A quick note - if you signed up for either of my newsletters, you seem to get both. And while I would be happy to have you read both, I realize you may not want to - so I’m working on fixing that error!
Happy Earth Day!
Here are my 5 things to do in the garden - Earth Day edition. This means there will be a bigger focus on larger issues.
Single use plastics. For today or full the week, count how many times you touch or use plastic. And if you can, make note of how many times you use a single use plastic item. Try to reduce both, but the single use is far more damaging. Or reuse single use somehow. TikTok and Pinterest are your friends here.
IPM. Integrated Pest Management. Start with the least toxic option first when dealing with bugs being where they should not be. That means caulking the outside of your home, to planting native plants that attract bugs that eat mosquitoes. I explain it here.
Leave the leaves. Don’t clean up so fast. Leave a bit wild. The good bugs, the butterflies, the fireflies, and all the life that supports the food web have connections to the fallen leaves. I explain this too - here and here.
Now’s a good time to start a compost pile for your kitchen scraps. Don’t have space? There are companies that can handle this for you and some towns have started programs.
Get out and enjoy your garden. Sit or stand for 10 mins with no phone, no agenda and just be. Relax. Gardening is supposed to be enjoyable. If it’s not, please ask yourself why and then keep asking until you figure it out. And then change things so you can be relaxed. It’s ok to lower standards that aren’t truly yours.