From the Outside In: Our Backyard Ecosystems (Part 1)
From day to day and season to season, my backyard never fails to amaze me. Sometimes there is more drama happening in my backyard than on any reality TV show.
Taking care of our backyard ecosystems and supporting an ecologically mindful environment (e.g. natural landscaping) for our horses, dogs, and cats – as well as the wildlife, plant life, insect life, and bird life we share the land with – is becoming more and more essential. I will even go as far as saying it is critical.
Looking at the now
The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 2022 Living Planet Report revealed – after studying more than 5,200 species (out of the almost 32,000 populations analyzed) – that there has been a steep decline in wildlife populations, averaging 69% since the 1970s.1
South America alone has lost 94% of its biodiversity.
This loss, according to the WWF, is due to:
Deforestation
Agrochemicals (like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers)
Pollution
Human consumption
Technology
Poor environmental governance
A snapshot of Tigger’s lush paddocks in Virginia
On the farm
I have lived on my farm for forty years, but I can still vividly remember the first time I saw the property and walked the land. I felt an immediate connection with it. I knew I belonged to it; not that it belonged to me.
The log cabin, built in 1832, wasn’t much on its own. It did have subsequent additions in 1910 and 1950 that were, shall we say, rather unsubstantial. There was no central heat or air conditioning, and the house didn’t get electricity until 1975. It still had an outhouse. However, none of this worried me.
What I loved was the land: rolling pastures, a forest of old trees, and a natural spring that fed into the creek.
Over the years…
Having lived here for over four decades, I’ve learned in depth the ecosystem of this farm: the native plants, the invasive ones, the migratory birds, the year-round residents, the wildlife, the reptiles, and the cooperation among trees. I’ve studied the various fungi, mosses, pollinators, and insects.
Most importantly, I’ve come to understand the interconnectedness of this small ecosystem and how everything supports each other.
One of Tigger’s Aussies, Wookie, taking in the surrounding nature
Our animals tell us
Our horses, dogs, and cats are keenly sensitive to their environment. The health issues we see in our animals, some of which have reached epidemic proportions (like ulcers in horses, cancer in dogs, and chronic kidney disease in cats), can have multiple causes. Among them is overuse of pesticides and herbicides, directly correlating to our (human) compelling need to “control” nature.
Supporting our backyard and farm ecosystems…
…begins with treating our backyard as such and not just a space that has to be mowed and raked free of leaves.
Leave the dandelions: Their deep roots aerate the soil and loosen compaction, allowing for better water and nutrient absorption for all plants, including grass. Furthermore, early spring dandelions are a food resource for bees and other pollinators.
Avoid herbicides: For a flourishing ecosystem, stay away from 2,4-D amine, quinclorac, Fusilade, dicamba, halosulfuron-methyl, fenoxaprop, and glyphosate.
I can say with all candor that I have never used herbicides on my farm.
Let the leaves be: I know people like leaf-free lawns, but leaves are important compost for grasses and trees. If you need to remove the leaves, make a dedicated compost pile for them.
Personally, I just let the wind do her thing and blow the leaves around the farm, scattering them where they will.
Feed the birds: According to the Audubon Society, two-thirds of North American birds are at increasing risk of extinction.2 Some of the bird species at risk are the:
American Robin
Baltimore Oriole
Common Loon
Greater Sage Grouse
Nashville Warbler
Sandhill Crane
Scarlet Tanager
Piping Plover
Wood Thrush
Burrowing owl
Barn owl
Snowy owl
California Condor
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Diversify the pastures: Diversity of grasses and nontoxic plants in a pasture is a good thing; horses are foragers. Wild horses out west eat shrubs, trees, and flowers, as well as grasses. In the UK, there is a growing number of horse farms re-introducing hedgerows with various plants for horses like mint, hawthorn, rosehips, cleavers, wild garlic, and blackberries.
Dr. Carol Michael, PhD, a UK based microbiologist who has been working in the horse racing industry for 25 years in England, says horses should eat 25 different plants per day!
