1. Support Our Pollinators!
Bring native bees and other pollinating creatures to your garden. One way to do this is by selecting the right plants this season with pollinator-friendly plants.
2. Clean Up Plastic in Your Neighborhood or Local Park
One of the best ways to connect with the Earth is through cleanups. Go on a walk with a trash bag and help to clean up any plastic that you find. Perhaps you know of a nearby ditch or drainage area around the corner that is polluted with trash! You’ll start to realize that plastic permeates every aspect of our lives.
3. Swap Out Your Kitchen and Household Products!
Let’s talk about the cooking and cleaning products that touch the food we eat as well as our skin. One popular line of kitchen and household products at Walmart, Amazon, and other stores is called “If You Care.” Have you seen this product? Everything’s biodegradable and does not use chemicals or plastic. Think 100% recycled aluminum foil, toxic-free parchment paper for baking, compostable bags made with potato starch, and even vegetable-based inks for their packaging. We love the company’s motto: “We care simply because it’s the right thing to do!”
4. Plant a Tree!
We love our trees! They capture carbon, cool overheated places, benefit agriculture, support pollinators, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and boost local economies. Did you know that planting one oak tree brings in more insect and bird species than an entire yard of plants? Talk to your local government about planting more trees and native garden beds in public spaces, or consider planting your own on your property!
5. Use Wildflowers and Native Plants
Wildflowers and indigenous species are not only beautiful but also attract native and beneficial insects that improve both pest control and pollination—meaning bigger flowers and better harvests. Try to simply add a couple of native plants to your garden each year, and you’ll be amazed at the difference—they’ll bring in pollinators as well as birds!
6. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in the Garden
Caring about yourself and nature means being less wasteful and saving money, too. Who could argue with this? If you are a gardener, here are just a few ideas:
- Buy in bulk when you know that you’ll need a lot of topsoil, mulch, compost, or other materials. This cuts down on plastic bags. Many garden centers will even deliver right to your yard. Also, check with your city recycling center or Department of Transportation—they might offer free compost, soil, sand, or other materials.
- Reuse, recycle, or return old plastic pots and trays.
7. Stop Pesticide and Chemical Use in the Garden
Most of the beginner gardeners who we meet want to start growing without chemicals or pesticides—in a way that works and even saves money. Much of this is simply about focusing less on the plant and more on the health of the soil that supports the plant. If it’s nutrient-rich with organic matter, plants thrive.
8. Conserve Water!
We waste a lot of water. Avoid overwatering your plants and improve their health by knowing how much your garden really needs. Avoid watering your garden vegetables and plants from overhead, which invites fungal disease. Water at the soil level.
9. Think About Your Diet!
About one-third of the food that we produce every year goes to waste annually! Usually, this happens after we buy the food. How do we avoid waste in our own lives (and save money)? Also, how can we improve our diet so that it’s healthier for ourselves (and the planet)? One way is to care about your “foodprint,” which is the result of everything that it takes to get your food from the farm to your plate.
10. Get Kids Involved!
Pass down a love of nature and plants to kids. There are lots of opportunities for hands-on learning experiences outside.