Home Gardeners—An Important Link in Environmental Stewardship

Seventy percent of the US population has a garden. That’s a lot of gardeners! Home Gardeners play a very important role in helping to protect the environment. Let’s all do our part by being environmental stewards of our land. The following is a list of environmentally friendly gardening practices:

• Use shredded leaves as a mulching agent and a soil enricher. If you can’t shred the leaves on your property, put them in a pile and let them turn to composted material. If you don’t have enough leaves for your needs, ask your neighbors for theirs.

Why? Shredded leaf mulch is the best way to retain moisture, prevent evaporation and enrich your soil. It contains no harmful ingredients to contaminate the earth or our water supply.
Benefits to you: Save money. No need to buy commercial mulch.

• Make your own compost from kitchen and yard waste. Use compost as both a mulching agent and a soil feeder. If you don’t have enough, check with your township to see if they offer free compost. To find out where your local compost pick-up site is located, go to http://www.proprecycles.org . If you don’t know how to compost, take one of our composting workshops.

Why? Recycling kitchen and yard waste keeps these materials out of our landfills and puts them to good use. Compost is an excellent soil feeder.
Benefits to you: Save money. No need to buy chemical fertilizers and commercial mulch.

• Practice IPM (integrated pest management). If you must use pest control products, always use the least toxic product. Be sure to identify the pest you want to control so you can use the appropriate product. Read labels to be sure that application is applied at the correct time and in the correct way.

Why? Many pest control products end up in the soil and water. Using the wrong product for a particular pest will be ineffective. Products applied in the wrong way or at the wrong time will be ineffective.
Benefits to you: Save time and money, live in a healthier environment.

• Conserve water by planting drought resistant plants and native plants, using soaker hoses or drip irrigation with a timer, installing a rain barrel, and placing water-loving plants in the wet areas of your yard.

Why? Our entire country is facing a water shortage in the near future due to climate changes. (the West and the South are already having problems). Water bills are increasing.
Benefits to you: Save money on your water bill, help conserve a precious resource.

• Help reduce flooding and water contamination by installing a driveway of pervious material. Plant a water garden to capture run-off and allow rainwater to percolate through the soil instead of running into overloaded storm drains and carrying contaminants with it.

Why? Excessive run-off into overloaded storm drains, especially during heavy rainfall is caused by the increase in impervious surfaces (houses, driveways, walkways, patios, roads). This produces a double whammy of flooding and contamination as overloaded storm drains flow into sewage drains.

• Reduce, reuse, recycle Think before you buy. Do you really need it? Find a way to reuse items instead of throwing them out. Don’t send anything to a landfill unless you have to. Recycle everything you can. Give items you no longer want to Free Cycle Network, a grassroots nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free. http://www.freecycle.org/

Why? There are many environmental benefits to the three “R’s”…. they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollutants, save energy, conserve resources, supply valuable raw materials to industry, create jobs, stimulate the development of greener technologies, conserve resources for our children's future, and reduce the need for new landfills and combustors.
Benefits to you: a cleaner environment, save money. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/

• Reduce the size of your lawn by planting more shrubs, trees and native plants.

Why? Lawns require mowing, watering, fertilizing, weed control and reseeding. A lawnmower pollutes as much in one hour as a car driven for 350 miles!
Benefits to you: Save money and time. Increase the value and beauty of your property. Help prevent flooding from storm water. Enjoy a cleaner environment.

• Use native plants.

Why? Natives are easy to grow because they are already adapted to the area. Natives take care of themselves—they don’t require fertilizer or extra water. They promote bio diversity, provide food and shelter for wildlife and they’re beautiful!
Benefits to you: Save time and money, increased enjoyment of nature.

• Remove invasive plants.

Why? Invasives destroy native plants and wildlife habitat as they run rampant over the landscape. They are one of the greatest threats to our natural ecosystems. Invasives disrupt the ecology of natural ecosystems, displace native plant and animal species, and degrade our nation's unique and diverse biological resources. Go to http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm for more information.
Benefits to you: Feel good about helping to preserve and protect our planet.

• Protect bio diversity by planting native plants, installing a birdbath and bird feeder, abstaining from pesticides and installing a small pond.

