Ecology¶

Notes, guides, and resources on ecology and the environment. The section runs from the science and philosophy behind them to the hands-on work in my own garden and community.

Guides¶

Longer reference pieces on the science, ideas, and practice.

• Ecology Foundations & Environmental Stewardship: How ecosystems work (energy flow, populations, communities, biomes, biodiversity), human impact, and principles and practical steps for stewardship.
• Environmentalism: The environmental movement's history, ideological strands, policy tools, international governance, internal debates, criticisms, and environmental justice.
• Deep Ecology: Arne Næss's philosophy: the shallow/deep distinction, the eight-point platform, ecosophy and Self-realization, its influence, and its critics.
• Climate Change: Readings and courses on climate science and evidence.
• Tree Management: Pruning, structural care, and long-term tree health, including young-tree training and the 3-cut method.

Gardening & Habitat¶

• Native Pollinator Gardening: Building habitat with native plants.
• Native pollinator gardening resources: Habitat restoration, rewilding, and ecological restoration.
• List of plants in my native pollinator garden
• Native pollinator plant retailers: Where to buy native plants in Ontario.
• Non-Native Invasives: Invasive and noxious plants I battle, aggressive natives, and management resources.
• Common Buckthorn: Identification and management (pulling, girdling, mowing).
• Indoor Gardening: Indoor watering systems (Blumat, terracotta watering stakes).
• Mushrooms: Growing edible mushrooms.
• King Stropharia: Building a mini mushroom bed.
• Pioppino: Growing and cooking tips.

Wildlife¶

• Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus): Monarch conservation and rearing.
• Reared count 2025
• Turtles: Ontario turtle rescue, the turtle hotline, and habitat protection.

Living Lightly¶

• Reduce, Reuse, Rethink: A room-by-room household waste reduction tracker covering what's working, what's planned, what's unsolved, and which "eco" swaps are actually worth it.

Getting Involved¶

• Citizen Science: Bird counts, collision mapping, invasive species reporting, Milkweed Watch, and other ways to contribute data.
• Environmental Groups: Environmental and conservation organizations, plus wildlife rescues and sanctuaries.