The Garden & Landscaping
A wonderful way to connect with nature is in your own backyard. If you have the space I strongly encourage you to garden. It is good for you and it can be really good for the environment. Below are some tips to having a beautiful garden while still respecting the environment and all the nature it supports. If your living situation does not offer the space to have a garden you can still enjoy beautiful house plants and you may even want to try a windowsill herb garden.
A terrific possible option for those without land of their own to plant are community gardens. Not only are these programs jewel in their localities they are also a great way to connect with others while learning more about the gift of gardening. Urban areas of blight have been transformed into green oases. The veggies and fruits grown in these cooperative spaces can lift an entire community towards renewed health and vitality.
Introduction: Urban Agriculture & Community Gardens | Why Hunger | December 10th, 2013
Here are some tips when diving into gardening or maybe just revisiting your gardening practices.
AVOID TOXINS
Toxins, poisons and other pollutants are a huge source of environmental destruction. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides should be avoided at all costs. They are designed to kill and it is not just the plant or pest that ends up being killed. These toxins kill pets, wildlife, and are harmful to humans. When gardening remember the health of the environment and keep it clean, go organic!!!
Grow a Chemical-Free Garden | Crystal Rennicke | Birds & Blooms
Pesticides 101 | Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
BIRD WATCHING
If you enjoy bird watching build a bird friendly habitat in your backyard. Spring time is a joy to bird watch as mates build their nests, sit on their eggs, and rear their young. That said nothing is quite as sad as seeing a baby bird get picked off by a predator. One way to help nurture happy endings is to build bird houses. Read about the criteria for the birds you are hoping to encourage and build the houses with them in mind. Having the right size hole to protect them from predators is very important, so is ventilation, and ease of opening to clean when they have moved on. Bird baths are another way to encourage birds to visit your yard. I prefer to find plants and trees that birds like over bird seed. Bird seed can get wet or rancid and that can actual end up being harmful to birds.
COMPOST
If you are composting now is a great time to put that bounty of nutrients to work. One of the richest composts for your garden are worm castings. Composting can be a lot of fun and very rewarding. To read more on composting please visit our compost page.
ENJOYING NATURE
While gardening you can witness some really beautiful little lives just going about their days. A centipede skirting through the dirt, a bird feeding her young, a squirrel stashing nuts in a tree, or even a neighborhood cat soaking up the sun. Be sure to create some nice outdoor seating to have a space to sit back and enjoy your garden. For optimal enjoyment I recommend a hammock!
Twin Oaks Hammocks - This is a great company who makes handcrafted hammocks. Not only have we have used, everyone in our family has their own. They have a great warranty and they can repair or restring your hammocks! This way you can repair instead of replace.
GARDENING WITH COMPASSION
It is disheartening to see the amount of toxins, poisons, chemicals, traps, and lethal materials that are marketed towards gardeners. Gardening should be a time to connect with nature not bomb, poison, pollute, and destroy it. An environmentally respectful approach to the existing ecosystem is to work with them, find ways to coexist. It is my hope that people take the compassionate approach and refrain from exterminating any insect, critter, or life force that crosses their plot of land. Myself and many others have managed to have a beautiful, and bountiful garden without taking any lethal approaches.
It is also important to pause and realize the negative impact these approaches can have on other critters. Many domestic pets and wildlife are directly or indirectly poisoned each year from secondary poisons. Here is an important article put out by a reputable Wildlife Rescue organization, Wildcare:
Take Action Against Rat Poison | WildCare
The herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides and rodenticides are poisons and they are not only toxic to human health they are also deadly to many other species as well. The detrimental effects these poisons have on other species that our ecosystem depends on, like bees, is proving to be one of the leading causes for the dramatic decline in the honey bee population. These poisons pollute our water, soils, wildlife, and are destroying ecosystems. When gardening avoid them for the health of your family, pets, and environment.
Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR)
Pesticide Action Network North American (PANNA)
If you have herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, and rodenticides in your tool shed check in with your local waste company for their next Toxic Cleanup Day or Toxic Drop-off location - these items should never be disposed of by tossing them in the trash.
GROWING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Trees are the cornerstone of so many ecosystems, they provide habitat and food for birds and other animals. Trees also absorb Carbon Dioxide by removing and storing carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air. Trees are natural purifiers removing pollutants and odors by storing them in their bark and leaves. Plants are able to take in CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) during photosynthesis and release oxygen. Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas and when too much of it trapped in the atmosphere leads to global warming, plants are a natural ally. Plants can help with erosion control, provide habitat to animals and insects, and beautify a landscape. Plants are also imperative for our pollinators.
GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD
Moving towards sustainable living doesn’t get much better than growing your own food! A level of satisfaction comes from growing your own fruits and vegetables. It can take some trial and error to find out what works in your climate and soil but when you get a bounty of fresh tomatoes or a bucket of apples it can feel pretty rewarding.
Good soil, it is worth investing in the foundation of good soil to start your vegetable garden. Local recycling agencies can be a good resource for inexpensive compost.
Talk to the specialist at your local nursery, they are a wealth of knowledge and they tend to stock the plants that do well in your region.
For vegetable gardens find out what vegetables compliment one another, I am no expert here but I was surprised to learn that some vegetables don’t make the best house mates for other vegetables.
10 Veggies That Should Grow Together | Amber Kanuckel | Farmers Almanac
Companion Planting Charts for Vegetables | Vegetable Gardening Life
PLANT WISE - GO NATIVE
Choosing the right plant material can make all the differnce in achieving a thriving garden. Selecting native plant material is all about maintaining a healthy balance with nature. Native plants are more likely to thrive in your region, being more resistant to drought, weather, and pests. It is also rewarding to select plants that support your local pollinators.
