C L I M A T E C H A N G E
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Recent reports indicate that climate change is accelerating far more rapidly than even the latest IPCC predictions, which were alarming enough. As gardeners, we can make an enormous difference with our own efforts, and as we encourage others to garden too.
Organic Gardening Rather than using petroleum-based synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, gardening organically is the best way for us to offset global warming. Organic gardening begins with attention to the soil. When the amount of humus in the soil is increased, carbon emissions are kept out of the atmosphere, sometimes for decades - a kind of reverse-greenhouse effect. But soils can release carbon rather than capture it if the soil is left exposed. Because most organic carbon is concentrated in the top layer of soil, it is then vulnerable to oxidation, which increases emissions. It is therefore important to keep gardens covered with growing plants – perennial gardens are ideal! Composting Kitchen and garden waste from the average family produces about a tonne of greenhouse emissions every year as it decays in a landfill. When garden wastes break down without fresh air, as they do in landfill sites, they form a blend of gases including the very active greenhouse gas methane, which has an even worse potential to warm the planet than carbon. Composting those wastes, on the other hand, locks up carbon from the atmosphere for decades. Ensure your compost heap has plenty of fresh air by turning it regularly, or use a compost tumbler. Using homemade compost also eliminates those additional travel miles to the store for soil and fertilizers, products that have already been transported considerable distances. Lawns Greenery helps clean the air and capture carbon dioxide, so a lawn is preferable to cement, brick, paving stones or asphalt. However, there are two serious issues regarding lawns. Artificial fertilizers are the first concern. Nitrogen-based lawn fertilizers produce nitrous oxide, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, having 300 times the effect of carbon dioxide. As an alternative to chemical fertilizers, it is best to leave grass clippings on the lawn to release valuable nutrients into the soil. In addition, according to Statistics Canada, gasoline powered lawn equipment releases about 80,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year. Environment Canada portrays it like this: a conventional two-stroke gasoline lawnmower pollutes as much in one hour as 40 late-model cars running for the same amount of time! Purchase a push mower or switch to a new electric model. An even better alternative for city and suburban lawns however, is to plant no-mow, ornamental groundcover plants instead. Large patches of rural lawns can be replaced with clover or wildflowers, or converted to infrequently mowed meadows. Lighting and Tools Use solar-powered lights where possible, such as on walkways, patios and in gardens. Otherwise, replace your outdoor light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs or metal halide lights. For floodlights, the most efficient are high-pressure sodium. Reduce your use of gasoline-powered tools such as weed eaters and leaf blowers, replacing with electric tools or even better, use hand tools such as rakes. Landscaping Plant trees! Trees help reduce emissions from home heating and cooling. Plant leafy species on the south and west for summer shade and warm winter sunlight. Evergreens on the north and shrubbery against the house foundation will protect from winter winds. Besides these benefits, each shade tree absorbs about 50 pounds of carbon dioxide per year as it grows. Growing Food Perhaps you have space to start growing some of your family’s food. The average family buying all of their food from the grocery store creates more than 4 tonnes of greenhouse emissions each year caused by food travel miles. Home grown tastes better too! Home Vacations Working, resting or playing in the garden are beneficial activities for an additional reason - because we are not otherwise engaged in behaviors such as operating equipment indoors, or consuming more products, all of which require energy to produce, to package, to transport and eventually to dispose of. What is more, holidays far away become less appealing when the backyard garden is a special retreat. And spending time in nature, principally in our gardens at home, is a meaningful way to help us face the challenges of global warming. Nature gives lessons in sustainability, and gardeners may be among the first to see that we actually can do things differently. Climate Issues From a Gardening Perspective: Further Information
The Gardeners Guide to Global Warming
Landscaping for Energy Efficiency
UBC Botanical Garden
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Regenerative 21st Century Farming: A Solution to Global Warming
Most carbon emissions are from three main uses - heat, electricity, and transportation. Heat By starting later and growing at slightly cooler temperatures in 2007, we were successful in reducing our fuel consumption by 21.6 % over 2006. We purchase offsets from the gold standard vendor Climate Friendly, to offset the carbon emitted from the greenhouse fuel we do use. Carbon offsetting is an accepted means of neutralizing carbon produced by investing in projects that cut carbon elsewhere. Electricity For our electricity needs, we have purchased green energy, supporting 100% clean, renewable power production (wind power and low-impact hydroelectric power).
 Transportation We produce only for the local market, shipping 90 km to Make It Green. This compares to most growers supplying eastern Ontario, who truck their potted plants from the Niagara region approximately 600 km away. We have also purchased Climate Friendly offsets for our weekly deliveries. Other We do not use petroleum-based pesticides or fertilizers. In our production, we use a professional organic soil mix, to which we add various organic supplements and compost, to produce healthy plants that transplant well. For 2008, we have considerably reduced the number of our starter plants transported from Europe.
In partnership with the Township of South Stormont and Hydro One, we have initiated a community climate action project: Centre Commons has also donated over 30 books on global warming to Township of South Stormont libraries and schools. |
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© 2008 Centre Commons Perennials