicated to our planet first approach is another perfect example of exactly that. This space will provide our natural ecosystem an opportunity to thrive 365 days a year and since we will pass the habitat on the Psychoactive course ... over and over and over ... it will be a reminder of our environmental support on each and every lap! Learn more about the benefits of native pollinator habitats from Blackberry Ridge Farm Co-Owner Julia Rogers and see how you can start your habitat in your own neck of the woods!  Question: Let's start with the basics ... What is a Native Pollinator Habitat? Answer: It's an area that's been specifically designed and prepped to reduce weeds and invasive species of grass and shrubs. It is then seeded with native plants, primarily flowers, to provide food and environments for native pollinators ... Basically, rewild spaces as they should naturally exist! Question: Why are these spaces important to ecosystems? Answer: Native pollinators are responsible for pollinating 3/4 of the world's flowering plants. In addition to pollinating these flowers, the pollinator habitat benefits other species like insects that feed on pests. It also provides a habitat for wildlife, improves water quality, stabilizes the soil, and acts as a windbreak. Question: Why did you decide to do this at Blackberry Ridge Farm? Answer: We had a fallow field on our property that had no immediate use so we felt that we could transition the area into a pollinator habitat to further benefit the local ecosystem at our farm. We also wanted to create an opportunity for education on why native pollinator habitats are so important which is why we're so grateful for Human Powered Movement's support through proceeds from Psychoactive! Question: What steps did you follow to create the habitat? Answer: First we met with biologists from our local National Resource Conservation Service (part of the USDA) to evaluate the area and create a plan for our specific site. This plan included killing the invasive species on 3 separate occasions, using a subsoiler to break up the compacted ground, testing and amending the soil with fertilizer and lime, and finally, tilling and planting a mix of native seeds at the recommended ratio. Question: How can the average non-farm-owning Jane/Joe do something like this? Answer: I recommend simply learning to identify the difference between native and non-native plants in your area. There are many online resources (Pro Tip: most states have a Native Plant Society that you can find with a simple google search), but you can also use your phone to take a picture and identify what types of plants are around you. Then, when you're landscaping your yard, start to replace non-natives with native varieties. Start with a small area and expand over time. Be mindful that many big box garden centers commonly sell non-native species and many landscaping companies are not experienced in native species. For our NC neighbors out there, the North Carolina Native Plant Society website has a list of nurseries where you can purchase native plants. Also, the NRCS has a ton of resources available on their website HERE. Question: What's one thing you want to leave people with? I want to close by sharing that this really is something that anyone can participate in no matter how much property or their experience with gardening. Start by simply growing native plants from seeds. The more you learn, the more you can gradually change the landscape of your yard to focus on native plants. Every little bit helps the native pollinators ... at the end of the day, we need them way more than they need us!
 Journal - The Importance of Native Pollinator HabitatComments are closed.
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