Mowed Over
Date: December 17, 2007 | Category: Garden, Lifestyle, The Home
Lawns cover nearly 40 million acres in the United States, making them our single most irrigated crop (in terms of surface area). Fossil-fuel-derived lawn fertilizers make up a 5 billion dollar industry. These chemicals pose serious health risks, with those most susceptible being small children and pets that use it the most! Run-off contaminates water and soil, negatively affecting microorganisms and aquatic life. One scary fact: a component of Agent Orange is found in 1,500 products marketed for lawn care. Plus, the green stuff is generally cropped using gas-powered mowers, and the remnants toted off to a landfill, where they decompose and release methane into the atmosphere. So it’s not hard to see why the green turf has garnered itself somewhat of a ghastly reputation among environmentalists. But, alas, many people are attached to their lawns (I admit I still have one). So, it is important is to learn how we can care for them in a way that alleviates their overt ecological disruption. Most importantly, you must kick the chemical habit. Proper watering, a little compost and the correct grass for your
conditions and you can have something safe for the little ones to roll around on. Though you won’t have that super tight look, think about looking for a no-mow variety of grass including buffalo and
creeping red fescue, or a strain that is local to your region. When you do mow, A NASA study found that by leaving the clippings in place, you can significantly reduce the need for fertilizers. And natural alternatives abound (check out our recent post on Terracycle). To learn more, visit SafeLawns.org and join their campaign to revolutionize lawn care. Or visit your local nursery and look for the SafeLawns display.
Consider Composting
Date: December 6, 2007 | Category: Garden, Kitchen, The Home
If you’re a composter, or have been throwing the idea around, this little guy will ease the back and forth between your kitchen and your main composting site - and do so in style. Of course, no one’s big on the idea of foul smells and bugs festering in their kitchen from putrefying food scraps. So when I found this stainless steel composting pail, I was not only excited about the lid with holes for aeration and charcoal liners to prevent any odors, but also about showcasing the bucket on my kitchen counter (it actually adds to my aesthetic!). When it fills up, you can quickly transfer the contents outside to your main pile or a green bin for pick up (check to see if your waste retrieval company supports this). Maybe it’s time to re-think where you toss that pomegranate peel?
Waste Equals Food
Date: September 20, 2007 | Category: Garden, The Home
Quoting Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart, “Waste equals food,” so shouldn’t we stop treating it as garbage? Worm poop - may not sound so fabulous, but worms and plants have fed off one another in beautiful symbiotic harmony for billions of years - helping to create the majesty that surrounds us. When worms consume dead plant matter, they excrete castings, a natural fertilizer that helps new plants flourish. Terracycle has taken this biological process and set a precedent with the first and only product that is entirely waste - from the contents to the packaging. Terracycle’s main product is an organic fertilizer that is made from feeding university dining hall table scraps to earthworms, who in turn create a potent fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It’s then packaged in soda bottles collected through their Bottle Brigade Program where Terracycle pays 6 cents per salvaged bottle. It’s even sent in recycled misprinted boxes from other companies. For all you gardeners out there, nourishing your green thumb has never been more natural. Now that is pretty eco-flippin-fabulous if you ask me.
