How To Turn Any Garden Into A Green Garden
Not every green measure you take has to be completed in order to save the earth from impending doom. Some of the greenest things you can do involve your own health and your immediate environment, while simultaneously benefiting the greater good. If you're looking for ways to go green, planting an organic garden can be one of the most eco-friendly measures out there.
Before you can plant a green, organic garden, you first have to take an honest assessment of your plans, asking yourself good questions and answering them honestly. So, the first question you have to ask yourself is whether or not your planned garden will have an impact on the environment. The answer to this is yes. It's going to affect local plant and wildlife. It may eventually drain into creeks, wells and the town's water supply. Be responsible here and use organic ingredients.
You don't want to go crazy with a personal garden. A square size of about 20x20 feet is more than enough to plant most of your fruits and vegetables. The smaller your garden is, the easier it is to manage and the lower the impact on the environment is. You can go larger if you need to, but don't get carried away in your planning. You'll have to use more water for larger gardens.
Per the tip above, you have to realize that the size of your garden is going to have a direct impact on the amount of water you use. The same goes for the types of plants you're growing. Focus on what you're growing, where you're growing, and how much you're growing. Realize that you have to conserve water, so think about renewable ways to catch and reuse water.
Unless you want to spend a lot of money on organic compost via a specialty store, or unless you want to use chemical-laden fertilizer from your local mega-mart's gardening section, it's a good idea to start your own compost pile. Just start a season in advance and let your organic waste set up. By the time you're ready to plant, you'll have a large heap of organic compost that will work wonders for your plants.
It's a shame to waste water, whether you're talking about a shower or an organic garden. To help reduce your waste, it's a great idea to set up a good system to collect water. Set up buckets and barrels to catch rain. Install a makeshift drainage system in your garden that will catch the nutrient-rich runoff so that you can reuse it. And never over-water your garden. Only give it what it needs.
There are many different ways to protect your garden from pests without having to break out the chemicals. You can pick up organic row covers that will repel pests, as well as pheromone traps, insecticidal soaps, oil sprays, and much more. You can even crush up some garlic in clean water and repel pests by spraying your plants with the mixture.
Organic gardens are healthier for you and for the environment, so they're a great idea for anyone. Remember to use the tips above to ensure that you're going green with your gardening.
