Doing the Gardening

[BetteDavisChin]

Picking up plant pots - loads of little insects scuttling around underneath. Pruning back overgrown shrubs - unsettling spiders and their webs. Lifting up a plastic sheet - slugs and snails exposed. Digging the soil - slicing into worms.

Of course, I'll relocate them if I can, provided that I see them. But I've disturbed their peace and ruined their home and caused them to run for their lives.

How do those of you who who care about other little creatures' lives cope with this?

I'm not really interested in the opinions of those who don't care about disrupting little lives, but I suppose I'll get them.

The No Dig gardening technique👍

I move everything I can, too. I have an allotment, only just taken it on this year, so lots of digging out weeds and such..

I try and rake the soil first to alert the worms, and then start digging, not sure if it helps or not!

Forever relocating caterpillars and bugs from one part of the plot to another..!

I'd like to go No Dig, worth looking into, I think!

I too feel bad if I disturb wildlife and would never use chemicals in the garden etc. I garden to attract bees and butterflies etc.

If I expose slugs or beetles etc though I don’t worry as I know the local wild birds will be very grateful. So maybe you could frame it that way? Any insects will be happily enjoyed by your neighbourhood robin. Ours watches while I garden to see if I uncover anything!

Hi OP, I’m also vegan. I create natural alternative homes for them to relocate to which are permanent and which I will never disturb.

e.g I have a small log pile on one corner that I’ve allowed to grow wild

Thanks all for your thoughtful replies. I thought I'd get laughed out of town. It's good to know there are others here who care about the smallest ones. They're not insignificant are they? I think they're just as important as people.

@EatTheBastard I have an area in my garden that I never disturb. It was a log pile, but it's been there for so long that it's almost completely decomposed. Which is great, I'm happy about it - just need to start another.