After many weeks of ecofeminist study, it’s time to put the material to practice. The gender-environmentalist issue that I’d like to tackle is biodiversity. Biodiversity is when many species live in the same area and provide different benefits to the ecosystem. For example, bees and butterflies pollinate flowers and fruits, worms and rodents aerate the soil, and plants filter the water. Each species works in tandem to support the surrounding environment. Ynestra King wrote in her essay The Ecology of the Feminist and the Feminism of Ecology that life is an “interconnected web, not a hierarchy,” and “a healthy ecosystem needs biodiversity to survive” (2019).
To do my part, I’d like to establish a permanent garden in my backyard. We have a hodgepodge garden of sorts right now, but it isn’t carefully planned to support biodiversity. I’d like to incorporate native plants, flowers, fruits, and vegtables, and my sons will help me plant and maintain. This will benefit the world twofold: the biodiversity in my backyard will increase, and I will be teaching the next generation of men to care and cultivate the earth respectfully.
To do this, I’ll need to:
- Research native plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables
- Start seeds indoors
- Plot the garden
- Install a fence to keep rabbits out
- Teach my kids how to transplant seedlings
- Plant, grow, cultivate
I also have plans to install a wildlife pond to support local amphibians, but that will happen when the ground is warmer and this class is over. My goal is to create a backyard that supports biodiversity and acts as a portal to wildnerness for my kids, who can and should grow up with access to and respect for the outdoors. I’m not a professional landscaper or botanist, but I’m optimistic about the knowledge I’ll acquire, and I know my family and local wildlife will benefit from the effort.
Works Cited
King, Ynestra. (2019). “The Ecology of Ecofeminism & the Feminism of Ecology”. Libcom.