Complimentary Blueberry Juice

I’m so excited! It took less than 24 hours since the Tree Swallows first returned and I put up the nest boxes. There have been several pairs flying around the field and checking out each box.

It’s really a very satisfying feeling to plan to provide a home for a specific thing, build what will attract it, and watch it all play out.

What has been most surprising is how close they let me get, and perching on a fencepost was good for my amateur bird photography skills. They don’t seem too afraid of us (perhaps they are used to seeing us all the time from the treeline anyhow and are used to our farmer behaviour).

They already feel almost like pets. You can feel a closer bond to nature when you engage with the outdoor world in such a way that you are collaborating with and supporting what goes on around you. Humans have the ability to choose to act in this capacity on a global scale and across all of our food production systems.

Just look at this shiny guy! I’m still excited I was able to get these photos. The web of nature and how all the intricate pieces fit together is not only fascinating, but it never gets old because you can never possibly know it all. There is always another bird and ecological behaviour to observe, another insect life cycle to learn, or another mushroom to identify. The design of nature is as grand as it is beautiful. In the case of the Tree Swallow, it also happens to be iridescent.

Lots more biodiversity projects on the way at the farm based on expanding our permaculture design that I’ll be writing about in the months to come. Some of these 2024 projects include…

– More nest boxes targeting different species (Owls, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows)

– Tree Planting (diversifying tree species and creating a sheltered space)

– Beekeeping

– Planting native wildflowers as a no-mow property maintenance strategy for marginal cropping areas while providing for pollinators

– Cover cropping mechanically fallowed fields


Thanks for reading,

Graham

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