Why? Every single species has an important role to play in life on Earth. Bio diversity is our foundation. It’s essential for our very life. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all depends on the Earth’s bio diversity. Trees play an important role in absorbing greenhouse gases and cleaning the air we breathe. Rivers and watersheds provide the clean water that we drink. Plants and animals provide us with food and medicine.

Bio diversity is necessary for a healthy planet. It allows the ecosystem to prevent and recover from a variety of disasters. Rich soil, clean air, clean water, abundant forests and the rich bio diversity of species on our planet are essential for our life.
Benefits to you: Save money by using less water, fertilizer and chemical pesticides. A healthier environment. For more information go to http://investigate.conservation.org/ .

Information compiled by the Delaware County Master Gardeners Environmental Stewardship Committee. If you’d like more information, please contact us at 610-690-2671.

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Xeriscaping Reduces Gardening Environmental Footprint

Xeriscaping is a low-maintenance gardening technique that incorporates a wide variety of plants to create a lush landscape. Native plants are an important component.

As Pennsylvania's dry season arrives, many gardeners fear that their lush landscape will wither under scorching heat. However, a gardening expert at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences says smart landscaping practices can both save water and ensure the garden's survival.

With dry weather conditions increasing across the country, Penn State Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners are promoting the use of xeriscaping, an innovative, low-water gardening system, throughout their communities to help deal with dry weather and promote water conservation.

"Master Gardeners are trying to encourage public awareness of alternative landscaping practices that have positive effects on the environment," said Robert Kessler, extension educator in horticulture in Franklin County. "They also are working on water recycling through the use of rain barrels, which will hold water until it is needed in dry weather."

Trained by extension educators and faculty, master gardeners are community volunteers that cooperate with service agencies and community groups on gardening projects, while promoting environmentally friendly techniques.

Providing a sun-loving landscape ideal for dry climates, xeriscaping is a low-maintenance gardening technique that incorporates a wide variety of plants to create a lush landscape. "Xeriscaping creates a beautiful landscape with native plants that have low water requirements," Kessler said. "Most of these plants do not require irrigation in dry weather, making ideal additions for low-water areas."

Planning a water-conserving landscape begins with an evaluation of the site in terms of exposure to the elements, the shape of the space and the type of plants needed. Plants should be arranged into groups according to their water needs. This makes watering gentle on the environment and time-efficient, adding to its popularity among users.

"As more people have learned about xeriscaping and tried the plants, I think it has become more popular," said Kessler. "There also is a desire to implement alternative landscape practices because of the dry spells we have had in the last several years."

While xeriscaping provides substantial environmental benefits, this system may not please everyone. "Xeriscaping requires some initial work to get properly started," said Kessler. "Gardeners will have to learn about plants they have not used before, including how to care for them."

When choosing low-water plants for the landscape, Penn State Master Gardeners recommend planting a wide variety that includes:

Perennials, such as blanket flower, coreopsis, goldenrod hybrids, green lavender cotton, hardy pad cactus, hens and chicks, lamb's ear, lavender cotton, lilyturf, mondo grass, moss phlox, purple mullein, sea pink, snow in summer, stonecrop and yarrow.

Annuals, such as Immortelle, livingstone daisy, moss rose, spider flower, strawflower and treasure flower; and Shrubs and trees, such as Amur cork tree, Amur maple, autumn elaeagnus, broom, cotoneaster, goldenrain tree, hardy orange, juniper and Siberian carpet.

Although low-water plants are both beautiful and plentiful, some people prefer more traditional landscaping to the look of xeriscaping, explained Kessler. "And if you live in a development with a homeowner association, they may not permit this technique."

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Earth Notes

October 2008

Native Plants Help Support Biodiversity

Biodiversity is necessary for a healthy planet. It allows the ecosystem to prevent and recover from a variety of disasters. Rich soil, clean air, clean water, abundant forests and the rich bio diversity of species on our planet are essential for our life.

As home gardeners, we play an important role in nurturing and protecting biodiversity. The choice to create a native plant area in our gardens can make the difference between life and death for many species, including our pollinators.

