B1.1 Plants, perspectives, and protecting native species
Example
A meadow of native wildflowers is turned into a lawn. Describe what changes for a bee, a farmer nearby, and a family that walked there.
- Bee: the flowers it fed on are gone, so fewer bees — and the farmer's orchard sets less fruit without them.
Remember: Family: the meadow's colour and butterflies are gone; the lawn needs mowing and watering. Protecting native plants: leave a strip unmown; plant natives, which local insects can already use for food and shelter.
B1.2 Our impact on plants
Example
Describe what paving a yard, walking off the trail, and planting a tree each do to plants, and one personal action.
- Paving: the soil is sealed, so nothing grows and no rain soaks in.
- Off-trail: trampled plants die and bare soil washes downhill, because no roots hold it.
Remember: Planting a tree: shade, cleaner air, homes for birds. Personal action: stay on the trail; grow one native plant.
B1.3 Locally grown food
Example
Compare Ontario strawberries in June with strawberries shipped in January: benefits and limits of local food.
- Local: travels a short way, so far less fuel is used; picked ripe; money stays with nearby farms.
- Limit: some foods will not ripen in this climate at any time of year, and local strawberries are only in season a few weeks.
Remember: Shipped: available all year, but travels far and is picked before ripe.
Summary
- One change to plants reaches insects, farms and people.
- Native plants feed the insects already here.
- Sealed soil and trampling kill plants; trees help.
- Local food: less fuel, riper, seasonal; some foods cannot grow here.