The Monday Garden, November 7, 2004, Issue 137
Eco-gardening at its best
the FREE weekly email
Look closely at the picture; this Stamford CT homeowner isn’t a “Red” or a “Blue” voter; look at the lawn – they’re clearly voting for “Green”.
Almost half of us who live in the USA , and perhaps more elsewhere, were disappointed by the results of this past week’s election where the big issues were war and terrorism, economy and “values” (whatever that means—I’m for tolerance, personally).
Unfortunately the environment wasn’t on the A list. I do suspect, though, that many of those who voted for both Kerry and Bush would also vote for a cleaner environment for us and our kids, even if it means slower economic growth, personal inconvenience and higher prices.
picture: This Stamford, CT, homeowner shows support for the environment with a lawn full of clover and broadleaf weeds with bare patches from lack of supplemental water; probably has grubs, too.
The good news is that we don’t have to wait for the politicians to do something about the environment. We can make a difference by how we conduct our lives. The really good news is that there are so many things that each of us can do every day.
picture: taking the bus cuts down on many kinds of pollution. Stamford CT November 2004
 |  |
You can vote for the environment “early and often”. No one has to do it all; we can each choose a few more things every day and the tally adds up. Here’s just a few of the things:
1. Vote for sustainable agriculture by buying more organic and local farm-grown food;
2. Vote for saving the rainforests by buying organic coffee;
3. Vote for the ocean by limiting use of lawn chemicals;
4. Vote against cancer by using only a few simple, biodegradable household products (e.g. white vinegar and baking soda);
5. Vote for the trees and forests by recycling paper;
6. Vote for the land by avoiding plastic wrappings and containers;
7. Vote for clean air by walking or taking the bus one more time each week;
8. Vote for healthy kids and pets by refusing to use pesticides;
9. Vote for our wildlife by planting things that they can eat;
10. Vote for the wildflowers by choosing native plants over invasive aliens.
How do you vote? Can you name one thing that you did today that helped just a bit? Can you think of one more thing that you could do (or not do) this week?
Please add your list by posting comments on the inmygarden.org web site.
 |  |
picture: keep in mind that everything that goes in the street or your driveway ends up in our water supply
Photo credits: Sue Sweeney
© Sue Sweeney 2005
What the readers said:
This year I'm really starting to carve out spaces and make small rock gardens in my yard. I'm happy to be reaching that point...green grass is nice but it's never been my thing. Lin (NY)
Well, here I am in the asphalt jungle where you might think Green is hard to do -- but actually I take public transport everywhere I go, so I guess I'm high on the list of eco-friendly citizens. Then there's my personal indoor forest of plants and my $ contribution to the Central Park Conservancy and the New York Restoration Project (Bette Midler's group that restores neglected parks and community gardens). Gregg (NY)
Here's my comment: two women battled grubs by over-planting grass and clover seed. Plus help from a local skunk. Also daily watering. Liz (CT) [The Japanese beetle grubs got out of hand at my mother’s this summer and, for a while, between the bare spots and the skunk diggings, the back lawn looked embarrassingly like an unmade bed. The lawn service guys looked tearful. However, after the aforementioned steps and the arrival of cool weather, the lawn looks OK, if a bit lumpy and patchy. NO ‘cides is a small price to pay for waterfront property but thank goodness for the skunk! Sue]