Rooted in Nature

Exploring Biodiversity and Native Plants

The results are in and you want a brief read, but what else do you want? 

This week I’m excited to include some pictures in the newsletter! But this newsletter isn’t just about me,

Let me know your thoughts in the comments: 

👍🏼 = I love pictures. 

👎🏼 = no thanks, dude.

Hello, if you’re new here, first and foremost thanks for stopping by. 

I’m Travis and this newsletter serves as both a personal accountability tool for me, as well as a way to share my journey as I work toward making the nursery my full-time career by 2027.

In the last edition, we introduced the six main points to consider in building the nursery. 

Today, I’ll focus on the first two: biodiversity and the importance of choosing regionally appropriate plants.

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Biodiversity

What Is It?

Biodiversity, or the variety of life on Earth, includes all living things and their interactions that sustain life. 

It’s all around you, from the grasses and forbs to the trees and wildlife. 

Every species plays a vital role, and the more species we have, the healthier our ecosystems become.

Consider the white oak (Quercus alba)

Research by Dr. Doug Tallamy highlights the vital connections between oak trees and various animals, particularly insects. 

He notes that "oaks support 534 different species of caterpillars, more than any other native tree or plant." 

Caterpillars serve as the primary food source for migrating birds and young chicks, providing essential nutrients for their growth and survival. 

If you’re a bird lover, it’s crucial to support caterpillars and other insects, as an astonishing 96% of migratory birds in North America rely on them to feed their young. 

Protecting birds means also protecting the trees and plants that sustain these insects.

The birds depend on the caterpillars. The caterpillars depend on the trees. And the trees depend on the birds. 

Why Is It Important?

Every time you step outside, you interact with countless species. 

Each plays a unique role in maintaining balance. 

A diverse ecosystem is more resilient, meaning it can withstand changes and challenges better.

How to Accomplish It: 3 Techniques

1. No Sprays: Never use poisons, including rodent killers, mosquito spray treatments or other pesticides.

2. Native Species: Most of our nursery trees come from native species collected locally or sourced regionally.

3. Encourage Wildlife: Attract insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals to promote a thriving ecosystem.

How Is Biodiversity Encouraged in the Nursery?

We plant a variety of native flowering species to promote and support pollinators throughout the growing seasons. 

Our plants are grown from seed to enhance genetic diversity, and we focus on species native to our region. 

While fruit trees like apples and peaches aren’t native, they’re still important economically, as seen in local homestead orchards.

I haven’t needed to spray anything in the nursery yet, though I’m open to exploring biodynamic and/or certified organic methods in the future.

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Regionally Appropriate Plants

Why Is It Important?

Choosing plants well-adapted to our local climate and soil ensures healthy growth, reduces pest pressures, and supports native wildlife. 

Native plants uniquely define our region, contributing to its beauty and ecological health. 

They stabilize soil, regulate water flow, and play a crucial role in decomposition and regeneration.

How to Accomplish It:

Everything grown in our nursery comes from locally harvested plants or species with proven success in zone 6b, central KY. 

For new cultivars of proven species, I prefer to plant them in the ground and monitor their performance over time before offering them to you.

This approach gives me purpose in the plants I grow, and I hope to build a community around it.

What This Means for You:

As I’m still new to the nursery business, my goal is to thoroughly test every cultivar before it hits the shelves.

I want to ensure you receive plants with a proven track record for our local conditions.

This persimmon tree produces abnormally large fruit. 

Saving seed and growing out trees to trade/sell/give to my community feels overwhelmingly valuable. 

Considerations:

I have 3-5 growing sites to test different plants, but balancing travel time with my busy schedule can be challenging. 

I grew up in my area and still have friends/family with land interested in increasing their food production locally. I’d be willing to bet they’d let me forage if I trade them some trees. 

My boss at the organic produce farm has offered me space to grow the nursery on her land, which is definitely worth considering. 

I’ll need to weigh the pros and cons for sure!

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Thanks for reading! 

I hope you find this information useful—after all, you can always earn more money, but time is irreplaceable. 

Stay tuned for next week’s edition as we explore two more key factors to consider as the nursery grows: ease of propagation and straightforward systems.

And don’t forget to leave a 👍🏼 or 👎🏼 in the comments if you’d like to see pictures to go along with the text weekly. 

See you next week!

Much love

Many blessings

Travis