Anecdotal evidence indicates that it is getting wetter in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Weeds and cultivated plants alike thrive in the warm, wet summers, creating a temperate climate jungle. This creates more work of removing unwanted greenery (weeds) that threatens to overrun veggie plants, but means barely any time needs to be spent on watering.
Unfortunately, farmers who need a rain-free window in which to plow and plant sometimes find themselves waiting until late in spring for fields to be dry enough to be worked. This could be remedied by turning low-lying areas into permanent pasture for grazing or hay production. As long as subsidies prioritize corn and soy production, however, this is unlikely to occur. It's a sad example of the solution being simple, but out of reach due to financial reasons.
I didn't intend this post to be a rant against poor agricultural practices, however, but a rumination on ways of interacting with land. I'm in the midst of a pond digging project, in an attempt to a) acquire a pond, and b) deal with water issues. The customary way of dealing with water is often to encourage it to leave as quickly as possible by filling in low spots, installing drains, etc. This is necessary around roads and structures, but is often done indiscriminately due to lack of examples of better practices. Many acres of wetlands have been lost (Drain the swamp!) and it makes sense to restore these incredibly important and productive ecosystems, especially where it is possible to do so with minimal intervention. Why not let nature do what she wants, and just add a little encouragement and management?
Since much of the property where I live is river bottom, it's natural that we would have low, wet areas. I noticed one area was becoming much wetter than it was a few years ago. More rainfall and also altered land use have probably both contributed to this. The plan is to change this uniformly soggy spot into a pond with raised pathways around it. This will improve the experience of humans and wildlife. It will be possible to not only walk in this area and keep feet dry, but also move animals and equipment through. The permanent water features will provide safe habitat for various critters, increasing biodiversity while offering a retreat for stressed-out humans. Furthermore, digging the ponds by hand is great exercise and really gets a person in touch with the land. (Don't you want to try it?)
While some physical exertion to dig the pond is required, once completed it the area will require very little maintenance, and provide many benefits. It's a good example of a little initial effort for a big payoff. Even though a few years ago I hadn't even considered putting a pond here, by observing the land and how it's changing, keeping an open mind, and most of all listening to my partner, I recognized that the pond was the best option. Not everyone has the option of digging a pond, but many homeowners could identify things to do differently on their properties that would benefit all stakeholders. How do we nudge people in this positive direction? I'll let you know my thoughts in the next post.
Comments