"I never let schooling interfere with my education."
~ Mark Twain
"Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
~ Mark Twain
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How do you rate???
In order to find out how big of an impact your yard’s footprint is creating in the local ecosystem answer the questions below. When you are done answering the questions add up your points to see how eco friendly your landscape really is!
The Eco Quiz!
Rainwater
Does your property contain and filter all the rainwater that falls on its’ surface through the use of rain gardens, French drains, or wells?
A. A veritable mote of rain gardens surrounds our house, not a drop goes down the sewer. (0 points)
B. We have a rain garden that captures more than half of the rain that falls, but we’re still watching water pour down the drain. (5 points)
C. Our landscape is a giant slip and slide for all the little raindrops; we make regular contributions to the local rivers and waterways. (10 points)
Wild Life
Does your property have native plantings to attract wild life?
A. We can’t see the house for the butterflies and birds in the way! No turf, just native plants. (0 points)
B. We have some native plants incorporated into the landscape and a bit of lawn. Birds and butterflies visit more often than in-laws, but less then the mailman. (5 points)
C. We like it when birds land in the yard, if we can get a clear shot at them. All turf lawn and no native plants. (10 points)
D. Property is theft, I live the wonderers life and the birds watch me. (Your eco-footprint wears moccasins not shoes.) (You win)
Home Grown Food
Do you grow your own food?
A. The yard is my oyster I shall not shop. We grow enough for the neighbors too! (-5 points)
B. We grow some awesome tomatoes! But we’re shopping for groceries more often then organizing harvests. (5 points)
C. What, you can grow food at home? I thought it grew in factories? (10 points)
Compost
Do you compost your yard and kitchen waste?
A. We don’t have no stinking waste! It’s all just compost waiting to happen. (0 points)
B. The black plastic bin special is sitting in the back yard with something kind of scary growing in it. (5 points)
C. Oh man I wouldn’t put scraps in the yard, that’s gross! (Dumps are gross, compost is great, 15 points)
Chemical Independency
Do you use chemical fertilizers or pesticides on your lawn?
A. I don’t even walk down the chemical isle at the hardware store, no way. (-5 points)
I don’t even walk down the chemical isle at the hardware store, no way. (-5 points)B. I’ve used some chemicals, but I’m looking for a way out before I’m in too deep.
I’ve used some chemicals, but I’m looking for a way out before I’m in too deep. (5 points, don’t worry, there’s help out there)
C. I don’t have a problem with lawn chemicals, unless I run out! (Sounds like denial to me, 20 points)
The Seed Vol. 9 Nov. 20, 2007 A Giving Tree Gardens Newsletter
Photos and Text by Russ Henry
©2007 by Giving Tree Gardens, all rights reserved.
Giving Tree Gardens in the Co-op news!!!!!
"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry"
~Mark Twain
REDUCE YOUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT!!
Fear not brave gardeners, I’m not suggesting that you go out and get a smaller pair of garden clogs to squeeze into. Instead I’d ask folks everywhere to examine the impact of our lawns, landscapes, and lifestyles on the local ecosystem. Think of your yard as a type of footprint that falls on the earth. Now ask yourself if that footfall is delicate and well placed, or are you just plodding along squishing whatever’s in your path? I know I’m preaching to the eco-friendly choir here, but I figure even a free range organic choir could use some good hymns when they go rambling into the world singing their big green ideas. The big idea here is that perhaps with a little honest examination we can find ways at home to reduce the size of our own footprint on the environment.
Don't settle! U can have beauty and health !
No Chemicals, No Problem! If you wanna see these fluttering beauties in your yard just stop with the chemical barrage that barely keeps the lawn green, and start with native plants!
Plant Profile:
WINGED BURNING BUSH
Euonymus alatus
"Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get."
~Mark Twain
Are You A Curious Gardener?? Do you have a stubborn garden question that just won't go away? Send it to us and we'll see if our garden gurus can divine an answer! Click here to email your persistent question. You may even see your question answered in next months issue of The Seed!!!!
Compost Happens.
Help, my shrubbery is on fire! Calm down!! That plant's not on fire, but it sure is hot!! Any time I'm asked by 5 different folks in one week about a particular plant I know that we've found our new hot item for the plant profile. A burning bush can be recogized quite easily in the fall with it's tell tale red foliage. The spring is another showy season for this plant when it's fruit are born in firelight tones of red, orange, and yellow. If your still not certain whether you're looking at a Euonymus, just examine the stems. Burning bush stems have small corky "wings" which jut out to make them appear almost square. This sizzling shrub is actually a native of eastern Asia, and has made a nuisance of itself here as it is currently Invading the eastern North American woods. My guess is that if the climate heats up a bit more, then perhaps this fiery beauty may blaze it's own trail into our midwestern woodlands.
Buyer Beware!
Don't let the snow weigh you down! Giving Tree Gardens now offers SNOW REMOVAL SERVICE! Let our bio-diesel burning truck clear your driveway right after we hand shovel your walk! Click here to schedule your free consultation!
You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ~Mark Twain
Want some help with that?
Oh Really???
One of the most intriguing things I encounter on a regular basis is hearing folks talk about sustainable concepts like they’re so new-fangled, out there, or fringe. Oh yeah, I get it, because the idea that we should keep living as a species, and that the earth should not die simply because we want luxury, that’s just so far fetched. This always leads me to ask the question,
What is so wierd about people not wanting to kill themselves?
Whenever I encounter a mass of folks blindly harming themselves with their own philosophies, customs, or beliefs I sit and wonder who might be profiting from these seemingly self-inflicted wounds, but then that’s just silly, who could possibly profit from millions of people pouring unneeded dangerous chemicals on their lawns every year??? Certainly not we organic gardeners, I can’t make a dime trying to sell my happy healthy clients on new-fangled, out-there, fringe ideas like better life through chemistry!
Care to forage for a snack?
Grow your own and taste the difference!
What's so funny 'bout peace, love and sustainablilty?
Careful with those chemicals! Lawn chemicals are poisonous to our cute furry friends, go organic and have a healthy household!
HOW BIG IS YOUR LANDSCAPE’S ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT ????
Add up your points to see what size shoes we need to fit on the ecological impact of your yard. The higher the numbers go, the bigger the footprint. Now what size shoes does your eco-impact wear?
0-10 points: Your yard has bare feet and walks softly. Teach your neighbors, their children will thank you.
10-30 points: Your yard wears small smart shoes and walks quickly but carefully.
30-45 points: Please try to keep your landscape on the path. I’m afraid it’s jumping around leaving footprints all over the ecosystem!
45-65 points: WATCH OUT! Your lawn is trying to kill us all! DO SOMETHING!
Your know something's wrong when you can see the air, and taste the water. -Alaskan native elder
So that's where all the water from our lawns goes! Consider your landscape as a rest stop for raindrops. Send the rain that falls on your property back into the world healthier then you found it!
