We Are the ARK: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness

by Mary Reynolds, Ruth Evans (Illustrator)

“Reynolds gives us a much-needed reason for hope. The gardener, the conservationist, the city planner, and the nature lover will all be inspired for this wonderful book shows how thousands of even small wildlife friendly gardens can provide habitat for embattled wildlife around the world.” —Jane Goodall, Phd, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace 

Individuals can’t save the world alone. But if millions of us work together to save our own patch of earth—then we really have a shot. How do we do it?  With Acts of Restorative Kindness (ARK). An ARK is a restored, native ecosystem. It’s a thriving patch of native plants and creatures that have been allowed and supported to re-establish in the earth's intelligent, successional process of natural restoration. Over time, this becomes a pantry and a habitat for our pollinators and wild creatures who are in desperate need of support.

These ARKs will become the seeding grounds for our planet’s new story. They will be sanctuaries for our shared kin—the rooted and unrooted—and safe havens for the magic and abundance of the natural world. Most importantly, the ARK-building actions are within our control and laid out here in  We Are the ARK . In these inspiring pages, discover how one person’s actions can effect big change in this world. Even the tiniest postage stamp patch of land matters! Together we are building a patchwork quilt of life that will wrap its way around this planet.

 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Environment, Ecology, Science Nature

276 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2022

Reviews

[Ellie Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teenager with a passion for nature i found this a really good book full of ideas on how to start helping wildlife in my own back garden. it made me think about some things that we take for granted in a different way. i shall try get my grandad to stop pulling the dandelions out of his lawn from now on. rebranding the weeds as native flowers! the illustrations are really good too. i would recommend it as a book to start rewiring the way we think about our gardens. we have to have some hope in a world of doom and gloom and this book gave me some. it spoke to me

[Laura Hoffman Brauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aesthetically, this is a beautiful book - full of gorgeous illustrations. I appreciate the concept - we have an opportunity and a responsibility to think about the environment and what we can do to make the world a better place, with whatever resources or constraints that we have. I’m not sure, though, who the target audience is for this. It is a beautiful, inspiring book that speaks to the importance of little steps - great for beginners, but then will go into the things you shouldn’t do which could easily feel for overwhelming for someone new to ideas around native gardening. It lacks the detail that someone more experienced may want if they are looking to expand their knowledge or their efforts beyond beginning steps. The tone is definitely more “new age” than scientific, although there is some science worked in. (Ark stands for acts of restorative kindness to the earth). Still a beautiful book to pick up and be inspired by.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently the author has a world-wide following, which gives me hope. I have been aware of the issues covered, and in the need for drastic efforts, for a long time. The best thing about this book, aside from the detailed (and depressing) information on our threatened planetary wild kingdoms, is that it offers every person, from owners of vast rural estates right down to people living in 11th story apartments buildings, inspiration and information about how to take part and make some small contribution to the worldwide effort needed, starting today. Edited 8/24 to add that, after following the FB page devoted to the ARK idea & following, I have some reservations about the author’s advice to ‘just let nature take over & allow whatever grows, to grow’. This philosophy may work beautifully in UK and European countries, as many ot the weedy species there are UK/European natives, and indeed, nature may balance out over time. However, in the USA and Canada, the majority of our ‘weedy’ species are non-native, and introduced from Europe and/or Asia, and because they have no natural predators to keep them in check, allowing them to ‘just grow’ will result in monoculture takeovers and the destruction of native North American ecosystems. For North Americans, at least, it is vital to identify and remove non-native species, which means first learning how many of our most common weeds and roadside plants are not native and invasive. In short, the heart of this book — restoring native landscapes and ecosystems — is brilliant. The specific advice should be followed with caveats for other continents beyond the UK.

[SuperBloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have started my own re-wilding project in my yard having read Douglas Tallamy. Planting natives for the animals and insects has become my therapy. Whenever I feel discouraged by the latest climate disruption news, I plant another native. This book was therapy also. We can feel it in our bones that the planet is in trouble. This book with it's beautiful illustrations and ways to start reversing environmental damage is empowering.

[Syn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about re-wilding our spaces from the tiniest window box to acres of land. An emphasis on how even the smallest amount can help. The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful.

A well written, inspiring, and fascinating read!

[Sarah Aspacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow Reynolds gets across how critical this project is without overwhelming the reader. A very practical quick read about native landscapes and why they’re critical to our future. Also, the artwork is stunning.