California Native Plants Society | Calscape
Why Are Native Plants Important for Wildlife? | Greentumble | January 7th, 2017
POLLINATORS
One of the best known pollinators are Honey Bees, these are a keystone species which means they hold a disproportionate role in our ecosystem relative to their size in the ecosystem. Pollinators play a substantial role in what we eat and they are vital for creating and maintaining many habitats for animals in our ecosystem. Most fruits and vegetables that are produced are through the help of pollinators. Not only should we have deference for all pollinators we should do our best to support them with plant material that help them thrive. Tips for supporting pollinators: go organic, supply water, offer pollen rich plants, offer areas of shelter in plants and coves in your yard.
A list of Pollinators (not all will be in your area but some you might be surprised to learn they are pollinators):
Flies
Large-spotted genet
Lemurs
Lizards
Marsupials (Honey Possum)
Monkeys
Rabbit
Rodents (Shrews, Mice)
Wasps
Ants
Bats
Bears
Beetles
Bees
Birds (Hummingbirds, Orioles, Parrot, Sunbirds )
Blackberry
Butterflies
Deer
Below is a list of plants that pollinators love - plant nectar | pollen rich plants:
ATTRACTS HUMMINGBIRDS - CONTINUED
Penstemon
Petunia
Phlox
Sage
Salvia
Scabiosa
Scarlet sage
Sweet William
Verbena
Yucca
Zinnia
ATTRACTS BEES
Allium
Aster
Basil
Bee balm
Bee plant
Bergamot
Blanket flower
Borage
Cosmos
Flax
Four o'clock
Gaillardia
Geranium
Giant hyssop
Globe thistle
Goldenrod
Helianthus
Hyssop
Joe-pye weed
Lavender
Lupine
Marjoram
Mint
Mullein
Paint brush
Poppy
Rosemary
Sage
Skullcap
Sunflower
Thyme
Verbena
Wallflower
Wild rose
Zinnia
TREES & SHRUBS
Almond
Apple
Blackcurrant
Cherry
Gooseberry
Hawthorn
Linden
Locust
Pear
Plum
Raspberry
Strawberry
Wild lilac
Willow
ATTRACTS BUTTERFLIES
Alyssum
Aster
Bee balm
Butterfly bush
Calendula
Cosmos
Daylily
Delphinium
Dianthus
Fennel
Globe thistle
Goldenrod
Hollyhock
Lavender
Liatris
Marigold
Musk mallow
Nasturtium
Oregano
Phlox
Purple coneflower
Queen Anne's lace
Sage
Scabiosa
Shasta daisy
Stonecrop
Verbena
Yarrow
Zinnia
ATTRACTS HUMMINGBIRDS
Ajuga
Bee balm
Begonia
Bleeding heart
Butterfly weed
Canna
Cardinal flower
Century plant
Columbine
Coral bells (heuchera)
Cleome
Crapemyrtle
Dahlia
Dame's rocket
Delphinium
Fire pink
Four o' clocks
Foxglove
Fuchsia
Gilia
Geranium
Gladiolus
Glossy abelia
Hollyhocks
Impatiens
Iris
Lantana
Liatris
Lily
Lupine
Nasturtium
Nicotiana
Paintbrush
Grapegruit
Kiwifruit
Macadamian Nut
Mango
Melon
Nutmeg
Papaya
Peach
Pear
Peppermint
Pumpkin
Raspberry
Sesame
Strawberry
Sugarcane
Tea Plants
Tomato
Vanilla
Foods that depend on Pollinators:
Agave
Alfalfa
Almond
Anise
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Banana
Blueberry
Cardamom
Cashew
Cherry
Chocolate
Coconut
Coffee
Coriander
Cranberry
Fig
Grape
Non-native Species
Pesticides
Pollution
Threats to Pollinators:
Habitat Loss
Degradation
Fragmentation
Disease
Major Threats to Pollinators | Great Pollinator Project
WATER WISE
It is really great for plants to be on drip system with a timer. This will help them absorb the most amount of water at the optimal times. Drip systems allow for various water flows and adjustments. If you have your drip system on a timer most devices these days offer water saving options like seasonal adjustments. You can calibrate your watering system to be as efficient as possible.
Bark is a great way to help retain moisture in the soil. Placing a nice layer of bark throughout your landscape will not only retain the moisture in the soil it will also benefit the plants and provide a nice cohesive look. Check with your local recycling agency they may have bark made from the recycled green waste; this option can be considerably less expensive too.
Since I am in California we are sensitive to drought issues so searching for native plants and drought tolerant plants are good for this region. Most cities in California offer a cash for grass program to incentivize people to remove their lawns and replace them with drought tolerant plants and hardscapes.
ARTICLES
10 Ways to Make Your Garden More Green | Jasmin Malik Chua | Treehugger | July 14th, 2014
Eco-Friendly Gardening: Tips to Create an Eco-Garden | Outdoor Living Today
Organic Pest Control for Gardens (Natural Options) | Katie Wells | Wellness Mama | May 28th, 2019
Take Action Against Rat Poison | WildCare
BOOKS | STORIES | REFERENCES
Bill the Garden Cat | Duane Campbell | The Weeder’s Reader - Greenprints Greatest Stories
The Backyard Birdhouse Book | René and Christyna M. Laubach
The Bird-Friendly Backyard | Natural Gardening for Birds | Julie Zickefoose
WEBSITES
Garden For The Environment - Urban Gardens in SF