Thanks for sharing that, @my-permaculture! It is a great example of how we can find a resource or service thats just sitting there, doing its thing even without us knowing it.

I've always let our grain plants self seed to attract birds to work as pest control. At this time of year, everyone here is complaining about blackbirds digging up their gardens. Not me...I've realised that where I have blackbirds, I have well turned mulch and far fewer pests - our chickens could take a lesson from them!

We dont specifically grow grain crops, our space is far too small for that and needs to be put to other day ses, but we appreciate the beauty of grain plants so let them grow from birdseed and chook feed. Theyre only annuals too, so will make space for something else when the seasons changed.