Posted on 09/04/2009 4:02:19 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Not all gardeners are no impact gardeners. Organic gardeners do their best to leave a positive impact on the environment. There are many ways of working toward leaving no impact. Here are just a few green gardening suggestions. Try to think of your own ways to leave no impact in the garden as well.
Natural pesticides
Organic gardeners are sure to use nature friendly pesticides that leave no impact on our water supply. This step will also protect beneficial insects such as honey bees and lady bugs. Go here for organic pesticide recipes.
Barrier pest control
Another good organic gardening technique that leaves no impact on the environment is the use of barriers to protect plants from pests. The barrier method keeps birds and small animals from eating garden produce without causing them harm. Go here for ideas.
Compost
Using homemade compost as fertilizer keeps harmful chemicals out of the soil. Many commercial fertilizers contain chemicals which leach into the soil and water supply. Leave no impact by making your own compost fertilizer from trimmings, leaves and kitchen scraps.
Reduce waste
All the kitchen vegetable scraps, leaves, twigs and clipping are used for compost. This means a reduction in the household waste and a further step toward a no impact lifestyle. Making your own compost can be quite simple.
Donate food
No impact organic gardeners don't waste food. Garden surplus is sold or given to friends, neighbors and relatives. Local food banks gladly accept any unwanted garden produce. Think about canning and freezing garden produce as well. Cut down on the grocery bill and consume less goods.
Recycle pots
Greenhouses will accept plastic disposable pots for re-use. Another option for no impact organic gardening is to use them yourself. Even broken clay pots can be used again. Just put the broken pieces in the bottom of pots in place of gravel for drainage.
Recycle soil
Don't throw away potting soil at the end of the year. Mix it with fertilizer or throw it into the compost pile for further use. No impact organic gardening means using everything to its fullest potential. Go here for easy potting soil recycling tips.
Save seeds
Organic gardeners don't buy seeds every year. Work toward a no impact garden by saving plant seeds from this years vegetable, herb and flower crops. The seeds can be used by you next year or shared with other gardening friends.
Hand tools
Hand tools leave no impact on the environment. They don't necessitate fuel purchases or energy use. Save money by using hand tools as a no impact gardening method. It's also a great way to get a little gardening workout and reap health benefits too.
Kind of basic, but might be interesting to some gardening newbies. ;)
Don’t hammer the shovel.
To be no impact, the first thing you do is stop using toilet paper.
This leads to an isolated social life.
Which means no marriage.
Which means no kids.
Which means smaller carbon footprint, and less resources used.
Quit using explosives..
Simple. Buy a shovel, dig a big hole, climb into it and cover yourself up with the dirt.
Yeah, right. Real “no impact” gardeners would still be foraging for edible weeds. What a load of crap.
I throw some Miricle grow down sometimes in the spring.
I'm lazy.
Let the deer eat everything in the yard and garden. Eat the “range-fed” deer when they get hit by a car out in front of the house.
Looks like a white frying pan there, can you cook on those things too:?
Jaipi Sixbear . . . JAIPI SIXBEAR??? You have GOT to be kidding me! Is there some new federal law that requires at least half of those employed as “journalists” to have bizarre names?
No you’re not. You’re brilliant. Can’t remember the name of the woman author, but she used up all the straw in the barn on a farm she inherited and did just that...in 1932 or sometime close to that.
And everyone thought she was nuts, LOL!
I have the book, ‘Free For The Eating’ by Bradford Angier.
He was Euel Gibbons before Euel Gibbons was Euel Gibbons, LOL! “Many parts ARE edible.” I think he died of colon cancer...
Anyhow, you’re right...there’s plenty to eat in an average lawn if the owners would just leave it alone!
“Let the deer eat everything in the yard and garden. Eat the ‘range-fed’ deer when they get hit by a car out in front of the house.”
You da man! ;)
I guess...if you don’t empty it and it gets hot enough. *BLECH* (Human cat box. Really! The nerve!)
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the bathroom, LOL!
Um...excuse me ‘Charlemagne on the Fox?’ LOL!
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