April 22 is Earth Day – a time to reflect on what you can do to help protect the planet, beginning in your own back yard. Here are five things you can do:
- Grow your own fruit and vegetables. You’ll cut down on fuel used to transport food.
- Compost kitchen and garden waste. You’ll make a nutrient-rich soil amendment that reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer.
- Create habitat for pollinators and beneficials. Provide them with food, water and shelter and you’ll support nature’s method for controlling pests rather than using pesticides.
- Avoid synthetic fertilizers, especially those high in nitrogen. They can lead to excess plant growth making plants more susceptible to pests and diseases. Also, these types of fertilizer use a lot of energy to produce, package and transport.
- Choose low-emission garden practices and tools. Swap out gasoline-powered mowers, blowers, and trimmers for rechargeable battery-operated types.