Doing Things Differently: Those Aren't Weeds!

Those Aren't Weeds!

While we love to see vegetation tumbling over the fence from Patchwork Farms, we recognize that the perception might be that we've got some issues with overgrown weeds (or so a neighbor has told us....). It’s a similar complaint as when a neighbor might complain about a native pollinator garden when they’re used to a groomed turf lawn. There are so many benefits to growing native gardens, and it’s absolutely critical to support bees and butterflies — in short, no insects means no food! — so why not share your rationale with people strolling past your gardens?

This season, Bubbly Dynamics and Patchwork collaborated to develop informational signage along the fenceline and around the farms to identify plants and explain why they're important. From milkweed to mugwort and grapes to gooseberries, we provide a summary about them and why they’re beneficial. And yes, Whiner Beer does use the hops and chamomile that are grown right here in our yard in their brews — it’s as local as you can get.

What Can You Do?
If you've got native plantings and are interested in sharing about their benefits, feel free to borrow the information that we’ve already compiled about the plants that we host here at The Plant. Link to our text document is here, and please share pics with us if you make up your own signage!

Btw, our signage was printed on repurposed corrugated plastic board by Snail Catalog over at Bubbly, so if you’re local and need signs, give them a shout, or DIY on used plastic board (consider harvesting some of those lawn signs that clutter up our streets during election season).

If you're new to native landscapes and pollinator gardens, you can get started with Pollinator Partnership’s Seven Things You Can Do For Pollinators resource — we love their Recipe Cards for different regions!

Just getting your feet wet? Purchase a mix of wildflower seeds and tuck them into any spare pots on your balcony or any little corners of your yard that can use a little love. We’ve had good luck with the seed mixes from American Meadows, where you can shop by region and season. Happy planting!