[Misti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels 10 years too late. I love Mary Reynolds and her work but this is a very basic book with themes that I think most people are already familiar with. It also was a bit disjointed to be bouncing back and forth between an US/North American centric view and and Irish/UK view in regards to environmental conservation and habitat, which often run a little different than each other. It would have been a stronger book if she's focused strictly on an Irish/UK sense. While she touched a bit on some of the work of Doug Tallamy, Reynolds lacks the depth that Tallamy brings to his Homegrown National Park. Again, if Reynolds had specifically focused on the British Isles I think this would have been much more impactful.

Also of note, the illustrations and formatting on the ARC were terrible and I can't give any positive review on what they looked like because I could barely see them. Very broken up.

*I received an ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for my review*

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on my travels to Texas in February.

Although I follow the concept of balancing our "human needs" with the "needs of the native ecosystem," the author's ability to do two things was quite refreshing:

1. She shared a concept that EVERYONE, however small or large your land space, can participate in supporting and giving back to the Earth. Her concept, creating arks, can span acres to inches.

2. Her ability to breakdown ecosystems into different micro-environments like ponds, meadows, bogs, and woodland edges - with recommended steps and options - was a nice touch.

I did order the actual book for the lists - but, I will say that the Audible book was by far more approachable than the book. The font is quite large making the book quite thick. I had "pictured" more of a "working book" versus a coffee table book.

The artwork is awful cute, though. The illustrator is Ruth Evans. 🎨

I don't necessarily agree with everything she stated (political climate activism, plants as gods/goddesses); but her heart is large and her effort is amazing.

Enjoy. 📖

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Reynolds wants to encourage people to do two things 1) re-wild their property (if you have some) and 2) grow some of your own food. I can get behind both of those ideas. She started the organization We are the ARK to promote planting of native plants, re-wilding areas, and growing organic food on a smaller scale. ARK stands for Acts of Restorative Kindness - these acts are to help the earth heal and nature thrive. She gives lots of tips for any size property and even to people who live in apartments or in urban areas of how they can encourage re-wilding and create ARKs in their areas. The book is beautifully illustrated but I wish there had been some pictures included of the author's ARK areas and others that she mentions. I had a hard time picturing some of the ideas she included in the book. Even though she is in Ireland, she makes a point to gives resources for the UK, US, and Canada. Overall, it was an encouraging book but it was slightly repetitive and like I said before I think some pages with photos of ARKs would add a lot to the book.

[Della Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick inspirational read giving high-level ideas on how we can heal the Earth. I see this as a MUST-READ for anyone burdened with climate anxiety because it helps us see that change is possible and we do have solutions. We can combat the loss of biodiversity by taking small actions in our own lawns and backyards.

I wish it were longer and more indepth (I finished in less than 2hrs), but it is a good jumping off point for anyone curious about what they can do with their own land to be part of the solution. Certainly a book that will challenge the reader to read many more books to dive into the briefly mentioned topics. This is not an indepth gardening or permaculture how-to book, it is an inspiration and a call to action.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully informative. Being an ARK steward, myself, I felt such pride with every check I could give along the way as I read Mary’s call to arms (or limbs, as may be.) Letting nature be as it’s meant to be-wild and free. Even an urban lot can allow for some native wildness somewhere within its space. A lovely, easy and vital movement.
The illustrations by Ruth Evans really add exponentially to this book. I think a children’s version should be hurried into print to get our youth thinking strongly about tomorrow.
Lots of resources bring up the rear and give further reading delights to come.
Essential!

*Note to publisher/Editor.. what happened with pages 217-220???

[Sally Edmunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, which really gives hope to the planet. Our individual hopelessness at the state of the planet is addressed with simple things we can all do to improve things. Really good read can't recommend enough.

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

need to build an insect hotel right MEOW

[Alex Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Are The ARK - Rebuilding our gardens with acts of regenerative kindness is a book by Mary Reynolds that guides gardeners to transform their land from outdated cultivated botanical gardens into safe havens for wildlife. The book is a beautiful object filled with colorful and happy imagery and is very easy to read and understand. The text covers a broad range of information, thoroughly instructing how to support specific ecosystems. It would be a good place for a gardener thinking of rewilding their space to start. It's not terribly deep, and it presents climate change and ecological collapse laps in a slightly dire tone, there are other books like Nature's Best Hope by Tallamy that go far deeper into the mechanics of living systems in a more optimistic, albeit achedemic way, but this colorful book sertainly does the trick.

[Patricia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have been practicing mindful gardening for many years, such as removing my lawn (dead zones in a yard) and invasive plants, adding more native plants, creating nesting and resting places for wildlife, leaving leaves, stems and stumps, and using no fertilizers or -"cides," I wasn't aware of the ARK movement (acts of restorative kindness) going on across the pond. It makes me happy to read Mary Reynolds book We Are the Ark to see others devoted to helping the planet through gardening.