I’ve included many natives on my garden. One of my favorites is Birch Leaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia)—a shrub that doesn’t look very much like a spirea, but has all the desirable characteristics of the family. It’s hardy to zone 4 and is native to many states in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and from PA through the South Atlantic. There are many cultivars of this lovely deciduous shrub. The one I chose for my garden is ‘Tor’.

Tor has gorgeous blue green foliage and adorable white flower clusters in spring. If you’d like to prune it, do so after it blooms. Tor grows two to three feet tall and wide, is not fussy about soil or water, is happy in full sun to part shade and even has colorful foliage in the fall. Basically, it takes care of itself--like most natives.

Use Tor as a specimen in a border, as a low hedge or to line a walkway. This wonderful shrub can be easily propagated by taking softwood or hardwood cuttings, dividing the root ball or by layering.

Delco MG is Board Member of Wild Ones
Bridgette Anderson (class of 2007) is a Board Member of Wild Ones, a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization that promotes the use of local native plants and natural landscapes for environmental sustainability.

This winter, Wild Ones will be hosting a Homeowner Habitat seminar on January 24th 2008 at Willistown Conservation Trust. The two day workshop will teach home owners how to design, establish and maintain biodiversity in their gardens by making use of their local native plants. The workshop will cover the different native plant communities for rain gardens, meadows, hedge rows, insect biodiversity, sun and shade plants, rain water collection, composting and more.

The national web site for Wild Ones is http://www.for-wild.org
The local chapter web address is: http://www.habitatresourcenetwork.org/

Since one of the Committee’s responsibilities is to be a resource for MGs, we prepared a survey to find out what information you needed. We asked--you spoke—we listened. And now we’re busy planning various types of educational opportunities based on your requests.

The big three were (1) environmentally friendly lawn care, (2) native plants and invasive plants (tied for second place) and (3) sustainable gardening. Biodegradable products and xeriscaping were a close fourth and fifth place request. We’ll be addressing those requests in the future. In the meantime, ask me for information.

Some MGs requested information on PSU’s environmental initiatives, so here are some web sites to get you started while we’re busy preparing other info for you.

PSU’s Center for Sustainability
Describes Penn State’s environmental strategies and processes. Includes updates and general information about what Penn State is doing to build a more sustainable future.
http://www.cfs.psu.edu/.

PSU Focus the Nation Event
Did you know that PSU is a leader in climate research? Check out Penn State’s national event (offered yearly) that features global warming solutions for America.
http://www.pennstatefocusthenation.org/

Penn State Extension Renewable and Alternative Energy
Offers online information about understanding energy usage, conserving energy, and choosing energy alternatives.
http://energy.extension.psu.edu

ES Committee Tip of the Month

Conserving energy is not only good for the environment, it also saves you money. The best place to start is with an energy audit of your home. You can do it yourself or hire a professional energy auditor. For more information, check out the EPA’s Energy Star web site at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits

To watch a video and learn how an energy audit is done, go to http://www.savewithces.com/What%20is%20a%20CES%20Energy%20Audit%20-%20Video.html

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Sustainable Living--Take Action!

Help protect the environment. One person can make a difference! There are many simple things you can do in your daily life. What you eat, what you drive, the daily consumer choices you make and how you build your home can have an effect on your immediate surroundings, and on places as far away as Antarctica. Here is a list of few things that you can do to make a difference.

• Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
  Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 per year.
• Inflate Your Tires
  Keep the tires on your car adequately inflated. Check them monthly. Save 250 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $840 per year.
• Change Your Air Filter
  Check your car's air filter monthly. Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $130 per year.
• Fill the Dishwasher
  Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Save 100 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
• Use Recycled Paper
  Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper. Save 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide per ream of paper.
• Adjust Your Thermostat
  Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year.
• Check Your Water Heater
  Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120°F. Save 550 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $30 per year.
• Change the AC Filter
  Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150 per year.
• Take Shorter Showers
  Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $99 per year.
• Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
  Using less water in the shower means less energy to heat the water. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150.
• Buy Products Locally
  Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store.
• Buy Energy Certificates
  Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution by buying wind energy and green tags.
• Buy Minimally Packaged Goods
  Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 per year.
• Buy a Hybrid Car
  The average driver could save 16,000 lbs. of CO2 and $3,750 per year driving a hybrid
• Buy a Fuel Efficient Car
  Getting a few extra miles per gallon makes a big difference. Save thousands of lbs. of CO2 and a lot of money per year.
• Carpool When You Can
  Own a big vehicle? Carpooling with friends and co-workers saves fuel. Save 790 lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
• Don't Idle in Your Car
  Idling wastes money and gas, and generates pollution and global warming causing emissions. Except when in traffic, turn your engine off if you must wait for more than 30 seconds.
• Reduce Garbage
  Buy products with less packaging and recycle paper, plastic and glass. Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
• Plant a Tree
  Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breathe. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
• Insulate Your Water Heater
  Keeping your water heater insulated could save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
• Replace Old Appliances
  Inefficient appliances waste energy. Save hundreds of lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
• Weatherize Your Home
  Caulk and weather strip your doorways and windows. Save 1,700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $274 per year.
• Use a Push Mower
  Use your muscles instead of fossil fuels and get some exercise. Save 80 lbs of carbon dioxide per year.
• Unplug Un-Used Electronics
  Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 per year.
• Put on a Sweater
  Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes. Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $250 per year.
• Insulate Your Home
  Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $245 per year.
• Air Dry Your Clothes
  Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. Save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $75 per year.
• Switch to a Tankless Water Heater
  Your water will be heated as you use it rather than keeping a tank of hot water. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $390 per year.
• Switch to Double Pane Windows
  Double pane windows keep more heat inside your home so you use less energy. Save 10,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $436 per year.
• Buy Organic Food
  The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce.
• Bring Cloth Bags to the Market
  Using your own cloth bag instead of plastic or paper bags reduces waste and requires no additional energy.
• Turn off Your Computer
  Shut off your computer when not in use, and save 200 lbs of C02. Conserve energy by using your computer's "sleep mode" instead of a screen saver.
• Be a Meat Reducer
  The average American diet contributes an extra 1.5 tons of greenhouse gases per year compared with a vegetarian diet. Eliminating meat and dairy intake one day a week can make a big difference.
• Ditch the Plastic
  2.5 million individual plastic water bottles are thrown away every hour in the US. Start using a reusable water bottle and just say no to plastic!
  
  

  Information compiled from: http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_actionitems.asp
  

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Green Links

http://www.storyofstuff.com

http://energy.extension.psu.edu/EnergyUse.htm

http://www.cfs.psu.edu

http://www.pennstatefocusthenation.org

http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/landscap.htm

http://earthkind.tamu.edu

http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/

http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/

Audubon at Home

Information for property owners and others in managing their yards to protect wildlife.
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/index.html

Chester-Ridley-Crum Watershed Association

A nonprofit environmental organization located in Delaware County, PA. CRC is the only watershed organization devoted to the protection of the water resources of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Valleys in both Chester and Delaware Counties.
http://crcwatersheds.org/

Climate Change in the Northeast

How global warming is changing the Northeast and how choices we make today will determine our children’s and grandchildren’s quality of life. Includes solutions and actions to take.
http://www.climatechoices.org/ne/index.html

IConserve
Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors.
http://iconservepa.org/abouticonserve.html

PA Climate Change Report http://www.pecpa.org/files/downloads/FINAL_PEC_Roadmap_Executive_Summary.pdf

PA Environmental Council
The Council has focused its expertise and experience into the Center of Excellence for Energy and Climate, which has three areas of emphasis: energy efficiency, alternative energy and climate change.
http://www.pecpa.org/program/energy-climate

PSU’s Center for Sustainability
A guide and reference point to Penn State’s environmental strategies and processes. Includes updates and general information about what Penn State is doing to build a more sustainable future.
http://www.cfs.psu.edu/greentourpsuintro2007.aspx

PSU Focus the Nation Event
Penn State’s yearly national event featuring global warming solutions for America
http://www.pennstatefocusthenation.org/

Wild Ones
A non-profit organization with a mission to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound practices using native species in developing plant communities.
http://www.for-wild.org/

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