Almost every gardener is interested in sustainability, especially given the sustainability that comes with growing all your own food. Some people have raised the question, why organic gardening? It turns out that organic food without chemicals is more sustainable than going the non-organic route.The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
However, sustainable gardening is more than just growing organic food. There are countless ways to practice sustainable gardening, from conserving water and energy to sourcing seeds wisely.
Sustainable gardening can also reduce your impact on the planet, increase carbon storage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to the biodiversity of plants and animals. We've put together some simple green and sustainable gardening tips.
The importance of composting and its impact
Composting remains the most effective sustainable gardening practice. Compost recycles and enriches materials. It promotes the overall health of the soil and has health benefits for the whole family.
Composting waste from your garden reduces waste in landfills and provides organic matter to the soil. Composting is also easier than it sounds; It can just be like raking leaves over a garden in preparation for winter. It doesn't matter if you grow flowers, shrubs, fruits, or vegetables; Composting can reduce waste and breathe new life into your garden.
Some composting techniques increase the brittleness of the soil and retain moisture. Plant cover crops, such as oats, rye, and poplar, which compost directly into the soil, adding nutrients and nitrogen to the soil and preventing erosion by spring and fall runoff.
Test the soil before planting
Soil testing is easy with inexpensive testing tools. Buy one online or at your local nursery. This way you can test the acid or alkaline content of the soil and add fertilizer and compost to get the soil in the right balance.
Make sure the fertilizer you use is 100% organic. Non-organic fertilizer can damage crops because it contains trace amounts of hormones and antibiotics.
Companion planting and mulching work well
After choosing the fruits and vegetables you will grow, do some research to find out which plants work best together. Keep your garden as hydrated as possible by covering the soil around your plants with organic mulch or compost, such as pea stalks, fertilizer, pine bark, sugar cane, and seaweed. Any inorganic mulch, such as pebbles and sand, should be used sparingly in a sustainable garden.
Save water
Never underestimate the value of water. It must be protected and preserved and maintained in high quality. Sustainable gardeners use rain barrels and other collection systems to get water instead of having to use private or municipal water sources.
Protect water quality by avoiding herbicides and pesticides, which can spread through the soil and contaminate the water when returned to the water supply. If water runs off or goes into storm drains, it will be wasted, so use permeable soil to control runoff.
Ground mulch and mulch allow the soil to retain moisture, and you can design a "rain garden" that uses terraces, raised beds, and cistons to collect rainwater. This allows the water to slowly soak into the soil.
