By Pat Dray
The garden square
Pat Dray
According to Earth.org, sustainability means “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In general, sustainability refers to the ability to maintain a process or condition over time. In recent years, the term has been used by companies of all kinds, including the food and fashion industries.
For those of us who are gardeners and land managers, sustainability means working to reduce our use of pesticides and herbicides, avoid single-use plastics, and generally reduce our carbon footprint.
One of the easiest ways to increase sustainability is to reduce the use of single-use plastic. I find that a reusable water bottle is not only good for the environment, but also good for my wallet. Instead of using a plastic bag once, can you just shake out or rinse out all the crumbs and reuse them? Do you need to use this straw in a casual restaurant? Do you have to use a plastic bag for the two lemons in the supermarket?
There are several trends that truly support sustainable living: buying food locally, resisting “fast fashion,” and replacing lawns with natural, native landscapes. I am very pleased that a “crispier” lifestyle is also being introduced here in the land of fixed habits. If you haven't been to the Milford or Orange Farmers Markets in the past year, you've missed a great opportunity to meet our local farmers and bakers. The variety of providers is impressive and the quality is excellent.
The rise of online clothing retailers like Poshmark and RealReal have helped legitimize the habit of saving. This is a wonderful way to reduce your carbon footprint both when selling and buying. Could you resell that wool sweater and “save” for a new one? Carbonfact estimates that 75 percent of wool’s carbon footprint comes from “born to farm,” so buying used wool significantly reduces your carbon footprint.
The latest landscape trend is towards naturalized spaces or their “rewilding”. Moving away from the golf course appearance to a landscape that is home to native insects and plants creates a much more interesting palette.
If you need to eliminate weeds, try digging them up or spot treating them rather than applying systemic herbicides. Replacing lawn grasses with native plants typically means less watering and maintenance, more diversity and a smaller carbon footprint.
Pat Dray is past president of the Garden Club of Orange and master gardener.