Sustainable Gardening

THE HIDDEN IMPACTS OF GARDENS

1. Air Pollution.

Direct impacts:

Lawn and garden equipment:

• 1 hour mowing (gas) = 20 miles in a car.
• Emit 5% of ozone-forming VOCs.
• VOCs linked to health effects/global warming.

Indirect: Transportation, manufacturing.

2. Noise Pollution.

The operating range of most gas-powered landscape equipment operate way over possible hearing loss levels of 85 db upwards.

3. Water Pollution.

Pesticides:

• Homeowners use 10X more per acre than farmers.
• 2/3 users dispose of excess in trash, remainder down drains.
• Detectable limits found in 5-10% of wells.
  

Fertilizers:

• 40-60% of nitrogen surface and groundwater.
• Nitrogen, phosphorus main pollutants in the bay.
  

Pesticides destabilize the natural balance of the eco-system. Food chain breaks and natural defenses are annihilated. Millions of birds are poisoned every year. Some species have developed sterility syndromes and get to become endangered.

Less than 1% of plant and animal species are considered pests. Nevertheless, pesticides target inadvertently all surrounding beneficial species.

Food chain absorbs pollutants at all levels up to humans.

Estimated 3,000,000 cases of related diseases every year in humans worldwide.

4. Erosion, Flood Damage

• Lawns only able to absorb 1/10 rainfall compared to a forest.
• Turf has shallow root system; not able to stabilize stream banks.
• Runoff results in erosion, flooding, aquatic habitat destruction.
  

5. Biodiversity Damage.

• Exotic plants escape and invade.
  

Natural eco-system balance is affected. Species disappear or relocate.

6. Cost and Labor Intensive:

• Estimated $25 billion/year spent on lawn care in the US
• 1 acre lawn costs $400-700/year to maintain
• Average homeowner spends 40 hours/year mowing.
  

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING

Just as nearly all sustainable practices, a green approach of your garden practices is very simple, straight forward, makes sense and will generate great savings in time and money.

1. Choose a Naturalistic Design with Native Plants.

Basically, GoWild!

Benefits:

• Requires less maintenance.
  Less mowing, watering and trimming is needed. You save time and $$
• Reduces environmental harm.
  Less or no pesticides and lower water resources are needed. A knowledgeable assemblage of the right compatible plants (Integrated Pest Management System) or following organic principles will recreate the self protection of the eco-system against pest attacks. Avoid invasive plants.
• Benefits wildlife.
  Your garden will become the host of native sedentary and migrating species.
• Provides seasonal interest.
  Even in the tropics, seasons are noticeable especially with flowers.
• Provides soil stability and moisture.
  Roots hold soil and water.
• Energy conservation.
  Trees can lower your AC bills from 15% to 50%. Air temperature is up to 25% cooler under a tree.
  

2. Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

As mentioned above, a reproduced well balanced eco-system will protect itself from most attacks naturally.

If needed, spray organic and natural recipes.

3. Be careful with Nutrient Application

Use Organic such as compost or slow release fertilizers.

4. Conserve water

• Assess the real need of each plants.
• Use water saving devices.
• Water early during the day to limit evaporation in sun light.
• Use gray or captured rain water if possible.
  

5. Conserve energy

• Use hand tool whenever possible.
• Use electric vs gas tools.
• Prefer 4-cycle engines rather than 2-cycle.
• Consider indirect impacts (packaging trash, transportation, manufacturing).
  

6. Make your own compost with your organic wastes

Save on disposal fees and logistics saving on landfill space and transportation imacts.

“Let the land speak its own language in its own regional accent”