Last fall, I wanted to start a garden and it was important to me that I did it as organically
and sustainably as possible and I’m going to show you how you can do it too.
Hey y’all hey, it’s Ashley Renne and welcome back to my little corner of the world where
I show you sustainable and plant-based ways to have a healthier body, smarter home, and
greener planet.
I began my sustainable living journey in 2015 and have come a long way since.
2 year ago, my hubs and I built a solar powered smart home and we’re constantly finding
new ways to make it as green as possible.
And that includes our garden.
So in this video I’m going to share 10 ways for you to create an eco garden!
WHAT DOES AN “ECO GARDEN” EVEN MEAN?!
To me it means growing a garden filled with a variety of flowers, veggies, fruit, spices,
and herbs both you and the environment can be proud of—one that’s organic, sustainable,
and eco-friendly!
So let’s begin shall we?
1.
Use Native Plants
Exotic plants are intriguing and all, but native plants are where it’s at.
Native plants naturally adapt to their local environment, making them hardier and less
maintenance than imported exotic plants.
That also means more money in your pocket, because their ability to withstand weather
changes will prevent you from having to replace them.
For example last fall, I bought winter plants like pansies, dusty millers, and winter cabbage
that was grown locally and native to my state.
These plants were so sturdy, that even the pansies that were supposed to die in the spring
lasted until July.
They are also essential to keeping the ecological system from going out of whack.
Without native plants and the insects that co-evolved with them, local birds and many
other species struggle to survive.
2.
Attract Native Pollinators
My 10-year-old neighbor asked me why I don’t cringe when I see bugs.
Aside from my genuinely insane love for animals (insects included), their existence is also
vital to humans.
More than one third of the world’s food supply is produced by crops pollinated by
insects—but our insect population is disappearing.
The good news is, we can help by attracting pollinators with our gardens!
Those native plants I mentioned will help with that of course.
But also Pollinator-friendly plants will help bring in pollinators like hummingbirds and
bees and don’t worry—most bees don’t even sting.
Use flowers on the yellow and blue spectrum to attract multiple species of bees, some
of whom sleep in the closed flowers at night.
3.
Avoid Chemical Pesticides
Biological pest control and sustainable gardening go hand in hand.
You can nix chemical pesticides and instead rely on natural predators and natural insect
repellents.
So natural predators for example, by relying on the natural enemies of pests, the predator
and prey cycle remains unbroken, allowing nature to take its course without human intervention.
Predators like birds, ladybugs, the praying mantis, and spiders (yes spiders) will naturally
do what predators do and rid your garden of pests so you don’t have to.
Then there’s the natural garden bug repellent, I make my own by combining neem oil, castile
soap, apple cider vinegar, and water into a spray bottle.
4.
Shop Organic
When you first start your garden, you probably won’t have a compost pile to nourish it
with.
So when shopping for soil and plant food look for products labeled as organic—these will
help your fruits, vegetables, flowers, and lawn grow in a more organic way free from
chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
If you plan to plant seeds, focus on searching for non-GMO seed packets.
Conventional seed production is usually lengthy, chemically intensive, and invites more pests
and disease due to the longer production times.
Organic seed crops, however are carefully managed in protected environments that minimize
disease pressure, greatly reducing the need for harmful chemicals.
5.
Start Composting
Compost is the coveted black gold your garden will thank you for—organic nutrition you
can add to your soil to help plants grow.
You make it by combining nitron like non-meat food scraps and garden trimmings with carbon
like fallen leaves.
It’s a great way to reduce food waste while keeping your garden happy at the same time.
It will take weeks for the compost to finish, so the earlier you start the better.
6.
Collect Rainwater Rainwater is free and natural, so why let
it go to waste?
Conserving rainwater lessens your impact on the earth and lowers your water bill simultaneously.
Get a rain barrel to to collect rainwater and use it to water your garden.
This will especially come in handy during the wintertime and in drought-heavy areas.
7.
Regrow Your Food From Food Scraps
If you already buy organic food from the grocery store, why not try saving some of those food
scraps and regrowing it in your garden.
I’ve experimented with scallions, potatoes, tomatillos, garlic and more.
You have a ton of options.
Regrowing food from scraps you have in your fridge is a sustainable skill that anybody
can experiment with and you’ll be helping cut back on unnecessary food waste that’ll
just end up in a landfill.
8.
Add Mulch
Mulch helps retain moisture around plants, reduces evaporation, suppresses weeds, and
keeps the soil cool.
It also makes your garden look super polished.
Do NOT make the mistake I made though.
I bought red mulch because I thought it would be a dope way to add color to my yard.
But the best mulch you can buy is natural mulch and not mulch that’s been artificially
dyed.
9.
Ditch the Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment
According to the EPA, gas-powered lawn and garden equipment (GLGE) is known to emit high
levels of toxic and carcinogenic pollutants.
Switching to battery powered mowers, trimmers, and blowers means cleaner air and more money
savings.
We have a robot lawn mower that we’ve had for about a year now that cuts the grass on
its own, but if you want something more traditional, I suggest opting for EGO products.
Operating one of these instead of a gas powered lawn mower will help reduce pollution.
10.
Install Solar Lights
Now for one of the finishing touches of your garden, solar lights.
They are a great way for you to reduce your carbon footprint for your garden because they
use converted energy from the sun.
And these have LED lightbulbs which are designed to consume less energy and last longer.
Reduce your dependency on electricity by utilizing the incredible power of the sun.
It’s free and plentiful so take advantage of it by lighting a garden path with solar
lights.
This is one of those projects that will leave you feeling so satisfied in the end.
Gardening is addictive.
For me I guess it takes me back to my childhood.
My mom and dad had green thumbs that I honestly never thought I inherited.
So if gardening scares you, don’t let it.
If I can do it, TRUST me—you most certainly can.
My parents had a gigantic garden, and it didn’t happen over night.
That’s the fun thing about gardening.
It’s a project that will bring a lot of beauty and joy to your life and something
you can continue building for years.
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Thanks for watching and until next time, stay green y’all.