Monoculture Mania
Diversity of people and ideas is just as important to the human world as diversity of plants is to the natural world.
A plantation of Pará rubber trees, Hevea brasiliensis
When we think of monocultures we tend to think of the vast fields of corn or wheat that stretch across the American midwest. But monocultures can exist in forests and urban environments as well. Orchards that produce fruit or pine forests that produce paper are examples of monoculture forest plantations. These large scale forest plantations produce some of the most useful natural resources to the modern world, things like rubber, chocolate, and oil. In fact, 10% of global cropland is occupied by a single species of tree, Elaeis guineensis, that produces the palm oil used in nearly 50% of the packaged foods in the supermarket. (1)
The dangers of monocultures have been well documented, but these orderly rows of a single, easy-to-manage plant aren’t just an industrial problem. Some of us can probably look out our front doors to see just one or two species of tree lining the street. Monocultures exist because they are an economically efficient way for us to produce more in less space and time, but how can we support plant diversity in other areas to ensure healthy soil, native wildlife, and a functioning planet?
Sometimes looking at big, global problems just leaves us feeling overwhelmed and helpless. So let’s tackle this issue with something most of us can do at home, especially now when we may have acres of time on our hands. This could be something you’ve always wanted to do anyway…
Looking for Lawns - from Christina Milesi’s 2005 Study
Lawns are probably the most prevalent example of monocultures in microcosm. Christina Milesi, a NASA scientist published a report on residential and commercial grass lawns in the early 2000’s. Using satellite photos, she calculated that there are roughly 40 million acres of relatively sterile, resource depleting lawns covering the United States. As of 2005, lawns had become the most grown crop in America, covering an area roughly the size of Texas. (2)
What else could we be doing with this space? Could we replace the grass for native ground cover to avoid fertilizer? Plant a tree to add some shade to a sizzling summer? A pollinator garden perhaps? This article The American Obsession with Lawns in Scientific American is helpful in understanding the history of lawns and how they can be altered for our modern world. Check out these recommendations:
We also want to collect some ideas from you! Comment below with some ideas on fun or efficient methods for enhancing your personal green space, include your climate zone and we will add appropriate references to our list of recommendations.
Happy Summer Everyone- Stay Cool and Stay Safe!
Sara & Cesar