Green Mountain Gardener

Spending time in the garden contributes to our enjoyment and appreciation of nature.  How we choose to garden can have a significant impact on our local and regional environment.  A sustainable garden is one that thrives with minimal inputs of labor, water, fertilizer and pesticides.  This may also mean altering your perception of the perfect garden.  Lawns that are uniformly a deep, lush green and weed-free, plants with no insect damage, and fruits that are unblemished may prove desirable, but these do not come without a hefty price from added chemicals.  Sustainable gardens provide a balance between input and outcome.  Starting out with good soil will help to foster healthy plants without the need for added chemicals.  Having your soil tested is a relatively easy process.  In Vermont, a sample kit can be obtained through the UVM Extension offices, your sample mailed, and for fees ranging from $8 to $12, your home grounds will be tested for pH, organic matter, available P, Mg, K, Ca, and Al; micronutrients (iron, manganese, copper, boron and sodium); effective CEC; and testing includes fertility recommendations.

There are many streams that run near our property, and many creatures that depend on them for clean drinking water.  The use of synthetic fertilizers is a major source of water pollution, not to mention the pollution that is created by trucking the stuff in from who knows where.  Sustainable gardening requires us to use organic compost and mulch from local sources, if not compost made at home.  I learned the hard way that in attempts to do good deeds by purchasing local compost, one must exercise caution.  I purchased a few yards of compost from a local source, only to find that it had not been heated thoroughly to kill weeds.  I soon had a garden with more weeds than I could keep up with.  I have since come to rely on a local product called MooDoo, a compost made in Middlebury, VT.  Their compost is weed-free, they make their own energy from cow manure, and their products are consistently tested for quality.  Compost improves soil fertility and drainage, and composting at home can help to reduce the burden that garden waste adds to landfills.  While I perfect my composting skills, I rely on MooDoo to help enrich my soil, though I am certain that there are several local resources in which to obtain quality compost.

In Vermont we are blessed with frequent rain showers during the summer, though there are brief periods where we can experience drought.   Mulch helps to reduce water evaporation and also helps to suppress weeds.  Suppressing weeds eliminates the need to use herbicides and reduces the competition for water between weeds and desired plants.  A mulch layer can also minimize fluctuations in soil temperature and reduce root damage from temperature extremes.  As organic mulches such as bark chips and leaves decompose, they add organic matter to the soil and help to improve soil fertility.

Pesticides kill beneficial insects, in addition to the birds and other wildlife that feed on these affected insects.  Many pesticides that are still readily available today can potentially harm us in addition to our pets, and many of the long-term health effects are unknown.  Pesticide residues get into the food chain, leach into groundwater and run off into our streams and rivers.  For serious infestations, there are less toxic products available, and one must consider if a chemical is absolutely necessary to treat the problem.  There are three products which I have used, primarily for indoor plants.  A safe choice is that of sticky papers and sticky traps.  BioNeem and Safer’s soap are considered less toxic, though I do not feel comfortable using them outdoors.  For outdoor pests, the less toxic the better.  I know of many gardeners who use Horticultural oil with an active ingredient of highly refined paraffinic oil or petroleum oil.  While this is a chemical, it is considered less toxic than many other products available.  Again, consideration of the severity of the infestation is necessary prior to applying any chemical.  A better option is to begin by choosing plants that are more resistant to damaging insects.  UVM has a lot of information available which lists various species of shrubs, plants, and trees noting those that are more resistant to infestation.

If all gardeners, both new and experienced, continue to adopt and refine the principles of sustainable gardening they will enhance the environment for people, plants, and wildlife.   I like to think that our efforts will help future generations enjoy the pleasures of gardening as much as we do.

This post has been written as part of the Garden Bloggers Sustainable Living Project, hosted by Jan at Thanks for Today.  It is in recognition of Earth Day, which is April 22, 2010.  The project includes a Give Away, and submissions are due by March 1st.  I hope you will join us!