Butterfly Habitat + the Future
It’s early winter at the wildflower farm, and we’re dreaming of spring. We’ve been doing our annual greenhouse seed sowing this week, building the foundation for spring. And doing some year-end reflections on the nature of the work.
In general, the world’s been in flux for a few years. There’s no denying whatever else may be true, we’re in late-stage Capitalism. And it’s all changing every day. I’ve watched over the past couple years as many people close to me have refined and crystalized their value system. The people paying attention are eschewing distractions from what they cherish in the world, doubling down on what’s real.
I remember during the time I lived in northern California around the turn of the century, 100% of the people I knew there cared so deeply about environmental conservation. Some of my friends were actually willing to chain themselves to big trees in protest of rampant habitat fragmentation. (Have you ever heard of Julia Butterfly? I never met her, but she and I share a couple mutual friends.) This is where my land stewardship ethos rooted. I carry the depth of love those hippies had for the trees as I move ahead in the real world. Today, we operate a company that empowers landowners and managers to be environmentally responsible in their homes, businesses, municipalities, schools, in their unique spheres of influence. I’ll admit seeing a bulldozer might make me wince even now. And yet, I’d much prefer to be onsite immediately after these bulldozers drive away. I want my crew to load in hundreds of native plants, trees, shrubs and native grasses to swiftly begin the process of habitat restoration and land regeneration post construction. Why not? Open space is the perfect opportunity for new, high quality butterfly habitat in the future. The future starts now. In 20 years, any site can be reforested or regenerated. The key is a committed, serious effort to planting natives now. At Jessecology, we are all in. By 2030 I hope we can’t drive half a block through the Saratoga/Albany/Niskayuna region without seeing butterfly habitat and wildflowers we know. Butterfly habitat + the future: bright thoughts for you and yours♥️
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