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Going Green? Try These Ten Steps to a Better Garden and Backyard

Going green is the newest trend worldwide with many people taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint and try to create sustainable practices as opposed to the wasteful living many of us are guilty of now. One of the best places to start is in the garden and backyard. Traditionally, these are areas where a lot of harsh chemicals are used to kill weeds and ensure a healthy lawn, but at what cost? There are plenty of ways to have a beautiful garden and enviable backyard décor while also doing our part for the environment.

1. Use Natural Sunlight

One way to begin is to use the very source of light nature provides us. Purchasing solar powered lights allows us to save energy, using them to store light by day for use at night. Depending on the theme of the backyard décor, they can be purchased to resemble rocks or other natural objects, or purchased on strings and used in artistic ways to provide a warm glow around patios, gazeboes or other areas. And of course, adding a motion sensor means they only activate when you need them.

2. A Good Reason to Cook Outdoors

The best reason to cook outdoors during the summer is that it saves energy. Everyone knows how a hot kitchen means turning up the AC, but by firing up the barbecue, you not only save energy indoors, but you can enjoy an occasional outdoor evening meal with the family. Add to that a tastefully (and Green!) furnished outdoor dining area and dinner can become a special experience.

3. Natural Décor is Better

The more natural your patio, backyard, and garden decorations look, the more appealing to the eye they will be. Don’t use metal chairs that can rust, for example. Natural woods like cedar look beautiful and age well. And since they are naturally durable, you can avoid using dangerous paints, sealants, and other chemicals. Just remember to use wood that has been harvested in an environmentally conscious fashion and don’t forget also that rocks can be used to great effect in the backyard or garden to accent other décor.

4. Use Local Flora for Your Garden and Backyard

Another sustainable way to take care of your garden and backyard is to use local flora instead of paying extra for trees and plants from other areas. This is because, since they are acclimated to the temperature and rainfall, they will require much less watering and maintenance, and they will provide shelter for birds and other local wildlife. And attracting birds and butterflies will enhance your garden’s beauty. Speaking of beauty, don’t overlook the artful placement of rocks to highlight areas of your backyard.

5. Minimize Your Lawn

The American obsession with having the perfect lawn is slowly fading away as the price for such extravagance becomes clear. Many native plants were considered weeds and dangerous chemicals were used to get rid of them. But that is changing gradually. You can do your part by allowing native plants to grow alongside the grass, filling out your lawn and still keeping it green and beautiful. A mixed lawn will require less maintenance and can still be mowed and trimmed as desired.

6. Adding Water as a Soothing Touch

What garden or backyard design would be complete without water added into it? A soothing fountain can become a beautiful place to gather one’s thoughts and relax, and by making sure it is solar powered, it too will be a green and environmentally friendly addition. Another possibility is a fish pond. They are inexpensive to install and can quickly become the favored place for outdoor gatherings as well as quiet contemplation.

7. Use Wood Grown Responsibly

One such variety of wood is red cedar, which can be used in a variety of ways, from patio deck work to furniture, both indoors as well as in the garden and backyard. It easily resists rot and decay, and any wood that is raised on a tree farm on in a similar fashion reduces environmental waste and contributes to a sustainable and renewable environment.

8. Looking at the Long Term

Always consider the long term lifespan of the products you purchase. If poorly made and low quality, it will wear out before you know it and end up contributing to more trash in a landfill. Even recyclable goods require an investment in energy and materials to be effective, so the best alternative is to purchase products that are of good long lasting quality. Ideally, you would want to be able to give items away when you’re finished with them, and they may even increase in value. Also, when making room to redecorate, don’t throw things away. Instead organize a sale or donate them.

