If you have a sliver of land, you can build a wildlife habitat

Photo by Andrea Lightfoot, Unsplash

Anyone with a bit of land and a can-do attitude can help Mother Nature and humankind. "When farmland is healthy, there is a balanced ecosystem with plenty of native plants and habitat for wildlife," reports Jodi Henke of Successful Farming. "This is called biodiversity, and all landowners can do something to improve it."

Jo Ann Baumgarten is director of Wild Farm Alliance, an organization that promotes a healthy, viable agriculture through the protection and restoration of nature. She told Henke that when there’s a lot of biodiversity, the benefits multiply: “Farmers can attract pollinators that help pollinate their crops, and they can attract beneficial insects that help to control pest insects. There are beneficial birds that eat pest insects, weed seeds, and even rodents. Bats are eating insects, and four-footed creatures are eating rodents.”

Before making any changes, take inventory. If you need help figuring out what is good and what isn't, "Extension services, resource conservation districts, and other local groups can offer technical assistance and get you started," Henke writes.

Baumgarten told Henke, "First, you need to look at the climate, the drainage, and soil conditions. If there are problem areas like erosion and invasive species, they should be dealt with first. One of the best things to do is to go someplace wild nearby, look at what’s growing there, and then try to emulate that."

Other substantial tips from Henke include: building a game bird preserve, creating a wild duck habitat, or building brush pile for smaller animals to enjoy.