In seven chapters, Reynolds provides information on the goal of ARK, the disconnect humanity seems to have with nature, the destruction of ecosystems and what a person--especially a gardener--can do to help the Earth, growing their own food, and more.

The book isn't technical and uses clear language that's informative to anyone who is already a gardener, or anyone wanting to make a positive impact by turning their yard (no matter how small) into an environmentally friendly space. Even if a person lives in a city, just putting up a small window box makes a difference. And if Native Plants are in the window box, better still. We can all engage in ARK to make a difference.

Reynolds believes we have "forgotten who we are--guardians, not gardeners." Much of the book is focused on how to get back to our connection with Mother Earth. It's shocking and heartbreaking to hear that "Humanity, which makes up just 0.01% of all life, has already destroyed 83% of all wild mammals, and in the short time since 1970 we have wiped out 60% of mammal, bird, fish, and reptile populations." The data is important to know. What I like most about this book is that Reynolds provides solutions--real ones: practical and simple--on how to reverse the negative impacts of our damaging garden practices. And the book throws light on how instead of partnering with nature, as indigenous cultures always did, we (in Christian based countries) believe we have dominion over the earth and everything in it. We are creating our own demise. We cannot exist without biodiversity--we are only a small part of the life forms on Earth--and yet we have already wiped out so much. A little bit of the book felt repetitive to me at times (wordy). But I too can be that way when excited to share things I know.

The data provided in the book was helpful for seeing more deeply some things I already knew from my own garden and woods walking. But to learn the background on why things are as they are was useful. For instance, the chapter about how green lawns became a status symbol after World War II and new homeowners became brainwashed into believing a lawn was a sign if wealth. And imported plants were beautiful, while native plants were common weeds. We were convinced and now the practice is generations old so many gardeners are not even aware of how disconnected from the planet they are. Other details in the book about the gardening business, such as how peatland has been plundered, has convinced me to never again but peat moss or things grown it it.

I really enjoyed the chapter about insects. How the food chain for birds depends upon Native Plants because insects need them as the host plant. When we remove all the native plants, we are starving the birds and bats and bees. The suggestion to put signs up so neighbors know what you are doing with your land and they see it is intentional and not just a bunch of weeds made me smile because I did that a few years ago, purchasing signs through Native nurseries in my area.

Reading this book validated the practices I have begun doing in my yard, which made me happy. The book also stirred my recent interest being an advocate for native plants and nurseries. The quote I couldn't shake was "garden centers and nurseries are among the largest sellers of chemicals and pesticides." When we purchase plants there, thinking we are helping the environment, we most likely are not. Commercially grown plants are steeped in poisons and fertilizer. So when we put them in our yard, we are putting poison into our environment and negatively affecting not only insects, birds, animals, etc., but also the soil and water systems. So our gardens purchased from commercial growers can actually have a detrimental effect on wildlife and our planet.

The chapter where I learned the most was that "seeds are sacred..." and there has been "an insidious corporate takeover of our seeds." I do remember reading something about this in a gardening magazine about 15 years ago and being horrified. So to return to this information about how "corporations are trying in succeeding to patent them, modify them, and create profits by controlling the access of seeds for food--the ultimate control" was helpful because Reynolds reminds me to resist buying seeds from garden centers and supermarkets and instead purchase locally sourced seed and save seeds from my own garden. Also to participate in organic seed swaps in my own communities (or start your own). So reading more information on this was helpful.

I recommend Mary Reynold's book We Are the Ark. It isn't only about the destruction humans have done to the Earth. It's purpose is to provide suggestions on what can be done--actions that don't feel impossible or even difficult. Returning to our true selves and homes (nature) will also restore our own spirits to share in the magic of the Earth we all, creatures big and small, inhabit. This is a hopeful book.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for the illustrations (seriously this is a beautiful book). 5 stars for the idea behind this book but 3ish stars for how it's approached.

[Maddy Barnard · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous but the content is very basic.

[Liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

We Are the ARK is a book about returning gardens to natural wildlife spaces through "acts of restorative kindness" (ARK). The illustrations in the book are beautiful and ethereal, but if environmentalism was an MLM, this would be the book for it. The author is dogmatic and repetitive in a way that is just missing multiple exclamation points and a couple of emojis. While there are some good points about native species reintroduction, the tone is pompous and preachy, making the author come off as a zealot instead of an expert.

