Sustainable Gardening

Practical answers from nature-loving garden gurus

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Why Sustainable Gardening?

You're invited to contribute to this growing list of reasons to garden sustainably. It's a work in progress and I encourage your comments and additions — just send 'em along.

Fertilizers and the Problems they Cause

• Run-off from the use of fertilizers, especially the synthetic kind, is a major cause of water pollution.
• Production of synthetic fertilizer requires fossil fuels as inputs, then are shipped considerable distances to our gardens. Home-grown compost and mulch are free, the products of recycling. And they're far better for our soil, the wildlife, and our plants.
• Increasingly, sustainability includes choosing organic fertilizers from local sources.

Water — a Limited Resource

• Not just in the arid West anymore, especially with the worsening droughts associated with climate change.
• Here's a good overview of water scarcity issues.
• I love this report about holding people responsible for the water they waste.

Pesticides — Not a Pretty Story

• Pesticides kill beneficial insects too, and can even can kill birds and other wildlife that feed on the affected insects. Remember the Monarch!
• Rachel Carson sounded the alarm that finally most of us are hearing — that not just DDT and other since-banned chemicals harm the environment. Lots of still-legal ones are dangerous to humans, our pets, and a wide range of species in our gardens.
• The use of pesticides turns our plants into pesticide-dependent junkies. Seriously, it can take years for them to detox and start to thrive on their own again.
• Here's Penn State on "Why not just use a pesticide?"

More Good Info on Line

• Beyond Pesticides is a terrific resource.
• No Impact Man is making news, writing books, even starring in a new documentary. Very cool.
• WaterConserve.org is a good source.
• ChesapeakeClimate.org will induce some long surfing, then maybe taking action.
• Environment and Human Health
• Pesticide Action Network North America
• You can help by contributing more great links and book ideas.