What is an ecosystem?
To simplify organization and cataloging of plants and animals at My Wild Classroom, we’ve designated four distinct ecosystems within our single acre: Garden, Woodland, Meadow, and Ecotone. Additionally, there is a fifth designation known as the “Human Zone,” where we human folk primarily dwell. Our acre is divided into over thirty different sectors, each sector categorized by ecosystem and location.
Logging Sectors
Here at MWC, logging refers simply to writing down critical information — it has nothing to do with taking down trees, don’t worry. At the beginning of each season, I do a walk-through of each sector, writing down every species of plant and animal encountered during the walk-through, along with a count of each individual within the species. This way, I’m able to note changes in the landscape and wildlife over time.
First Steps
How To Get Started in Your Own Backyard
If you’re interested in starting a conservation or restoration project where you live, here’s a few tips to get things under way.
Call For Inquiry
(207) 570 – 8262
Mail For Inquiry
01.
Identify your goals. Are you trying to restore habitat? Log changes over time? Create an oasis for you and your family? Think about what your end goal would be, and how much time you have to devote to the project.
02.
Take stock of what you have. How much space is there? What kind of plants do you have on the property already? Research your flora. Are there invasive plants you would like to get rid of? Conversely, do you have keystone native plants valuable to wildlife? Take time to really observe and learn, before making any big changes to the landscape.
03.
Look for helpers. Find wildlife-friendly landscape designers if you have the budget for it. If you don’t, talk to your local garden club or see if there’s an organization devoted to habitat conservation and restoration in your area. They may have free resources to help you achieve your goals. In the meantime, check out this list of resources for additional help along the way.
sectors by zone
Ecosystem 1: Garden
“Intentional” gardens at MWC, planted with valuable pollinator annuals and perennials, accompanied wherever possible with water sources and shelter for insects, birds, and other wildlife.
G1: Entry Garden
Shaded, acidic soil in a small space marking the entrance to our home.
G2: Old Oak Park
Space beneath our ancient, enormous red oak and directly along the driveway.
G3: Winged Way
A pollinator garden in full sun and partial shade, recently planted and brimming with potential.
G4: Greenhouse
South-facing area currently overgrown with lily of the valley and a couple of lovely weigela. Over the long term, the weigela will be transplanted and a lean-to greenhouse will serve to efficiently extend the growing season, without the need for grow lights or additional heating.
G5: Bumblebee Bend
My first real pollinator project, with a host of native pollinator plants, a little fountain/pond, and lots of love.
G6: Porcupine Place
Overgrown and waiting for transformation, this nevertheless provides bountiful shelter and sustenance for pollinators and larger wildlife.
G7: Goldfinch Garden
Just in front of our kitchen, overrun at the moment with coneflowers and strawberries. The birds (and chipmunks) wouldn’t have it any other way.
G8: Hummingbird Haven
A misplaced trumpet honeysuckle became the centerpiece and inspiration for this hummingbird garden in progress.
G9: Chipmunk Channel
A thriving mountain laurel and garden phlox make up this oft-neglected border garden, now in the process of transformation.
G10: Roses and Robins
Overgrown with invasive greater celandine, dame’s rocket, and neglected roses, this is another area that’s crying out for inspiration.
G11: Butterflies by Beans
Rudbeckia, coreopsis, and wild strawberries are gradually winning the fight with hawksweed, dame’s rocket, and forget-me-nots, but those hearty invasives aren’t going down without a fight.
G12: Salamander Steps
Secret stone steps and an overgrown European holly mark this very special, shaded space. Dame’s rocket, multi-flora rose, and lungwort are gradually being replaced with wintergreen and bloodwort, but it’s a slow, painstaking transformation.
G13: Rain Garden
Another work-in-progress, currently filled with multi-flora rose and dame’s rocket. In time, these pesky invasives will be replaced with native plants that love to get their feet wet.
G14: Raspberry Run
A strip of raspberries, occasionally overgrown with enough dame’s rocket to make a grown woman cry. The raspberries are good, though.
Ecosystem 2: Meadow
A single, large area along the shaded southern side of the property. Once lawn, this area is now being converted to meadow and planted with valuable native plants and shrubs to provide food and habitat for wildlife.
M1: Field Mouse Meadow
Lawn over the property leach field is gradually being transformed into a meadow of native wildflowers, grasses, and other perennials, ideally providing habitat and sustenance on a grander scale than our smaller gardens. The shaded half is bordered by grand old oaks, maples, spruce, and cedar.
M2: Deer Dominion
A small portion of the meadow gets a good amount of sunlight, particularly since neighbors cleared a huge stand of old tree growth along the border of the property (don’t you just love neighbors?). This area will be planted with more sun-loving native wildflowers, ideally including a large swath of sundial lupine. Let’s get those Karner butterflies back in Maine!
Ecosystem 3: Woodland
Sparsely wooded areas around the perimeter of the property, where habitat is gradually being restored and high-value native trees and shrubs planted.
W1: Sparrow Strip
A stretch of trees and narrow band of plant-able grassland along Route 209.
W2: Coyote Corner
The lushest stand of forest on the property, behind our workshop and thick with red oak, striped maple, alders, and paper birch.
W3: White Wolf Wood
The forested southwest edge of the property.
W4: Old Owl Oasis
Woodland along our southern border.
W5: Gray Squirrel Gulch
A gully between Clifford Road and the hillside where our home was built, overgrown with all number of invasives.
W6: Raccoon Row
Forested edge and steep wooded hillside along Clifford Road.
W7: Grizzly Gulch
A wooded area next to the house, once lined with pachysandra, vinca minor, and wintercreeper, gradually being replanted with beneficial natives.
Ecosystem 4: Ecotone
Those critical in-between spaces, where the trees meet open land.
E1: Day Lily Domain
The Southwest border, between W3 and G11, G13, and M1. Currently filled with blackberry brambles, forsythia, alders, and day lilies.
E2: Elders and Oak
The Southern border, between W4 and M1-M2, thick with day lilies, the remnants of a felled burning bush, stray dame’s rocket, high-bush cranberry, and recently introduced nanny berry and elderberry.
E3: The In-Between
Southeast border, between W5 and the very mossy leach field.
The Human Zone
People places.
P1: House
A 3500-square-foot home first built in 1790, with additions built on over subsequent centuries.
P2: Workshop
A 1,000-square-foot working space currently dedicated to off-season growing and small-scale carpentry projects.
P3: Crow Court
A stone bird bath and multiple bird feeders, backed by a bountiful quince tree and loads of violets.
P4: Birder's Brunch
Stone bench and multiple feeders, including large woodpecker suet feeder frequented by downy and hairy woodpeckers, as well as northern flickers and the occasional red-headed woodpecker.
P5: Food Garden
Consisting of several raised beds and trellises and partially fenced, this year-round food garden is – like so much of this lovely acre – a perpetual work-in-progress.