Posted on: Friday, March 16, 2007
10 steps to take toward sustainable gardening
By Joel M. Lerner
Washington Post
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When possible, use local stone for walls, paths and patios.
SANDRA LEAVITT LERNER | Washington Post
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In just a few years, "sustainability" has changed from a "What?" word to a buzzword.
People are recognizing the threats to our resources — water, air, soil, forests — as evidenced by the tremendous public response to the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," which won an Oscar recently.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can establish a healthier, happier garden as well as help renew the Earth. Here are 10:
Promote sustainability. Use plants, trees and shrubs that are native to your area. The primary advantage is that they have adapted to the growing conditions and shouldn't need extra water or nutrients. Keep the soil in good condition with homemade compost and mulch. Collect rainwater for use in the garden. Search Web sites that offer information about indigenous plants.
Control use of pesticides and herbicides and use on-site materials. Employ natural remedies such as soap sprays, weeding and hand removal. Use the least toxic methods of control. Recycle organic plant material on your property. Compost it. If plant material is diseased, bag it and send it out with the trash. Leave grass clippings and fallen leaves on the lawn.
Re-create natural beauty. Use an informal style, with free-form beds and curving paths. When possible, use local materials for fences and structures and local stone for walls, paths and patios.
Encourage diversity. Plant a variety of plants and allow plants, birds and insects to have a place. A landscape should not be a still life but a dynamic habitat for wildlife.
Turf grass can be a greedy master. Golf-course-type turf can require lots of water, chemicals to keep it healthy and energy to keep it mowed. The permaculture solution is to plant more flowers and useful plants. Trees for fruit, shade and carbon dioxide reduction, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers are all more desirable than grass.
Use less energy. Make the most of collected water to irrigate the garden. Disturb the land as little as possible. For example, heavy machinery uses gasoline. Create berms for sound protection and privacy. Plant swales to reduce rainwater runoff, which can cause water pollution. Use shade plants to reduce cooling costs.
Increase food production. Plant more fruits and vegetables so you can "eat locally" and decrease the need for food shipping.
Make garden chores more efficient. Instead of pulling weeds, mowing the lawn or shearing with hedge trimmers, use that time to compost, mulch, plant and harvest.
Educate yourself and others. Learn the major environmental problems in your neighborhood and region.
Take responsibility. Reduce your imprint and let nature have a larger role.
This article used as its sources Ben Haggard, author of "Living Community: A Permaculture Case Study at Sol y Sombra" (1993); and Hundredfold Farm, a member-owned community west of Gettysburg, Pa., that has developed landscape goals to preserve its rural character.
