Everyone and everything is a biological resource. How we appropriately use our resourses is the key. Resources can be used to the detriment of your landscape or to encourage a healthy landscape.

"Bugs" are a biological resource and most of the time we see them as pests (especially if you have a vegetable garden). The key to proper management of a garden would be to attract the good guys! Everyone knows that lady bugs are important and so are earth worms. We want to attract them to the garden to help with the pests (lady bugs) as well as the proper breakdown of soil (worms). 

Also attracting bees is very important! Bees are crucial to our environment and food supply and yet they are disappearing.  You might not want to attract them to areas close to the house, but you can plant colorful and bee loving plants around your perimeter to encourage these vital garden workers.

Birds are another fantastic resource that can help keep your garden free and clear of pests. To attract a bird we need good understory (plants under trees) that ranges from 2-13 feet off the ground so that the birds can perch and see their prey.

To attract healthy, helpful biological resources and encourage the activity of important bugs and birds you need to provide them with the resources they need - food, shelter, and water. Also avoid chemcials as these natural garden workers are very sensitive to toxixc chemicals.

For more information look into the city of Austin's website about wildscapes.