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ECO-Friendly Ideas

There are multiple ways we can practice environmental stewardship and go green in our own little corner of the world. Eco-friendly ideas and suggestions come to the forefront every day. Many of those ideas can be applied to gardening. As we strive to offer smart resources for better gardening we will accumulate those ideas here.

We welcome your input as well. Please feel free to use the contact us form to share your eco-friendly practices. We will post as many as we can in this section of the website.

Your friends at joe gardener,

learn, create, grow

Turning Junk Mail into Gardeners Gold
EarIier I addressed the subject of things you can and can’t compost from within your home. But now allow me to isolate and elaborate on my favorite part of the indoor composting process. Inside my house, the shredder is the equivalent to the compost bin outdoors, based on how much it is put to work. I shred everything! In fact, I derive great pleasure from it. If you think that sounds a little odd, just know that my kids argue over who gets to shred the next stack.

Little Things Do Add Up
Part of the reason for my never-ending obsession with gardening is that the more I know, the more I realize I don’t know…and that creates passion and thirst to immerse myself in it even more. As a lifetime student of gardening, nature and the environment we share, I find myself wanting to protect it and nurture it, to keep it pure and untarnished. Without even realizing it, I’ve been enlisted as one of her most devoted guardians.

Dispose of Pressure Treated Lumber Properly
No doubt, you’ve heard the rumblings of using pressure treated wood, not only for raised garden beds but for play sets, decking, picnic tables, and more. The concerns are valid leading to its withdrawal from the marketplace in 2004 and safer alternatives. From changes in the chemicals used to treat wood to more rot resistant, natural choices and even post-consumer recycled products, eco-friendly gardeners have plenty of choices these days. Yet chances are pretty good that you have at least some of this wood somewhere in your yard or garden right now.

Soil that is Alive...is Well

In Rachel Carson's classic book, "Silent Spring," she describes in prophetic detail how soil undisturbed by man or chemicals is teeming with life, microscopic organisms that work symbiotically with each other and with the plants and roots to provide an efficient and highly sophisticated infrastructure. Collectively, these microorganisms allow flora and fauna above and below the ground to thrive naturally.

Cisterns are Simply Rain Barrels on Steroids
The most basic form of rainwater harvesting is simply collecting the water and distributing it immediately to the plants. It’s no surprise this method is referred to as a “simple” system. Rainwater harvesting using a cistern however is classified as a ‘complex’ system but don’t let the name deter you. Complex systems simply refer to storing the water after it is collected and providing a way to distribute the water later.

Additional Articles

Great Soil Means Fewer Chemicals

Controlling Weeds Organically

Environmentally Friendly Fertilizers

Go with Natural Pest Controls First

Organic Pest Controls

The IPM Approach to Environmental Stewardship

Eco-friendly Insecticides

Creating an Eco-friendly Garden at Home

What are CowPots?

An Eco-friendly Garden is Good for All

Supplement Natural Water Sources for Wildlife

Discovering the Dangers of Deicers

"Green" Your Garden Using Drought Tolerant Plants

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Did you know...

Healthy soil, rich in organic matter may be all that is required to provide the nutrients required for a plant to complete it’s life cycle, eliminating the need to add fertilizers and chemicals.

Bright Idea..

Adding organic fertilizers to your soil, can provide the same nutritional benefits for your plants, with the added bonus of improving the long term quality of your soil.

Quick Tip..

A soil test is the best way to learn what nutrient deficiencies may need to be addressed in your soil. A complete analysis can be obtained through your local county extension service, and the test only cost a few dollars.