I control toxic plants either with a controlled burn or tarping. The key with these often invasive species is timing: when you see one patch pop up, you have to get on it right away, or you risk more and bigger patches quickly emerging.
Think of the pollinators: Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators. Pollination is an essential ecological survival function. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 plant species and to more than 1,200 crops. Loss of habitat, environmental contaminants, parasites, and diseases have contributed to the loss of pollinators around the world.
We wouldn’t be eating fruits, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and spices without pollinators.
Pollinator species, like moths, are key parts of the food web. Moths feed 80% of birds in the US, as well as reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.
Tigger’s blooming garden!
Enhancing our backyard ecosystems
Bird feeders: Strengthening the biodiversity in my own backyard began with leaving the dandelions alone and adding a single bird feeder (that I really only filled during the winter). Over time, I have increased the number of bird feeders to 15 (including three hummingbird feeders), and I now keep the feeders full year round.
This has, of course, led to an increase in the squirrel population (who utilize bird feeders as their version of a fast food drive-in), as well as an increase in the fox population that preys on said squirrels.
A red-bellied woodpecker having a snack from one of Tigger’s bird feeders
The year-round availability of suet has increased the variety of woodpeckers, while the steady supply of seeds and fruit attract more bluebirds, goldfinches, red-winged black birds, wrens, mockingbirds, nuthatches, chickadees, cardinals, and jays. A birdbath for drinking and bathing is greatly appreciated by many birds.
Recently, my own bird feeders have attracted a thief in the night… A raccoon has actually managed to take down a feeder and a suet holder, dragging them away for her personal stash. As of last night, the raccoon brought down three feeders, including a hummingbird feeder; one part of it is now on the MIA (Missing in Action) list. High drama in the backyard!
It’s helpful to know that bird feeders are unlikely to result in increased spread of avian influenza, as the species of bird that tend to come to feeders are not commonly infected, according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service.3
Plants for pollinators: Building up a yard for the pollinators’ benefit is incredibly rewarding. If you are unsure where to start, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a terrific source for discovering the best native plants for pollinators based on which state you live in (also known as ‘native gardening’ or ‘natural landscaping’).
In Virginia, coneflower, swamp milkweed, asters, black-eyed Susans, and butterfly weed are among the native plants for pollinators.
I add to my collection of lilies every year. Lilies attract pollinators; plus, the oriental variety perfumes the air with the most amazing scents. Sadly, some of this spring’s older oriental lilies got trampled by several enthusiastic Australian shepherds running merrily across the planted area.
Tigger’s dahlias
By some miracle, many of my dahlias survived the winter. Dahlias are also good for pollinators and are generally easy to grow. They can be enjoyed throughout the summer and produce blooms until frost.
My partner, Peter, who passed away unexpectedly in May 2024, loved comfrey. The whole property could be considered a kind of comfrey farm; we have so much comfrey growing here. Bumblebees, a threatened bee species, absolutely love comfrey. Also known as symphytum, the plants begin blooming in May, giving the bees plenty of food early in the growing season. If you need an easy and prolific plant to grow, comfrey is a great choice.
Trees and shrubs: It is important to know that caterpillars are the primary food source for nestlings in 96% of all bird species. Native oaks support 532 species of native caterpillars; yet, a butterfly bush (non-native) only supports one species of caterpillar.
The foliage of trees and shrubs offer birds shelter and nesting sites, as well as insects for the birds to dine on. They can also provide pollinators, like butterflies and hummingbirds, places to rest.
The varying trees that can be found on Tigger’s farm
Trees and shrubs also benefit our dogs by providing shade and serving as the proverbial dog mailbox for marking and communication.
In particular, trees help clean the air by filtering pollutants and absorbing carbon dioxide. They provide oxygen, prevent soil erosion, reduce noise travel, capture rainwater (helping to reduce stormwater runoff), and help promote healthy soils.
I value diversity, so my backyard hosts both deciduous trees and conifers.
Condos and apartments: Not everyone has access to a backyard or ample green space; however, there are still ways to contribute to your area’s biodiversity. Growing vegetables, pollinator plants, and herbs in pots offers the opportunity to enhance ecosystems both indoors and outdoors. If you have a balcony, patio, or other outdoor space, hang a hummingbird feeder or a window feeder to nurture the bird population in your area.
