Why Go Native?
Years ago I accidentally discovered native plants when I was forced to sit still, looking after two under two. Letting the “weeds” grow tall we observed pollinators buzzing around them and and hungry caterpillars devouring weeds and emerging as stunning butterflies.
The most remarkable side effect was it all tripled our garden's produce!
This curiosity ignited a passionate quest for knowledge, revealing how enhancing a backyard ecosystem with native plants could significantly improve garden productivity. Through extensive research, planting, and experimentation, we cultivated an extraordinary ecosystem that supports more than just food production.
We are dedicated to sharing this knowledge with the community through educational events, school visits, and workshops, helping others create their own ecosystems in their edible backyard gardens. Additionally, we have established our own seed library to distribute native plants and assist individuals in building their own gardens.
This website is an extension of our mission to share this knowledge to a wider audience, fostering the growth of the native plant movement.
Why Should You Go Native?
Incorporating native plants into your garden not only benefits the environment but also creates a vibrant, resilient, and low-maintenance space for you to enjoy. Here are some of the remarkable benefits native plants can have on your garden.
Support Local Wildlife: Native plants provide essential food and habitat for local wildlife, including pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds. They create a thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity.
Low Maintenance: Since native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, they typically require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. This makes them easier to care for and more sustainable. As long as you carefully plan your native garden, taking soil, sunlight, and water into consideration, it will be very low maintenance.
Pest and Disease Resistance: Native plants have evolved to withstand local pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments and promoting a healthier garden environment.
Water Conservation: Many native plants are drought-tolerant and efficient in water usage, which can help conserve water and reduce irrigation needs.
Soil Health Improvement: Native plants often have deep root systems that help prevent soil erosion, improve soil structure, and enhance nutrient cycling.
Enhanced Garden Yield: By creating a balanced ecosystem, native plants can attract beneficial insects and pollinators, ultimately boosting the productivity of your garden and increasing the yield of fruits and vegetables.
Aesthetic Appeal: Native plants can add unique beauty to your garden with their diverse shapes, colours, and textures. They also provide a sense of place and connection to the local environment.
Feeling inspired but unsure where to begin with planting native species? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!
Explore our Native Plants section to learn more about the incredible species you can incorporate into your garden here.
Looking to plan your own native garden or a companion planting design? We’re here to help guide you through the process here.
We’ll also teach you how to grow your own native plants, especially since many nurseries unfortunately don’t stock a wide variety of natives. Keep asking your local nurseries for native plants, though—the more requests they receive, the more likely they’ll see the demand and start offering them! You can find our guide to growing your own native plants here.
If you're in our local region, we also provide recommendations on where to find native Plants and Seeds.