Small gardens are an essential part of our food sustainability systems. They allow home owners to grow a portion of their own food, resulting in less dependency on large corporations and industrial farms.
These gardens work best when planted with sustainability in mind, as much as is possible for a small home owner with limited resources. Here are a few ways to accomplish sustainability within your own garden.
Smaller Lawns
Lawns take up the majority of most average yards, and are rarely put to good use. It’s time to let go of the neat, plain yard in favor of more environmentally-friendly and productive alternatives.
You don’t need to get rid of your lawn altogether, but you can take small steps towards making the space you have more efficient and profitable.
Conserving Water
Water is a vital and limited resource, for everyone from professional farmers to the casual gardener. It is important to treat the water as precious, and use water as efficiently as possible. One way to do this is by collecting rainwater on your property. Conserving also means you’ll be spending water only when you absolutely need to. It’s important to maintain your plumbing systems and pipes, as well.
Compost
Composting is also essential, as it allows you to avoid the use of herbicides and other chemicals in your garden. There are two ways to acquire compost: either by making your own, or by purchasing compost as a resource from others in your area. Both ways can ensure that waste is disposed of in an eco-friendly way. If you choose to produce your own compost, it can be a handy additional source of income.
Native Plants
Native plants are the best choice for your local garden. The climate and overall environment will be suitable for planting and growing such crops, and there will be fewer costs involved in moving and maintaining them.
Limiting yourself to native plants narrows your choice of what to grow, and this can sometimes be a problem if you plan to sell specific types of produce to local restaurants. However, it’s not a choice you have to commit to forever. .
Multipurpose Plants
Multipurpose plants are the best choice for sustainable gardens, as they offer the most value for your buck. These plants are usually perennials, meaning they can provide you a valuable source of produce for a longer period of time. For the most part, these plants are both decorative and edible, and don’t require special care from one year to the next.
Connecting With Local Customers
Local gardens will have the most impact when they are connected with local businesses and farmers markets. You could make a profit from your small garden, or at least help the garden finance itself by selling a portion of your produce to local vendors.
This is also a useful option for those wishing to ensure that their food is produced in an eco-friendly way. Farmers markets are great places to join forces with others working in your field, and to expand your production.
Conclusion
Sustainable gardening is an important provider of food, offering a way to help your family budget or even earn some additional money. It should be as green as possible in terms of sustainability, and this can be easily achieved even by beginners.