9. Avoid Dating Your Décor

Another thing to keep in mind is to be careful when shopping for larger items or deciding on the overall design of your backyard and garden décor. The last thing you want is to choose items that in a few years will make your furnishings look like something out of an old movie. When shopping for items like porch umbrellas, picnic tables, etc. choose the ones that are classic in design and unlikely to lose their appeal. Wooden porch swings, for example, never go out of style and enhance the enjoyment of any outdoor design. Keeping these ideas in mind will give you a timeless and enjoyable environment that can be enjoyed for generations.

10. And Don’t Forget the Five R’s For the Green Enthusiast

Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, and redecorate. These are the words to live by if you are truly interested in changing to a greener lifestyle. So much of our culture is geared towards being disposable that we forget that so many things we have can be repaired and reused. Sometimes all that is needed is a simple repair or a new cushion to make something as good as new. Always keep an eye out for furnishings that are recyclable or easily repaired or refinished so that you can keep it for as long as possible. And don’t forget, when redecorating, sell or give away the old; don’t simply toss it in the trash.

The switch to a greener lifestyle is a step towards helping to heal the environment one step at a time. The changes aren’t difficult at all, since all it takes is a little more awareness when you shop and an eye for the long term impact of your purchases. And by teaching out children these lessons, we can insure that these practices will continue on in future generations.

About the Author
Jay Chua, an outdoorsman and nature enthusiast, lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife Deisy. Jay enjoyed relaxing on his hatteras rope hammock when not tending to the organic fruit trees at his yard. He also likes sharing what he knows about using green practices to decorate the garden and backyard. His website PorchSwingSets.com provides a wide array of options that keep green and durability in mind such as the pawleys hammock stand.

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So often you hear “It is all my parents fault”occasionally I even hear m mother taking the blame for my occasionally caustic personality thought I’m fairly certain I’ve never blamed her for my questionable vocabulary and sharp tongue.  Not that she is shy by any means just a little more diplomatic.

In this case I’m blaming my kid instead of the other way around. It all started in the spring while the youngest was I the second grade.  She came home all wound up about needing to save the earth. In fairness I’ve been a pretty green guy for years. I’ve used Organic lawn care products long before I most people had the environment as top of mind. Speaking of organic I’ve bought organic when its available for the past decade and local all my life. What I wouldn’t say is that by any means am I an environmentalist. In fact while I’ve claimed to be a lot of things an environmentalist has never been one of them.  Buying green due to a fear of cancer and a shorter life, buying local because I liked the farmers market, the fresher products and the people selling me my veggies. In both cases I did the right thing by accident and not as a conscious act.

So anyway here she comes bouncing along at nine years old excited, full of great ideas and decked out in her often present pig tails. First she tells me how much wood is wasted and placed in land fills rather than being used for other projects or recycles. I don’t question the percentage or amount she quote to me like gospel. All I say is “oh really” before she launches in to more statistical evidence provided by a well meaning science teacher. OK fine she’s been heard I get it and leave the 2×4′s and 1×3′s from the recently disassembled dog cage in the basement and I built poorly constructed, unattractive but completely functional trellis complete with reused untangled kite string for the beans and climbing flowers to crawl up.  My mother’s father would have been so proud it looked like a contraption he would have built out of whatever was laying around. In his case not because he was an environmentalist or because he had a daughter or granddaughter telling him to “recycle” but because it was there and paid for and there was no reason to get rid of perfectly good wood.

So we recycled the nail laden and hole filled boards into our new creation. Sure money was save because I fully planned to go out and buy lattice or trellis for the plants this year.  She proudly helped me finish the building by pound the last nails in, tying off the last strings and the running inside to get her mother to see our monstrosities that were placed in a front garden behind a garden statue that was a gift from her side of the family. My wife came out, smiled at her reassuringly since she was so proud of the crooked ladder looking things right before asking how quickly the plants would grow to cover them.rnrnI did what any wise husband would shrugged and guessed “June maybe July” being very no committal.

She smiled and told our daughter what a great idea it was and then shot me a look questioning my abilities as a carpenter.  Which while I dabble at things is yet another thing I’ve never claimed to be. The beans and flowers have done particularly well. We’ll just chalk it up to a little extra rain and good karma.