The author, Mary Reynolds, is Irish and doesn't have working knowledge about how to respectfully refer to or speak about Indigenous people and cultures. Her section on "wild humans"--legit, that's how she referred to Indigenous people--was so shocking, I read it aloud to my spouse. While sentences such as, "These people must be protected as the last of the human species who still hold the knowledge vital for our survival," may come from a good place, it erases their own inherent worth as autonomous people, and instead commodifies Indigenous people to what value they provide to the majority population. While Indigenous people and cultures are fighting for the preservation of their environments and some do have generational land management knowledge, they are still modern people like anyone else. The way the author speaks about them, makes it seem like she thinks all Indigenous people are living in trees and hunting for acorns and rainbows, instead of being like anyone else reading this book. Referring to them as "Earth Defenders," is othering, and the author's linguistic treatment of Indigenous peoples likens them more to woodland sprites than humans, and the repeated use of "wild humans" is offensive and problematic.

The only thing that makes this a 2-star book instead of 1 is the beautiful work by illustrator Ruth Evans.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this (beautiful) book after listening to Mary Reynolds on the Happy Pear podcast and I'm pleased I did. Mary used to work in the garden design and landscaping business, openly admitting to destroying habitats and wildlife. She can pinpoint the moment she had her epiphany and now works relentlessly to promote gardening for wildlife, whether that be in a small garden, on a large development, or in the countryside.
Sometimes it can be a little evangelical but it is a powerful read and very inspiring, we have already implemented lots of changes in our small space, including a wildlife pond which is already attracting many creatures.

[Katy Koivastik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revolutionary way of going back from whence we came. Author Mary Reynolds describes why gardeners must re-think their plots of Mother Earth. She suggests we use only native plants, that we get our seeds from local seed banks, and that weeds are our friends as they are the foodstuffs for insects and their larvae.

The hardback book is beautifully illustrated by artist Ruth Evans. The type is large and well-spaced for easy reading. Indexed, with many references and resources provided at the back of the volume.

[Ellen Ulken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book explains the interdependence of all the world's creatures and plants. Readers learn to protect pollinators and water sources with sensible gardening, and without chemicals which harm insects and the environment. Written by an Irish woman, the book offers sources for readers to access information on native plants across the globe. It offers step-by-step guidelines for creating an ARK, the result of an ecologically restored garden.

[Ron at Rockhaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. just a beautiful book of art about the endangered beauty of this world. worth it for the interplay of nature art and nature essay.
2. source of wisdom also for the recovery-oriented, primarily in the message about the mycelium, the mosses, the necessity of paying attention to the smallest details of our lives which themselves are the foundation of our lives the way the fungi are for our natural world and therefore for us too. Our cures are under our own feet.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creating an ARK is definitely out of the norm of gardening and becomes guardianship as Mary Reynolds said. With this approach there is less work (just mow a path where you will walk in your yard) so you have more time to enjoy the plants and creatures. I recommend watching "Dare to Be Wild" a movie about Mary Reynolds to see how she came to enjoy nature and protect it.

As within any good non-fiction book you will find other resources to check out too such as Trees for Life.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I learned so much about the tiny creatures and where they live in the earth and how mankind is destroying their little habitats. This book tells you how you can restore their habitat with native plants instead of non-native plants that ruin our ecosystem. You can turn a small piece of your land into an ARK (you will have to read the book to figure this out). Excellent book and kind of soothing!

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond important and necessary read for all who share this earth with non-human creatures- compelling and easy to digest with actionable ways we can restore and reconnect with nature (our lives and all life truly depends on it!). Mary Reynolds offers hope that it’s not too late, and there’s something each and every one of us can do about it!

[Radha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book we all need to read. I love how this is information and practical ways to follow through with it, from the tiniest spaces to the biggest. And it is all heart, too. Everything we need to move forward and to create what is next.
I read this as an audible book, and now I want to buy the book and go back through with my highlighter!

[Sturla Thorisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute must read at this point in time. Our impact on earth has never been greater or more harmful. Reynolds gives us a roadmap to what we can all start doing, right now, to help heal this Earth and support her biodiversity.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be engaging and largely accurate. I am a fan of both ecological gardening and sustenance gardening, and often the two are seen as separate. I appreciate that this book encourages both and describes some best-practice guidelines for each.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book for the ideas it contains and the use of artwork that extends the range of the concept. I am sufficiently motivated by her chapters to observe and learn more about what this looks like in the area I live.

[KELLY A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A gentle approach to life is needed," writes Mary Reynolds in We Are the ARK, an important treatise and handbook for those wanting to do something--big or small- to help save earth, our one and only home.