Diversity and inclusion

April is almost over and humans matter!

Please please please add some human food to the gardens that you have currently. It's not difficult to slip in some kale or a lettuce here or a tomato there or a zucchini over there.

And if you're growing vegetables and fruit please please please include flowers to attract the pollinators to increase your produce.

I was a staunch perennial flower person for a long time. Then I added a few cucumber and tomato plants. Then I added annual flowers.

NOW I know the benefit of growing all of the above. You can do it too in your own back AND/OR front yard.

No garden areas need to be exclusively one type or another. There's lots human food that can be planted in part shade. And interspersing produce in different areas helps keep pests from decimating certain crops.

Want shrubs for privacy? Consider berries.

Want a tree or two for shade? Consider orchard trees.

Looking for a reliable ground cover? Perennial strawberries fill in bare spaces well!

Want more fruit and less pests? Skip the grass and plant herbs, small shrubs and perennial flowers around your trees.

Want to confuse pests or "hide" your produce? Use aromatic plants to mask and tall flowers to distract.

Today can you entertain the idea of planting just one item you might not usually plant?

This spring, can you start integrating your human and pollinator food sources?

Write to me if this idea resonates with you or if you have questions about how to do this!

Forward this blogpost if you think the message is valuable!

Learn and grow!

Tammy Lowe, The Lazy Northern Gardener