Native Plants and Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression
It’s probably not totally obvious that a commitment to planting species native to this region is an act of anti-racism and anti-oppression. But as European people spread west, so did their methods of gardening and the plants they brought with them. These methods overtook the landscape, forever changing the ecosystems that sustained the people within. Plants, animals, bacteria and other microorganisms were literally colonized and eradicated the same way Native Americans were.
Now, we are amidst neighborhood after neighborhood with Homeowners Associations that make sure things are neat and tidy–two words that no one would use to describe the woods and prairies that were this land prior to colonization.
In the process of colonizing with lawns and tidy gardens, we have upset a delicate balance. We have introduced plants foreign to this continent. We have deprived the soil of the nutrients and microorganisms that provide sustenance for native plants. This has allowed invasive species, like Japanese honeysuckle and garlic mustard, to outcompete the native vegetation. In turn, this has deprived bees, birds, and other animals who relied on those native plants, a viable ecosystem to thrive. Eleven years ago, it was common to see a red fox on the property almost daily. Today, it is a rare event. As we lose the basic building blocks of habitat - native plants - the land struggles to support the wildlife that once were plentiful here. We still see the red fox from time to time, letting us know we are not too late. We still have time to restore the balance.
We acknowledge that this land was cared for by the Osage, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, and Iroquois. We commit to caring for this land as an act of honoring and continuing the legacy of those peoples. In so doing, we must:
Rid the property of invasive species and
Replant with native species.
Will you join me in making this commitment?
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