Getting started
Test Plot is an experiment. It is a process. Rather than wipe the site clean and “make it better” think about the design of a plot as a process of adjustment, of letting things happen, changing current trajectories and redirecting energy.
What makes a good site?
—Parks that simply need care. Parks are essential to our health and well being, but are often underfunded and suffer from years of deferred maintenance. Urbanization and climate change are putting even greater pressure on these “green lungs.” Let’s invest our time, labor and creativity into taking care of the precious spaces we have.
—We’ve also been interested in the prevalence of novel ecosystems: altered environments created by human activities or changes in climate, where species and ecosystems mix in new ways. Novel ecosystems—often resulting from urbanization, industrial activities, pollution, or climate change— disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. We prioritize these areas because we believe social and environmental justice go hand in hand.
To plant or not to plant
—The first question to consider is whether you will be planting or simply restoring through selective removal. Selective removal is a more passive approach that favors removing invasive plants to make room for desired plants that may come in on their own because of nearby populations or the existing seed bank. Check out Skyline Gardens in the Bay Area as well as this article on Indigenous seed bank management.
—Another approach is to not buy any new plants. Instead, take cuttings, divisions or seed from existing garden sources to regenerate. This broadly follows under a “field to field” approach where you borrow from a “donor” site and bring to a more degraded “recipient” site. Nicholas Anderson has been inspiring us to think more about what he calls ecoreparation.
— That said, so far, we’ve started all of our test plots by introducing new plant material. Some of this is “hyperlocal” (collected from within the same watershed) and some is purchased from traditional nurseries.
The basics
—In choosing a site, these are helpful basics to consider. Ideally, there is a nearby water source. This can be as simple as a hose-bib connection. If hand watering, consider how far you’re willing to drag a hose (or linked up hoses). Be mindful that dragging and setting up hoses on a weekly basis is heavy work, and you will need volunteers able to do the work.
—Access. Ideally you’ll be able to drive a pick up truck up to the site for plant and mulch deliveries. Steep slopes may not be a great place to start if working with volunteers
—Bonus: Existing native vegetation. Though this is not a pre-requisite, give yourself the greatest chance of success by building from existing patches of native habitat where beneficial mycorrhizal relationships may already exist. Check out the “Bradley method for control of invasive plants” for a good primer.
Asking permission
—Understand the existing stakeholders. Do your homework and start from the ground up. Find out which nonprofits and community leaders are already doing similar work. Talk to them and see if your project aligns with their values and vision. Knock on doors and talk to the neighbors.
— Develop an agreement. Find out who the land owner/manager is and get their permission to take care of the land. Depending on the owner, we have used informal measures like a handshake agreement to more formal documents like an MOU (memorandum of understanding) or license agreement. The agreement should cover a minimum of three years to get started.
Observation mindset
—Observation mindset: Start from the perspective of observer. No matter the site, there is an existing ecology and history to respect and understand. If you can, take a full year to notice, watch, listen and record. Understand the patterns, time cycles and rhythms of the place before any planting.
—Inventory: As part of the observation process, make a list of the species on site, both native + non native. Come back each season and note the changes across the year, from spring annuals to summer dormancy. There’s a story to tell, before doing anything.
Tip: Use a photo app like Seek or Picture This to ID species. Start to include insect, wildlife and human observations. For one example, check out the Starr King Log.
How to begin?
—First, document what is in the seed bank? Allow what is in the seed bank to come up and remember that seed banks are local biodiversity reservoirs that many plants use to distribute themselves through time.
—In our urban landscapes, it may make sense to start a “grow, kill” cycle. There are millions, billions of latent weed seeds that come from colonization and poor land use decisions. You can encourage/force the weeds to come up more quickly by watering in the site for several weeks prior to planting. Weed in areas you want to plant, and take care to not over-clear.
—Alternatively take a longer term restoration approach and do this over several winters (using only natural rainfall) before planting. In that vein, you also don’t need to buy plants. You can work simply by selective removal.
—Consider other methods. Depending on the site and resources, you may also want to try sheet mulching, solarization, or even goats and sheepmowers!
What is the test?
—Brainstorm what questions you want to explore. For Test Plot, we think about the questions in 3 different buckets.
Ecological questions like, how do we increase certain types of pollinators? How can we create mid-story biomass for songbird habitat? Which species will do well in more extreme weather events?
Landcare questions center around methods and practices. How can we minimize inputs and cycle materials on site to promote closed loops? How can we encourage deeper watering? Which species can tolerate disturbance, like annual mowing?
We also also questions around building community connections. How can we structure our workdays to include intergenerational members? How do we create an easy pathway for folks to get involved that don’t think of themselves as environmentalists?
Set up an experiment
—If this sounds intimidating, not to worry there is no wrong way. Our sweet spot is “observational data” which just means you need to pick something to notice and record on a regular basis — journal entry, spreadsheet, time-lapse photography, pick your poison and get creative. It’s a practice of noticing, and staying present; to help you pay closer attention to the interconnectedness of place, culture, plants and rituals.
Year 1
—Multi-year plan. Think of “planting day” as the beginning. Your plan should consider multi-year sequential planting that builds over time and responds to what happens.
—Consider where you will source plant material. Options range from buying from a local native plant nursery to contracting with a nursery that grows using hyperlocal genetics (locally collected seed/cuttings from within the same watershed). Some restoration projects also grow specific species of mycorrhizal fungal! Or go all-in and start your own nursery. Growing in LA has an awesome how-to guide.
—Start with early, fast adapters. Because we often work in urban sites with compacted soils, high weed pressure, and lots of human disturbance, make it easy on yourself and select plants that will take a foothold and spread quickly.
Year 2
—Once you’re able to establish pockets of native plants, hopefully those beneficial soil relationships are also taking a foothold. Add in wildflower seeds and grasses to continue to build the soil health and design an urban superbloom in the process!
Year 3
—Continue building in layers and add target species like ceonothus and manzanita, oaks and walnuts. A target species, like the Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) is a gift that keeps on giving, providing food, shelter, and nesting sites; stabilizing soil, sequestering carbon, and filtering air; their fallen leaves contribute to soil health by adding organic matter; they are home to insects, lichens, mosses, and fungi; they regulate water flow, and are often culturally significant, especially to Indigenous communities.
Expansion & “scaling up” ?
—Test Plot is an idea that can be easily replicated across communities around the globe. It’s a space to explore themes around local climate change action, cultural stewardship, and human/non-human interconnectedness.
—Test Plot is a space to learn valuable skills around taking care of the land. These are skills that can’t be learned on the internet. For the most part, they are lo-tech technologies rooted in regenerative and reciprocal practices. Maintenance as a creative act. Test Plot as a living laboratory.
—Lastly, We don’t think that Test Plot can be scaled in the traditional, capitalist sense. There isn’t a dollar cost / acre that makes sense. A lot of labor over time is required and in fact, we celebrate that. Rather, we think of Test Plot as a necessary provocation. We ask, how can we improve the way land is cared for? How can we cut through red tape to demonstrate what is possible? How can we disrupt business as usual practices? And lastly, how can we strengthen and deepen our collective land ethic?
Check out our zine, One Year in Landcare for more “out there” ideas on expanding approaches to landcare.