So its fall and being one to never waste soil I practice a nontraditional yet completely natural way of composting.  Now sure I could buy one of those nifty composting bins to help the process. My mother and father have several of them.  Frankly I’m too cheap for that.  Instead, cutting the plants as they brown, I put them in pile with old potting soil in an un-planted spot in a garden. Preferably, but not necessarily, obscured by a large stone statue, rock or large patch of plants where it can break down “naturally”.

So when the fall harvest of sunflowers began we took the heads less the seeds and put them in a spot next to the herb garden. It was the same place I unceremoniously put the manure laden soil mixture from my previous two years indoor lettuce planting. To the left of the bronze garden faerie my the chocolate bell pepper plants (yes I know they aren’t herbs) by the basil, behind the lemon thyme.

And so it sat as as we cut the long green leafy stalks into foot long lengths so they would fit, and more importantly, not draw too much attention. Chatting back and forth without the distraction of TV, video games or computers, quiet and quality uninterrupted time. That is where the lesson accidentally came in about letting plants go to seed so we could use those seeds to create new plants for next year. Talk about how such things work in nature and why it works that way. And then finally about how reusing parts of the old plants helps keep the soil rich. See it isn’t about making a political statement, it doesn’t come from a deep need to change the world. It comes from nothing more than good old fashioned horse sense and helping to do what nature does in its own way to improve your own gardening results.

Sure there are missteps along the way like unattractive structures behind the wife\’s favorite garden statue. Or like when the mother in law comes over and grumbles at me before the sun comes up”Why in the world are your coffee grounds wets and weak?”  The reason being? She used the can labeled “GROUNDS” meaning used coffee that once its sweet nectar had been consumed served a better purpose in my pile of rotting vegetation, sprinkled on the lawn or as part of my cow manure and compost tea I make to water the occasional growing thing.

But in the end of it all sometimes a little youthful idealism, being a touch cheap, and acting like my old farmer grandfather intersects with lofty ideals without even trying and for this I blame my kid.

A few last words of advice. Mother in laws usually survive weak wet used coffee and even understand and forgive you on occasion. An upfront warning about how the plants might just completely cover the wife’s favorite garden statue for 4 or 5 months if all the seeds take and grow like bad weeds might be warranted. And finally, remember those informal compost piles you’ve been hiding throughout the gardens well in relative obscurity? Well the one out by the Fairy Statue and herbs I’ve got to tell you something about…  the bad news is that the compost pile has taken on a new purpose quite accidentally. The soil from the lettuce planters well it’s sort of sprouted with the all the other good stuff we put on top of it, a little rain and some nice cool nights. On the up side we’re going to have a bumper crop of home grown mixed field greens this fall. Well that and it is all Elise’s fault!

Patrick is an avid writer and outdoor enthusiast dedicated to educating consumers about the benefits of landscaping. Looking for more landscaping ideas? Come visit http://www.DesignerStatues.com for the largest selection of garden statues.

More Garden Humor

Framing done!

What a long day, getting things square against all odds. The entire chicken coop frame was off square from the chicken run due to the fact that I wanted to use the 4×4′s from the garden fence to build off of… seemed such a shame to let all that wood, cement, and hard work go to waste.

You can see the autumn leaves are starting to really fall. Another reminder that we don’t have long to go before it gets cold and the chicks still don’t have a place to get out of the cold. Errrr.

From the garden side. Seems we didn

My son works during the day, goes to school three nights a week, has two children, one newly born August 28th and his brother will be two in November. His wife is taking online classes so she can stay home with the children, but ooooooooh do they have their hands full! Can anyone say “You should have WAITED on the family?” LOL Well, ‘Life is what happens while you’re making other plans” I suppose, it is what it is. And being a grandmother is SO way fun.

