Sustainable gardening is an excellent way to make your outdoor hobbies even more eco-friendly. There are a variety of benefits to sustainable gardening practices, including growing your own organic produce and helping the local environment. But how do you get started?
Compost your kitchen & garden waste
The basis of a successful garden is fertile soil, and the best way to improve your soil is by composting. Composting turns organic materials into rich fertilizer for your soil and everything that grows in it.
To create your own compost, save all organic waste from your kitchen and garden. Excluding dairy and meat scraps, gather your leftover vegetable, fruit and grass clippings in a composting bin or compost pile. After a few weeks, you’ll have nutrient-rich fertilizer - for free!
Choose native plants
One of the most important sustainable gardening methods involves the types of plants you choose for your garden. Opt for plants that are native to your region and adaptable to the climate and soil type. This can help support and protect your local ecosystem, while also making it easier to grow healthy plants.
Rather than use synthetic pest control methods, you can also add plants with natural pest resistance. There are plenty of options for plants naturally resistant to pests like slugs and beetles, as well as those to deter hungry deer and other larger pests.
Conserve water
A happy garden needs plenty of water, but that doesn’t mean you can’t water your plants sustainably. There are several tried-and-true methods for gathering and conserving water, such as collecting rainwater for later use. Rainwater collection systems come in all sizes to fit any backyard garden, and can help keep both your utility costs and environmental impact low.
Sustainable gardening might seem complex at first, but it doesn’t have to be. With these three basic secrets, you can become a sustainable gardener with a happy, healthy and eco-friendly garden.
About the Author
Debbie Caldwell
When you first meet Debbie Harris-Caldwell, you are immediately drawn to her charming Welsh accent and the twinkle in her eye. The well-traveled transplant from Wales is quick to set you at ease and time spent with her promises to be time well spent.
Debbie has been a real estate agent for 40 years and takes great pride in her customer service skills. "I make myself available to my customers when they need me, whether it's on a Sunday Evening or after their long day at work. I make my schedule fit theirs. I also keep my customers updated on everything happening with their listings or purchase, I am their conduit for information." She has built a business following her key principles of clear communication, attention to detail, client advocacy, and comprehensive knowledge of the area. Debbie comes to every new transaction with positive energy, determination, a strong understanding of the currents driving the market, and the expertise that comes from a lifetime of experience. She knows the importance of marketing and whether a home is for sale for $200,000 or for $2 million, she always has professional photography done and creates a listing presentation that best shows off her customer's home.