By now there can be very few realistic people left who do not accept that we are going through an unprecedented period of climate change. The most common feature of this is rising global temperatures clearly illustrated by well sourced predictions that 2024 will be the warmest year on record.
But we gardeners know all to well that climate changes also produces regular periods of torrential rain, followed by drought, high winds and gales and hale. Add to this mix the necessity to improve sustainability.
As gardeners who grow vegetables and fruit, we are already helping reduce the impact of food miles – as well as providing our families and friends with totally sustainable fresh produce.
There are many other things we can do in an effort to reduce global warming and improve sustainability. Lets take a look at the low fruits – the easier things that will make a difference.
Where possible stop using plastic in the form of bags, ties, plant labels, flower pots and seed trays. If your garden shed in anything like mine, it will already have many years’ supply of labels, pots and trays. I shall continue to use them but not buy any more, unless absolutely necessary. Tie up with raffia or natural, undied string. Try to get hold of wooden or even pressed seed trays. Use pots produced from recyclable material and wooden plant labels made from sustainable sources. My greengrocer provides me with open sided, wooden fruit boxes that I line with newspaper and use as seed trays.
Where possible collect your own seeds. I have grown a variety of tomato called Vanessa for very many years. My old friend, the late Peter Seabrook The Sun Gardening Editor, gave me a packet some 20 years ago. Before they ran out I always save one unblemished fruit and saved the seeds. I also grow other plants from seed and it is doubly exciting to see them coming through.
Harvest rainwater in water butts. Yes, I know that most of them are plastic but they do last donkey’s years. Linda Lane, the Managing Director of Griffin Glasshouses offers her customers the opportunity of installing underground water tanks in new-build greenhouses. The water is pumped up into the greenhouse fresh and at the ideal temperature. She says that now almost 60% of customers are opting for this. The rainwater is collected from the outside of the greenhouse, so this system is totally sustainable.
Where possible compost garden and vegetable kitchen waste. It does, I know, produce greenhouse gas emissions but this is offset against new, packaged compost.
Reuse what ever you can in the garden. Rather than buy new plant labels, I remove the old plants names with fine sandpaper. Some of the bamboo canes used in my runner bean frames must be getting on for ten years old. After use I dry them thoroughly in the greenhouse then disinfect them before putting away in cold, dry storage
Enjoy your gardening and remember that by doing some, or all of the above, plus your own ways of helping the environment, you will be making a difference and benefiting us all.
Happy Gardening!
Comments