So, we have devoted our Sundays to working on the chicken coop… it’s the one day we can all get together. Ryan and I work on the coop. Amanda does her homework on the laptop in the lounge chair (our chair count just keeps growing) Aiden runs around chasing the rooster (who is loose in the yard while the baby chicks in the chicken run if you’ll recall) and the dog, pulling up my strawberry plants, watering the fall garden, and generally just having a ball pushing his trucks around.

Our first night outside. Covered, warm, and safe.

Seating Space Available

Phase One Complete

This is where I sit and take a break in between digging post holes and stapling wire. This was so much fun doing with the girls. Well, at least two of them showed up for the hard work.

Building a chicken coop has proven to be a bit trickier than I had hoped it would be. I suppose I could have skimped on lumber or not sunk the posts so deep and used less cement, blah, blah, but this will last for a very long time. If I ever sell this house, I hope they like chickens.

Where I wanted it build, toward the backof the yard from the house, there is a tree that offers a bit of shade from the harsh afternoon sun. This photo is facing south and slightly west, as you can see, later in the afternoon. So we had to build the chicken coop around the tree a bit. I don’t know why I always seem to have to do things the hard way. But it will look so nice when it is finished. The garden and garden gate are off to the right. I wanted it close so I can put the straw and pine shavings (or whatever I decide to use for litter on the chicken coop floor) into the compost easily. Also, this location is away from anything. There are no houses close, only a large emtpy lot behind, as you can see. My hope is that no one will complain for any reason. I hope to set a good example of how to use chickens in an urban homestead with very little fuss or complaint.

In some areas allotments are like gold dust and there are long waiting lists. You may well be able to get around this by choosing another site or simply offering to take on an overgrown plot. If not, the good news is that an authority believes there is a real demand, it has statutory duty to provide a sufficient quantity of plots to lease them to people living in the local area.

The government website helpfully points that out ‘If local people feel there is a need for allotments which is not being met, they can get together a group of any six residents who are registered of the electoral role and put their case to the local authority’. You may find that you get six people together just by spending a Sunday afternoon at your nearest allotment. Alternatively you can put posters up at existing sites, in your library, local pub or anyway that may be of interest.

The National Society of Allotment Gardeners can offer helpful advice on getting the local council to take notice, and imagine the sense of satisfaction you’ll get from knowing you were instrumental is creating a brand new site!

Alternatively, if you want to get planting right away you could approach a neighbour or an existing allotmenteer who looks like they are struggling with their plot, and tactfully offer to lend a hand. They may well be delighted with the help and you can share the fruits of your labours, as well as tasks like watering and weeding. And unless you have a large family, a half-plot may be better suited to your needs at first. It’s well worth remembering that allotment sites vary in the facilities they offer, the rules and regulations they enforce, the rent charged and their attitude towards children, women, organics and so on. If you have a choice of sites, check them all before making a decision. Talk to plot holders to get a ‘feel’ of the place.

Location- Close to home, ideally within walking distance, is the most practical, and the most likely to retain your enthusiasm.

Check the sites rules and regulations- If you want to plant fruit trees, keep hens, paint your shed, use plastic mulch or grow flowers you may not be able to on some sites!

Do you hate bonfires? Some sites don’t allow them; others restrict burning to certain days of the week

The cost- The average annual rent for an allotment plot is £25- though rents can be as little as 50p or as much as £100. This usually includes the cost of water, but may not. They may also be reductions for pensioners and people on benefits

Organic plots- If you want to grow organically ask if there is a specific ‘organic area’. Don’t be put off if the answer is no. You can still run a successful organic plot, and, as you may succeed, others may follow. Organic vegetable gardening is very important for a lot of people.

Good society- Some allotment sites have a very active community with a trading shed, a meeting place or mentors offering to help newcomers for example.

Vandalism- By their very nature, allotments are at risk from vandalism. Ask about this!

Learn more about allotments and the resouces offered by the National Society of Allotment Gardeners. Enrich your knowledge about organic vegetable gardening from a trusted source.

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