Educational Media Reviews Online

Gardening for the Planet shows how something as simple as the plants you chose for your garden can be impactful in the struggle to combat climate change. Many films about climate change can leave people feeling hopeless about the future and doubtful that they can have any impact. However, this film shows how even one person can improve the ecosystem in their tiny part of the planet, their own lawn, by planting native plants instead of invasive ones.

Although the film has a focus on North Carolina’s native plants, most of the information is relevant to people in other locations. Speakers include professors and native plant gardeners who describe the benefits of native plants including how they can support pollinators and are more accustomed to growing and thriving in their native ecosystems. An increase in pollinators can lead to more insects, which leads to more birds and other animals in a healthy food web. On the other hand, invasive plants can outcompete native plants, and the popular monoculture grass lawn is not an ideal habitat for supporting wildlife.

The film’s visuals are beautiful, and the engaging speakers make a compelling case for the value of native plants in maintaining local ecosystems. For those who still want to achieve a landscaped look in their lawn, the film demonstrates how it is still possible while opting for native plants. The film is highly recommended for courses or library collections in botany, ecology, or environmental sciences.

Published and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Anyone can use these reviews, so long as they comply with the terms of the license.