If you’re trying to create a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle, growing your own fruits and vegetables in a garden is just what you need. There are many different benefits to having your own garden, including saving money on produce, establishing a healthier diet, and contributing less to agriculture-related emissions and waste that our planet has.
Despite its many benefits, however, even gardening can take a small toll on the environment and earth overall. Nearly 14% of the average household garbage bin is comprised of garden waste. In addition to the actual biological waste itself, many gardening supplies often come in containers, packaging, and disposable items made from materials that are not so friendly to the world we live in.
However, learning about how to master zero-waste gardening can help! Use these tips and insights to start living a more sustainable lifestyle and contribute to a healthier world.
What is Garden Waste?
The term garden waste or green waste is used to refer to the improper disposal of organic materials. When these organic materials aren’t properly disposed of, they can’t be recycled, and if they can’t be recycled, they’re adding to the overall waste deposits that we’ve accumulated on our planet. A few examples of garden waste are leaves, weeds, grass clippings, flowers, and so on.
What many gardeners don’t realize is that there is a need to reduce garden waste. Furthermore, there are plenty of resources available to help everyone achieve zero waste gardening without a great deal of time and effort involved on your part.
Zero Waste Gardening
The term zero waste gardening is fairly self-explanatory. Zero waste gardening is all about growing a garden without leaving behind a trail of practices and materials that are harmful to the environment. Check out the following tips in order to master zero-waste gardening and minimize your footprint on the world we live in.
Recycle Garden Waste
Leaves, grass, flowers, and all other forms of garden waste previously mentioned can be recycled into a nutrient-rich formula that can be used to improve soil quality, and, in turn, the success of a garden. The next time you fill a trash bin with organic materials, deliver them to your local garden waste recycling center for proper disposal and recycling.
Get Composting in Your Home
Want to improve the overall quality of your garden while reducing your organic waste? Compost at home to reap the benefits of that nutrient-rich soil conditioner that we previously mentioned. All you need is a decent compost bin, an order of worms, and a heap of organic waste. Combine it all under the right conditions and you’ve got your very own, at-home solution to garden waste that will also improve your next harvest.
Beware of Plastic Packaging
Plants, seeds, and gardening supplies come in a wide range of plastics and other harmful materials that are difficult to be recycled. If you’re aspiring to master zero-waste gardening, you’ll need to put some thought into how you can avoid using plastic packaging as that is the standard that plants come in. There are environmentally-conscious garden supply companies that you can order your supplies and greenery from, but if you’re buying from a local nursery, you can always return the plastic pots that your garden plants came in. Take the pots back to the nursery so they can reuse them instead of just throwing them out.
If you’d like to avoid packaging altogether, you can take your own cloth sacks, pots, and other containers to the store when you go shopping. Fill a burlap sack with mulch and leave the plastic planters at the counter.
Garden with Recycled Materials
You don’t have to use the standard gardening materials found in supply stores. Instead, you can choose to garden with recycled materials to reduce your effect on the environment in terms of garden waste and regular waste. Instead of tossing out your old pair of yellow rain boots, use them as makeshift flower pots for a unique addition to your garden. Start your tiny seeds in paper cups or toilet paper rolls to avoid using those plastic planters. The possibilities are endless when it comes to gardening with recycled materials, and it’s a great way to reduce your overall gardening cost as well.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can create a more sustainable lifestyle, check out the eco-conscious energy plans at Kiwi Energy.
