Image via Flickr by Dianna Ott
You don’t need a farm or a large stretch of land to create your little green paradise; a well-maintained garden is enough to put the concepts of sustainable living into practice. You simply need to get your hands dirty and reap the fruits — quite literally — of your efforts.
The main idea involved in garden planning is to create an environment that’s similar to the way nature works. Think about conserving water, not using harsh chemicals, and planting native species. Find out about these and a few other best ways to use your garden for sustainable living.
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Grow Your Own Herbs and Vegetables
It’s satisfying to feed your family with the food you grow in your garden. You tend to respect the seasons and end up consuming more local produce. It’s easy to learn how to grow fruit and vegetables, how to harvest basil, Learn to rotate the crops you raise to keep the soil healthy and save seeds to plant for future growing seasons.
Use Composting to Enrich Your Soil
If you’d like your garden to be healthy, then you should start composting from day one. Instead of throwing away your organic waste, turn it into nutrient-rich soil by creating compost. The food sources in your compost pile will help you grow nutritious vegetables and plants, which in turn benefits all your family members.
Plant Native Species
Consider planting native species when building your garden. In that way, native plants are already used to the climate and weather conditions of your area and will probably fare better than foreign species. You’ll also contribute to the well-being of area wildlife that eat the fruit or collect the nectar from these plants.
Create Shade for Your House With Landscaping
Your garden can be a great source of vegetables, fruits, and fulfillment, but did you know your garden can also help you save money? If you strategically plant trees and hedges, you can create shade for your house and cool it in a natural way while taking the load off your HVAC system.
Don’t Waste Water
Sustainability is making sure nothing goes to waste, including water. One way to avoid wasting is using the xeriscaping gardening method, a landscaping technique which uses drought-resistant plants and trees. You could also use a rain barrel to collect water from rainfall or consider drip irrigation, an efficient irrigation method that delivers water through pipes under the soil.
Practice Organic Gardening
You don’t want your garden to be a place for harmful chemicals present in fertilizers and pesticides. Organic gardening promotes natural ways to keep your garden healthy and protected. Consider techniques such as integrated pest management, which uses plants that attract beneficial insects to your garden.
At the end of the day, when you start growing your garden in a sustainable way, the soil becomes healthier and the fruits and vegetables you cultivate become more nutritious. When you walk around your pest-free garden and prepare meals with the fresh vegetables you grew yourself, you’ll feel like you’re making the world a better and more eco-friendly place to live.
