Organic Gardening Basics

Green or Organic Gardening

has many environmental and lifestyle benefits. You can start with these basic thoughts while you research what works best for your garden or landscape.

Landscape With Native Plants

Native plants are plants found in the local your area before Europeans settled. To support the new communities they cleared land for grazing and homebuilding - then introduced foreign and exotic plants from overseas. Native plants tend to be hardy because they have adapted to the local conditions. Since it is their territory they will not need pesticides, fertilizers, or watering. Since native landscapes tend not to be mowed it reduces the demand for non-renewable resources and improves the water. Native wildflowers and grasses helps keep the balance of a healthy ecosystem. Diverse varieties of birds, inserts and small animals, are attracted to the native landscape which will lead to bio diversity. Native plants have been growing and evolving for millions of years adapting and adjusting to the local soils, resources and climate. This allows them to be likely to thrive with minimal care than foreign or non-native plants. They tend to need less water, fertilizing and pest control. They are also invasive plants.

Native plants also have a strong link in the local ecosystem. Other plants, animals and insects require them for a balanced resource of food, storage, shelter and nutrients. Balance is key to a local ecosystem. Balanced population of beneficial flowers, plants, animals and insects keep the harmful ones in check.

Native Plant Societies and Organizations

• Native Plant and Invasive Plant Guide

• NYS DOT Native Plant Resource Guide

• Native Plant Societies of the United States & Canada

Reduce Pesticides and Use of Powered Equipment

Native plants have adapted to local conditions and tend to have natural defenses against local pests. Reducing lawn to the minimum size needed. It may be greener to create or expand beds of native flowers and shrubs, plant wildflowers, allow a section of lawn to revert to wooded area. If you want to remove turf you can cover the grass with a thick layer of old newspapers. Then provide a thick layer of organic mulch. Several months later the grass will have died and you can replant without removing the old newspapers.

Improved Your Town's Air Quality

With the natural synthesis of organic landscaping - SMOG and other air pollutants are reduced by the elimination of maintenance equipment - which need petrol or batteries. Conventional energy produce green house gas pollutants and SMOG such as carbon monoxide , carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and particulates.

Improved Water Quality

The lack of pesticides prevents their overuse. This will eliminate or minimize run-off into streams, lake, and rivers. This improves the quality of the drinking and recreational water and the life species that call it home. In addition, if you let the garden fall into a more random layout, it can reduce runoff. Structured forms tend not to do as well as following natural bends and curves of the landscape. Capturing rainfall is also a key element. Rather than allowing rainwater runoff to into a driveway or into storm drains you can capture it with a rain barrel or pond or french drain. Then reuse the captured rain later for use in your garden. Keep these at least 10 feet from buildings to avoid wet basements. Rain barrels are located under your downspouts from your roof gutter. Check for local permitting codes.

Composting

Organic waste from gardens such as leaves, grass clippings and other yard debris clog landfills. This is a natural resource. Once decomposed, this organic matter can provide free mulch - which is a source of nutrients.

Pennsylvania State Dept has a great web site for Home Composting. They stress reducing, reuse, and recycling.

Danielle Green of the Great Lakes National Program Office and Dan Welker of EPA Region 3, provide a wonderful PPT slide presentation on environmental impacts to air, water, land and bio diversity of traditional landscaping and offer alternatives such as using native plants in the landscape. You can see it at there EPA link. The EPA also has a strong site on Landscaping with Native Plants Factsheet and also a video of Landscaping Naturally.

Renewable Energy

Conservation definitions range from individual to individual. It depends on what you are looking to accomplish. Some individuals are conserving energy to save the earth, others to save few bucks. Some are conserving wildlife and landscape for karma to the earth, others to save the outdoors for their families. The following section addresses energy conservation such as renewable energy, sustainable energy, wind power and solar power.

ENERGY EFFICENCY

It could be conserving energy via replacement of traditional energy with solar, wind or hydro power with your local power company such as;

ConEd Solutions
Potomac's Pepco Green Energy Services
Montana's Green Power
Georgia's Green Power
Maine's Green Power Initiative
Nevada's Green Power


Organizations such as:

Alliance to Save Energy
American Council On Renewable Energy
Solar Electric Power Association
Union of Concerned Scientists - Buy Green Power Power
American Wind Association


Government green energy programs such as;

Australian Green Power Program
US EPA's Green Power Partnership Program
US Government's DOE Green Power Network.
Hong Kong's Green Power Program


Consumers and businesses turn to certifications by third parties to help determine the green power they might purchase or use. One group is the Green-e program. The Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Program (non-profit Center for Resource Solutions). Green-e certifies renewable electricity products that meet the environmental and consumer protection standards. In each states where Green-e is active, they work with diverse stakeholders to help ensure consumer protection and environmental standards work.

Energy saving ideas can come from alternative energy sources such as south facing roof solar panels used to heat your water storage tank through flat or evacuated solar collector panels. The pumps used to flow the heat can also use a solar panel or it can be hooked up to traditional fuel sources. Another area for solar heat can be under floor radiant heating tubes. Since heat rises, locating solar generated heating tubes beneath your floor as a radiant heating system can be a possible option. Due to the design layout most home owners find that this type of heating is only feasible in new homes.

Heavy heat and cooling losses due to poor insulation can have damaging effects on your energy bill and usage. Energy Star Partner windows with proper installation by a qualified contractor can help control loss. The National Fenestration Rating Council helps provide independent ratings on energy efficient windows, glass doors and skylights. When used in conjunction with the US Government Energy Star program, a home owner can find capable products. Energy covering or shades can have a large effect on a homes demand for energy and ability to conserve energy. Many different type of shades allow for variable light and heat or cooling reducing such as honeycomb designs. Proper choice of low energy usage lights Finally, the insulation in the walls and ceilings must be properly installed and of the properly rated material. The US Federal Government's Energy Star Home Web Site is a great resource for those looking to conserve energy and lower bills (even through certain federal and state tax rebates).