The Wild Yards Project: Transforming Lawns into Biodiverse Habitats - Ep. 144

EcoJustice Radio

Our times are demanding that we reconnect to Nature and the place where we live. Given the impacts of the sixth great extinction, it is our personal and collective responsibility to support the return of biodiversity and native habitat. The World Wildlife Fund recently announced that we are losing 10,000 species a year to extinction, primarily due to habitat loss. Despite this, the U.S. has turned over 40 million acres of native-habitat into high-maintenance, lifeless and toxic lawns. According to Beyond Pesticides, suburban lawns and gardens receive more pesticides per acre than in agriculture, to the tune of 90 million pounds per year. Regrettably many people are now turning to fake grass or synthetic lawns for instant green gratification; however, these can be costly over their lifespan, potentially include harmful ingredients such as microplastics or recycled tires, and inhibit biodiversity. Our guest this week, David Newsom, Founder of The Wild Yards Project [https://www.wildyardsproject.com], asserts that all lawns can be reclaimed, regenerated and repurposed into habitat where the tens of thousands of displaced, native and threatened species could once again thrive. Combining award winning filmmakers, esteemed botanists, biologists and native plant landscapers, the Wild Yards Project is here to remind us that: One yard can save a species, but many yards can transform the world. Hear David Newsom share about the rewards and challenges of re-creating urban and suburban cultivated spaces into abundant, biodiverse, resilient and equitable spaces with native plants, native stewardship and compassion. Wild Yards Project is inspiring globally, transforming built-spaces locally, and providing resources for people worldwide to begin where they are in restoring and healing the lands where they live. With over 25 years in film and television, David combines storytelling, community outreach and on-site consultation/installation to inspire globally, transform built-spaces locally, and provide the resources for people everywhere to begin restoring and healing the land where they live and work. Published Content Sunset Magazine: https://www.sunset.com/home-garden/landscaping/native-plant-lawn-guide Cultivating Place: https://www.cultivatingplace.com/post/2019/08/08/where-the-wild-things-are-wild-yards-project-david-newsom Mr Feelgood: https://mrfeelgood.com/articles/where-the-wild-things-are David Newsom- Seminar for Portland Horticultural Society: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/iGpozmQ47PvKbvK3HKVLjiSPY2RWp-IrhnQWe6CTNEOHpRJX7p5W-dpXWocNS1xBZmYHXBzZfK7w6IcI.yz82G26RfwzNAOjA?startTime=1649351696000 For an extended version of this interview and other benefits, become an EcoJustice Radio patron at https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/ Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/ Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio Hosted by Carry Kim Intro by Jessica Aldridge Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats Executive Producer: Jack Eidt Show Created by Mark and JP Morris Episode 144 Photo credit: Wild Yards Project