A few weeks ago when I cleaned out from under my carport, I found several things that I didn’t know had taken up residence. I have already shared that there were worms in the dirt under my bags of potting soil.
As I moved things around there was a sudden hop and that hop made me hop! At first I couldn’t make out what it was, but as the hops continued, I saw two large frogs fleeing for cover.
For several weeks I had been listening to their croaking sounds in the late evenings. But, this was my first time seeing them. The knowledge that I had frogs made me happy, but I wasn’t certain what there was to be happy about. Even though Kermit the Frog always makes me happy - he’s not a real frog. So what’s so great about a real one in your yard?
According to the website - One Green Planet, “Most gardeners know that frogs and toads are friends in the garden, and finding one under a squash leaf is a great asset for keeping the garden ecosystem balanced and healthy. Often, when a garden is grown organically and in harmony with nature, they’ll simply show up and play their natural role.”
Each of us that own or even rent a plot of land have the ability to manage that micro-ecosystem. We can one by one create a good ecosystem for our world. We are “responsible” for what we are “responsible for”. So we can manage our little section of earth and “do good” with it.
By not using chemicals and pesticides in our yard we can use nature to organically control pests. There are any number of things that we can do to encourage nature to do its job. It does take work and reading up, but we can do “our part” to give our earth a chance.
After finding those two frogs, I have now found more frogs. They are usually around a water source. I have watered my yard a lot because of the heat wave that we have had. My hose leaks at the joints and creates nice puddles of fresh water where it leaks. These mini freshwater areas seem to be what makes a perfect environment for frogs. They live and thrive in moist areas with freshwater. If you have several frogs then that is an excellent bioindicator that you have at least the beginnings of an excellent ecosystem in your plot of land.
Frogs are part of your “pest control”. They work together with the birds that you invite to your yard in controlling insects that attack us and our yards...mosquitoes, flies, fire ants, aphids, slugs...etc. Controlling insects in my yard in a safe way is high up on my list of desirable things. I am not a fan of “bugs” but they are all part of our ecosystem and when nature is working at its best, one critter feeds another critter in nature’s “food chain.”
One frog can eat over 1,000 bugs during a season. The more healthy frogs that you see in your yard, the more insects that mysteriously disappear. This also helps keep your family healthy. Mosquitoes and flies are disease-ridden bugs that can affect your family’s health. There is a chain of events that takes place when you work to create a healthy ecosystem and you can reap the benefits.
To be honest I’m amazed by what has developed in my yard. I’m a science nerd that gets pumped up about learning more and more about my environment. Most people would say it’s by accident, but I know that it’s the divine Hand of God who told me to “Look at the birds of the air...” Matthew 6:26. He’s at work in my writing, my yard and my life to give me the abundant life He’s promised. It’s really exciting and fulfilling to be working with the Creator and discovering step by step what He has planned!
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