Rewilding a Suburban Yard in Virginia
Transforming conventional lawn into habitat, beauty, biodiversity, and deeper connection with place.
In the Spring of 2025, I made a bold decision: transform my boring conventional lawn into a natural, native habitat. Most of the neighbors think I am crazy, but I find this truly more rewarding than maintaining a perfectly manicured lawn. Follow my journey below.
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Spring 2025
I started by testing a small area. I removed the grass and added wood chips to create a path and a planting area. I planted wild flowers and milkweed.
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October 2025
Next, I discovered a website called Chip Drop. They delivered free wood chips. Then, I put a layer of cardboard and about 9-12 inches of woodchips over the cardboard on half the grass. I will do the other half later.
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April 2026
The grass is decomposing under the woodchips. Mycelium is developing in the woodchips and soil. I began planting native plants.
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Stewardship: Nature Reverence and Tending
The natural world sustains life, yet modern systems often treat it as expendable. Stewardship is the practice of recognizing that land, water, soil, and living systems are not resources alone — they are foundations of life that deserve care and reciprocity. Why Stewardship Matters Human life depends on functioning ecosystems. Healthy soil, clean water, pollinators,…