Green[Wood] Tip of the Week – Grow a sustainable Garden

0

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul … “

~Alfred Austin (English Poet)

A sustainable garden is one which gives back to nature; a garden that works in harmony with the environment by conserving resources and working with the land and not against it. The philosophy is to learn to protect and preserve the soil and discover how to sustain ourselves. Growing a garden is a great way of providing natural, fresh food, and also a good model of what is possible in our community.

The start of a sustainable garden starts with the soil, which is typically organic in nature; you don’t want to use petrochemical pesticides, herbicides and man-made fertilizers in the soil and water that will be feeding the plants. I don’t think that anyone wants to ingest these potentially dangerous chemicals. The soil should derive its rich organic basis from beneficial insects (bees, spiders, worms, ladybugs …), and the use of compost to supply it with nutrients.

It’s vital to use plants that are native to the area so that you are working with nature and not against it. It is important to match plant species to your area because native birds and insects have naturally evolved with the indigenous plant species and they will be able to benefit from the plants plus help them to grow and pollinate naturally. Reputable San Jose nurseries such as Summer Wind’s Nursery, Central Wholesale Nursery and Capital Wholesale Nursery will be able to assist you with your plant selection.

Vermicomposting (worm composting) is a really fun [and educational] way to supply your garden with pure organic plant food. Worms produce a casting (simply worm poop) and it’s an excellent fertilizer for plants. Vermicomposting too, is an excellent way to keep food waste out of the garbage by composting. A few weeks back I blogged about San Jose’s compost pilot program; this pilot program supports the city’s green vision of ZERO waste. Composting is so easy and it a great method of returning organic waste back into a nutrient rich soil amendment. Compost improves plant health by supplying nutrients to the soil.

Are you interested in creating a beautiful, healthy and sustainable garden? Learn how at upcoming hands-on workshops sponsored by Bay Friendly Coalition. Register online or call (408) 918-4640

Have fun and happy gardening!