In Defense of the Chaos Garden


I have something of a reputation for being a chaos gardener. I think it stems from how wild my garden looks. No tidy rows, no pristine mulch paths, and definitely no golf course vibes. But despite appearances, my garden tends to outperform in a lot of ways. And I’ve come to realize: weeds aren’t the enemy.

I grow mostly in raised beds, which helps with soil health and drainage, but yes, I still have weeds. My approach? I intuitively clear enough space so my young plants aren’t choked out, but after that, the rest of the “mess” stays. It may look unintentional, but it serves a lot of purposes.

Weeds act as natural trap crops for bugs and small animals. That doesn’t mean I don’t suffer some pest damage...I do! But it seems to be less intense when those critters have other food options nearby. Weeds also keep your soil aerated and vibrant. Many send deep taproots that pull nutrients up to the surface, where your intentional plants can actually use them. Some even form symbiotic relationships with surrounding flora, ones I’m still learning about.

In my garden, you’ll find wood sorrel, lambs quarter, violets, plantain, fleabane, and dandelion cropping up freely. All edible or medicinal. I don’t pull them unless they start to overtake the crops I planted on purpose. My motto? There’s room for everyone at the table.

I also sow a ton of flowers: cosmos, zinnia, marigolds, and a whole host of wildflowers. These draw in pollinators and keep the garden humming. I let my herbs bolt and flower. I protect the wild milkweed that pops up along my garden edges.

I don’t know if what I do technically qualifies as permaculture, but I do know this: monoculture is a manmade system. It was built for profit and ease of harvest, but in practice, it’s become a justification for pesticides, herbicides, and a battle against the very land we rely on.

We tear up ecosystems for the perfect strawberry. We spray to death anything that doesn’t look like tidy spinach. And in doing so, we forget that balance, not aesthetics, is what truly sustains us.

So carve out a space for what you want. But also learn to welcome what shows up. Many of the plants you think of as “weeds” are here with purpose. And sustainable gardening isn’t about control. It’s about respect, observation, and making room for everything that matters.

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