Gardening Towards Environmental Sustainability
The idea behind sustainability is to minimize the impact that humans have on the earth. It is basically making sure we leave behind a planet that is safe for future generations to live and thrive. When it comes to gardening, following sustainable practices at home includes avoiding polluting chemicals, preserving natural resources, and reducing waste whenever possible. You don’t have to make huge changes right away if you want to start gardening in a more sustainable way; even something as simple as using natural weed killing methods instead of chemicals can help the environment.
When community gardens are developed with inclusiveness and accessibility in mind, they have enormous potential to bring people together. Gardening side by side, regardless of age, status, or disability, people can reclaim membership in their community.
Going organic is an important part of sustainable gardening. Using fewer chemicals in your garden is more ecologically sound and more cost-effective.
Knowing how to grow a sustainable garden includes knowing what plants to use. Sustainable plants are those that are indigenous to your region, also called natives. These plants take less work, usually require less water, and thrive better than other perennials because they are already suited to your climate, rainfall, and soil types. Additionally, native plant species provide food and shelter for the native insect and bird populations.
Raising some of your own food is an essential part of a sustainable lifestyle. For a successful sustainable vegetable garden, plant intensively and by season. Crops, such as greens and lettuce, sprout quickly in the spring but die out in summer’s hot temps. Beds can be interplanted with hot-weather crops such as tomatoes and peppers. When autumn temps cool down, you can sow cool weather crops again, thus getting three seasons of food from the same area.
Nature has a lot to teach us, and gardening is one of the ways we can learn. Gardening can breed curiosity and capture the imagination, help cultivate a resilient spirit, and change our relationship to food and each other for the better.
Let us know in the comments below the steps you take towards leading a more sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle.
Happy growing!
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