What do you want from your garden?

The goals you set will guide your project, and help you decide on what should be planted. Perhaps you are simply looking for a beautiful space to relax and improve mental health by getting close to nature, or maybe you are looking to attract your favorite species (monarchs anyone?), or you could have even more ambitious goals such as fighting climate change.

For me, the goal will be focused on supporting biodiversity in the city I live, Montreal, by gardening for local species requirements using native plants. It’s no secret that growing native plants addresses biodiversity loss by restoring the habitat of local wildlife, but how can we do so with limited space?

This blog will outline the steps I take over the winter to create a balcony garden that supports local wildlife, decreases habitat loss, and uses sustainable gardening practices, in order to ensure a long gardening season once spring hits; starting with step one: Setting Your Goals.

How I Plan to Garden for Biodiversity

• Fight habitat loss- plant only species native to Quebec, and define what our zone is.
• Support pollinators- which pollinating species frequent the area, and what plant species do they like?
• Support bird populations- both migrating species, and those that stick around year-round. What are their needs, and how can I attract them?
• Use sustainable gardening practices- conserve energy and water, no chemical fertilizers, and compost organic waste.
• Integrate Indigenous knowledge- As an important step toward reconciling the past and helping to shape a better future, it is crucial to learn from an indigenous perspective, rather than about indigenous perspectives. Their practices center around working with the environment as opposed to finding ways to make the environment work for you. This knowledge is vital and often overlooked. Take the opportunity to learn the value of indigenous gardening practices, and see how they can be implemented into your space.