More Ways to Acheive a Sustainable Garden
Native plants also are of tremendous benefit to bees, butterflies and native insects, many of whom have difficulty harvesting and using pollen and nectar from non-native plants. Wild Ones is a nonprofit organization that seeks to restore landscape diversity through the conservation and establishment of native communities.
Native plants number in the tens of thousands but are few and far between in most home landscapes. To boost interest in beautiful native plants, some native plant societies sponsor plant-of-the-year programs.
Another way to go sustainable is to recycle your own garden and other waste. Every landscape generates waste in the form of grass clippings, fallen leaves, shrub pruning and expired plants. In a sustainable landscape, these materials, combined with vegetable and fruit trimmings from the kitchen, can be used to create compost, which will improve soil fertility. You can make compost in an open pile or use an enclosed barrel or bin. In most states, yard waste is no longer allowed in landfills, which has given rise to numerous community-sponsored compost education programs. Contact your local extension service office or solid-waste agency to learn about composting resources in your area.
Many stores sell compact composting bins made of recycled plastic, but you may be able to buy one for less than half-price through a local composting program. The following models, available at Composters.com, are most widely used by community-sponsored programs. All are made from recycled materials.
Some of the best recycle and compost bins:
Earth Machines $69.95 10 cubic feet
Brave New Composter $85.50 11 cubic feet
Garden Gourmet $75.50 11 cubic feet
The Home Composter $89.50 13 cubic feet
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