Horse farms: Adding trees around the outside of a pasture offers welcomed shade in the summer, as well as the other previously stated benefits of trees. Be sure to check with your local extension agent to find out what trees are safe for horses in your area. In Virginia where I live, white ash, tulip trees, and American sycamores are often safe choices. If your pasture has low-lying, wet areas, willows work great.
I have a paddock with huge cedars that grew up along the fence line. I noticed the horses like to rub against the cedar branches and later found out that cedar oil helps to repel insects. Win-win!
Pastures: Perfectly manicured, weed-free pastures are beautiful to look at but do not support the larger picture of a healthy ecosystem.
By all means, get rid of weeds that are toxic to horses (as I mentioned earlier, I prefer controlled burns or tarping to herbicides), especially if your pasture is overgrazed.
More and more farms are returning to manure spreading. It improves soil structure, provides nutrients to the grasses, and helps with water retention. Manure adds nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as micronutrients, to the soil and therefore to the grasses.
If your pasture is large enough and without too many horses to graze it down, you can create a wild area that is mowed only in spring and late fall. This wild area will attract pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Some farms create these areas along fence lines, mowing the rest of the pasture regularly.
At my farm, we leave a hillside slope of total wild-ness, mowing a narrow path around the bottom with a path leading to the top. I love walking these paths with the dogs in the summer, watching the butterflies, goldfinches, and wrens, occasionally scaring a wild turkey or surprising a hunting owl. I love the various wild herbs: chamomile, plantain, black-eyed Susan, goldenrod, and milkweeds.
Tigger with Kelly Soleau’s “Clover.” Photo by Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group
What horses have taught me
I only have retired horses on the farm now. They live in a small group with run-in sheds. They forage up and down the rolling hills – walk and eat, walk and eat – and have their daily coffee klatch under a canopy of hardwood trees.
A fox neighbor spotted on Tigger’s farm
They take turns resting and standing guard, keeping an eye out for the deer, foxes, wild turkeys they share their space with. The neighbors in the wooded areas feature owls, whippoorwills, and hawks. I truly believe that the horses’ lifestyle, the reduced exposure to pesticides and herbicides, and the ecology of the whole farms has contributed to their health and longevity.
I used to keep the retired horses in stalls with nighttime turnout during the summer and daytime turnout during the winter. Some spent their outside time in individual paddocks, and others went with a small group in the big field.
After years of implementing this tried and true rotation, a gelding and a mare in the big field decided one day to not come inside for breakfast. I brought the others in, and the whinnying, neighing, and calling for one another started; they wanted to be together. So, I turned the rest of the small group out that night in the big field with the mare and gelding, and I told them to let me know when they wanted to come in.
They never did.
In the twenty years that I have been keeping retired horses in a herd, what has been most profound is their overall health. Their pasture has grass and non-toxic plants, and they have plenty of space to move (which supports good circulation). Their immune systems don’t have to deal with herbicides, and they are more resilient now than when they lived in stalls. I have not had to treat ulcers or deal with colic in any of the retired horses living in a herd since making this switch (knock on wood). Above all, they are together as a family.
From the outside in
I know I spent plenty of time in my life not paying attention to the environment my animals share with me.
I now understand how important “outside” is to the inner beings of horses, dogs, humans, animals, trees, and plants. Once we step away from what we think “beautiful” is and see how incredible the bigger picture is, the deeper our connection becomes to all the components of the ecosystem we share.
Stay tuned for Part 2: From the Inside Out!
Written by Tigger Montague
References
2 https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees
3 https://www.fws.gov/avian-influenza
About the Author: With over 30 years experience in the equine and human supplement industry, Tigger Montague knows nutrition from the synthetic side as well as the whole food side. She started BioStar US in 2006 with formulas she created in her kitchen. Before she started the company, she was an avid rider and competitor with eventing and show jumping, until she got hooked on dressage in the late 1980’s. She has competed on horses she’s owned and trained all the way from training level to Grand Prix.
