Gardening To Fight Climate Change
Heroes usually come in the most unlikely forms. Some of the biggest heroes of the future may turn out to be the gardeners who used their gardens as effective tools in the fight to stop climate change.
More than being a place in which you can enjoy peace, tranquillity, and the restorative power of nature, your little patch of green helps purify the air, produces oxygen, and provides food and shelter for all sorts of creatures that help keep the cycle of life going. It might even produce a harvest for you and your family to enjoy.
The thing is, some of our gardening practices may actually do more harm than good. The global warming battle is one in which we cannot afford to slip up. Every little bit helps make a difference, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Remember, an avalanche begins with a single snowflake. Here are a few top tips to help you to use your garden to make a difference for the sake of planet earth.
No More Lawn
We have been obsessed with lawn for too long. Turf grass is an exceptionally thirsty plant, and it just does not make sense to grow huge tracts of it anymore. Several years ago, the Grow Food Not Lawns movement took off. It essentially encourages people to rip up the grass, and to plant fruit and vegetables instead.
Not only is this better for the land and for the local environment, it also ensures that you get the freshest supply of healthy homegrown food. You do not need to plant a food garden, of course. If you prefer ornamentals, see the next tip.
Go Indigenous
Many gardens are chock-full of exotic plants, many of which place stress on land itself because they evolved to grow in different conditions. Some even may become problem invader plants by spreading uncontrollably, choking indigenous vegetation, and even having a negative effect on the water table.
It makes sense to plant indigenous plants and trees, wherever you are. They evolved to survive in local conditions, which may include high temperatures and drought. You can sit down to some thrilling action at betting sites in New Zealand after a busy day getting all your new indigenous plants into their new home.
Avoid Garden Chemicals
Avoid using chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides in your garden. They also tend to do more harm than good. If pests are a particular concern, try one of the many eco-friendly ways of dealing with them. For example, beer traps are an effective way of dealing with snails. You also can form small fences using steel wool kitchen pads. Place them around the base of plants to protect them from slugs and snails.
Make Your Own Compost
Composting fruit and vegetable scraps, as well as other organic materials such as eggshells, is a fantastic way of ensuring the soil in your garden stays healthy. This in turn ensures that your plants also stay healthy.
For many people composting means having a relatively large bin or section of the garden dedicated to the endeavour. However, there are indoor composting options small and clean enough to use in a small apartment in the city, such as worm compost boxes.
Keep the Birds In Mind
As more and more natural land is swallowed up by development, it becomes increasingly difficult for birds, especially seed and fruit eaters, to find food. Give Mother Nature a helping hand by leaving appropriate food, such as fruit and wild bird seed mix, where birds can access it easily, away from potential predators.
Use Water-Wise Tech
Technology can help you be more water-wise in your garden. A range of plant buddies are available, either as pots for indoor plants, or as sensors that are planted into the ground. They can sense weather, soil, and other humidity conditions. They then send watering alerts to your smartphone or tablet via an app.
Use a Reel Mower
For decades, reel or push mowers were popular comic devices in scenes of the twee country gentleman or grandfather working in his garden. These days, they can help you reduce your carbon footprint, especially if your garden isn’t used to host carnivals, special events or any other occasion that would call for perfectly mowed lawns.
Whether your lawnmower is electric or fuel-powered, it is responsible for adding carbon emissions to the atmosphere on a regular basis. Cut down on the number of times you use your lawnmower by using a push mower to keep it tidy. This is another great reason to get rid of the lawn.
No Garden? No Problem
If you live in an apartment or another space in which an outdoor garden is not possible, you can still experience the joy of garden to help fight climate change. Get houseplants. I’m not just talking about love palms and maidenhair ferns. There is an incredible range of houseplants available, some of which are proven to be effective at purifying the air. Nano gardens are also an option for folks with limited space.