As a garden designer, I have been heartened to see so many people embracing sustainable organic gardening over the past couple of years. But even those who set out with the best intentions could still do more to make sure they are doing the right thing for people and planet in their gardens. Here are a few simple tips to help you become a more sustainable gardener in 2022:
Think Holistically and Design for Your Site
Every garden is different. It is vital for sustainable gardeners to look at the big picture, and choose the right methods, practices and plants for where they live.
Permaculture can give us the blueprint for sustainable food production and land management – but it is not one size fits all.
Look, listen, learn – it’s the most important thing you do as a gardener so take time to make sure you really know your garden, and can begin to understand it better. Simply taking the time to observe the natural world around you can make a huge difference.
Plan and Prepare for the Changes to Come
As gardeners, we all have a grand opportunity to help turn the tide and become part of the solution to the global crises of climate change and biodiversity losses.
There is a lot we can do to help mitigate climate change, through sequestration and through cutting our own carbon footprints by making full use of what we grow.
But adaptation is important too. We all need to be climate-conscious gardeners – taking a good look at what is likely to come (extreme weather events, flooding, drought, wildfires) and making our gardens (and ourselves) as resilient as possible.
Make Sure You Close the Loop and Create a Zero Waste, Self-Sustaining Garden
Creating a zero waste garden means embracing the mantra of refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle. It means reducing plastic use and making better choices about what we buy, if we need to buy at all.
It means setting up sustainable water, composting and growing systems which require low to no external inputs – and a garden which itself provides all it needs to thrive.
Design and Manage Your Garden To Benefit All Those Who Use It, And Your Wider Community
Gardening can often be described as a solitary pastime. But though you may be the only human gardener – remember, there are likely to be many other living beings sharing your space.
Being a sustainable gardener means recognising, embracing and aiding all that life through all that you do. An organic, wildlife-friendly garden enriches the lives of many, beyond the human inhabitants of your space.
And remember, a truly sustainable gardener should look beyond the boundaries of the garden, and consider how they can help and benefit the wider local community, co-operating, sharing and collaborating with others to make sure we all move in the right direction.
If you would like more help to become a more sustainable gardener in 2022, please do get in touch.
EWSP Consultancy 