Jane the Gardener by ktylerconk
What exactly is a green garden? How green is your gardening already? My promise here is to inspire you. Are we on the same page?
Let’s think about this for a moment and see what I mean, where you’re at, and what your next step is.
What is Green Gardening?
Green gardening is a combination of organic gardening and wildlife gardening. It’s about caring for the whole ecosystem, caring about where your gardening inputs come from and your outputs go to.
Green Gardeners Care
When you’re a green gardener you pay attention to water, nutrients, seeds, weeds, wildlife, waste, and pests and use gardening methods which care for the Earth. You go beyond thinking about just your own personal needs. Does that sound overwhelming?
You’re Right Where You Need to Be
You’re here, which means you are interested in green gardening, even if you’ve not yet taken action. Let’s look at where you’re at in your growth as a green gardener. Then we can talk about the next step. We all have to start somewhere. How are you doing?
Loading ...How Did You Do?
How did you you do? How does your score compare to others?
1-3 boxes checked – you’ve made a start and you want to be a green gardener. You’ve taken the most difficult first step. Congratulations, you’re a beginning green gardener.
4-6 boxes checked – either you’ve been at this for a while, or you’re a person of action. You’re making a difference. Keep doing what you’re doing while working to do more. You’re an intermediate green gardener.
7-9 boxes checked – you’re committed to green gardening, you’re an established green gardener. Are you telling others about what you do and what you believe? Keep going. There’s always more to learn.
Green gardening doesn’t just happen. The more you know, the more you connect with others on the journey, the easier, and more enjoyable, the journey will be.
Your next step is to get all the inspiration you need. Subscribe to Loving Nature’s Garden – Green Garden Inspiration by e-mail – don’t miss a thing.
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Even though I’m new to gardening, a green approach just makes sense to me. I look forward to learning more & putting some of these practices to use.
Thanks, Alison, that was a great checklist for gardeners who want to do more for their environment. Once you decide that all things are interconnected, it is easy to see all of those boxes need to be checked. For me, it is extremely rewarding to share my yard with the critters who live here.
Kathy Vilim´s last blog ..My Garden Peacock
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by alisonkerr: How Green is Your Garden? I’m nosy that way! http://ow.ly/1DIXl #garden #nature #organic #green…
I guess my garden is pretty much green following your list.
Though… I just read a blog from Paul Gardener (AltGlobe member as well) and it made me think twice about some things I brought into my garden from outside… Check this important notice about contamination in your garden: http://www.altglobe.com/blog-feed/important-garden-advisory
Alison, Love this. My one deficient area for green gardening is that I continue to expand my “lawn” but I guess is was pretty small to begin with! We just need a place to play soccor!
Haven’t been by in a while- I continue to enjoy catching up with you!
Hope you are well! Shannon
shannon´s last blog ..‘Round the May Pole
Also, the new look is great!
shannon´s last blog ..‘Round the May Pole
Debi, thanks for the comment. It’s great to have you following along.
Kathy, yes, everything is connected within the natural world. Thanks for spreading the word through your writing.
Aviad, I’ve had concerns about brought in compost and mulch. Thanks for the link. This is something I need to write about.
Shannon, I don’t imagine you manicuring your “lawn” like some folks do. I’ll have to think about whether there is an alternative to the traditional soccer lawn.
We used to leave water out for wildlife when we lived in the suburbs, but out here you have to be careful of what you’re attracting. Sometimes, getting rid of the water, even that which you have out for pets and livestock, is the greenest way of managing wildlife issues.
And we are definitely having issues with coyotes.
Oh, and regarding lawns, have you read anything on LILAC? (Low Imact Lawn Care)
http://cityofwatertown.org/Pages/Storm%20Water/Low%20Impact%20Lawn%20Care%20summer.pdf
Dana´s last blog ..Polish Crested: Chickens going punk
Great one Alison – as I was going through the list one that really popped out at me was providing water for wildlife.
I know it’s not technically part of gardening, so it’s sometimes forgotten, but it is a great and smart tip! Thanks!
Tara´s last blog ..What is Life Without the Green?
I am new in gardening and this blog of yours is a big help. This green approach looks good for gardening.
Hi Alison,
I’m all for green gardening. Capturing rain water is definitely on the checklist. We’ve set out buckets before but we need a more efficient system. lol! Eventually, we’d like to xeriscape the front yard. This sort of stuff makes me giddy!
Leslie @LaMamaNaturale´s last blog ..{Giveaway} Win a $25 Gift Certificate to The Soft Landing!!!