Friday, December 30, 2011

What Hangovers and Eco-Friendly Gardening Have in Common

Raise your hand if you think you will wake up bright and early on Sunday morning without a hangover. Uh huh. That’s what I thought.

On January 1st, a very large percentage of the people in this country will wake up with a pounding headache, queasy stomach and a brain that just isn’t working very well. Ahhh, but the night before was worth it all…..wasn’t it? The memory may be a little blurry.

Now come the cures. You are desperate to feel good again. To be able to stand up without feeling dizzy. You want your head to quit pounding . You want to be able to remember where you left your car. So what steps do you take? What remedies will help?

I wanted to write a post about how drinking and gardening have a lot in common, but I didn't want it to sound like a lecture. Nobody needs that as we prepare to say goodbye to the old year and ring in the new. Still, the similarities are pretty strong, and this is a gardening blog, so here is a list of a few things that hangovers and gardening have in common.

I will say that I’ve done a lot of damage to my body and to my garden by overindulging over the years, and now I don’t. But it took me a long time to learn these lessons, even though I knew them to be true.

What hangovers and eco-friendly gardening have in common

1) A hangover is your body’s response to being poisoned by a bunch of unhealthy toxins being ingested. Once they are in there, it takes awhile to reverse the damage. In gardening, a lot of damage can be done by adding unhealthy toxins. And it takes awhile to reverse the damage.

2) In gardening and in socializing, we think we need to add the toxins to achieve the desired result. We can usually achieve what we want without the toxins.

3) Even if we know what is right for ourselves and our gardens, it’s very hard to avoid peer pressure.

4) In gardening and in socializing, we think that the cure to our ailments is to add more toxins. Hair of the dog doesn’t work well for hangovers or for gardens.

5) Adding healthy nutrients to a body and a garden will help fight the effects of toxins. Keeping your soil and landscape healthy by adding natural compost and other nutrients will help them make it through added stress.

6) Listening to your body – and your garden - helps. The first time we have a hangover, we SWEAR we will never do it again. And then we do. We know what our bodies can handle, we eventually figure out how many drinks are too many and which foods help or hurt the whole situation. But for some of us, it takes a good many mornings leaning over the porcelain throne for the lessons to sink in. Listen to your body. The same is true of your garden. If you just quit pouring things into it for awhile, it will tell you what it needs to be at its best.

7) Overindulgence of alcohol or chemicals in the garden can have a far reaching affect. You stand the risk of not just hurting yourself, but of hurting others.

8) The one thing that gardening and hangovers DON’T have in common is that adding lots and lots of water before during and after your drinking can help eliminate a hangover. Adding too much water to a garden is always a bad thing.

Okay. End of lecture. Now, here are some:

Ways to prevent and ease hangovers

1) Before you drink, eat. Having food in your stomach will help decrease the affect of the alcohol. Good choices are something with Vitamin B and Vitamin C, such as fresh fruit, and fatty foods such as steak or pizza (natural sugars and fat both help absorb alcohol.)
2) The gentlest choices of alcohol are beer and clear liquors such as gin and vodka.

3) Fruit juice is a better mixer than diet colas. Research suggests that consumption of fruits, fruit juices, or other sugar-containing liquids can decrease hangover intensity.

4) Many of the symptoms of hangover are caused by dehydration so keeping hydrated will help. Drink plenty of water, before during and after drinking. While you drink, always order a glass of water to go along with it.

5) Eat while you drink – food will help absorb the alcohol.

6) Take vitamin B and C before you go to bed. Vitamin B complex almost always makes me feel better when I overindulge.

7) Take aspirin if you need it but DON’T take acetaminophen. Alcohol disrupts how the liver processes acetaminophen, possibly leading to liver inflammation and permanent damage.

8) Make yourself throw up if you feel sick but remember that vomiting can add to your dehydration

9) Coffee is NOT good for a hangover, since it leads to more dehydration. After a night of drinking, it’s best to avoid anything with caffeine. Instead, sip water and sports drinks to counter dehydration and replace lost electrolytes.

10) Bouillon soup is good for replacing salt and potassium depleted by drinking alcohol.

And all kidding aside, never, never drink and drive.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program has again relaunched the SoberRide program in an effort to curb would-be drunk drivers.

D.C.-area residents who find themselves unable to drive after a night of drinking can call for a free cab between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Anyone over the age of 21 can call 1-800-200-TAXI or #8294 on your AT&T Wireless phone.

WRAP's SoberRide provides a free cab ride home up to a $30 fare.

Callers are financially responsible for anything over $30.

You must be 21 or older to use the SoberRide service. All calls must originate in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland; the Cities of Rockville, Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt and Takoma Park in Maryland; the District of Columbia; Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Eastern Loudoun Counties in Virginia; and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park in Virginia.

You cannot reserve a SoberRide or schedule a pickup in advance. Since 1993, WRAP's SoberRide program has helped more than 49,000 people get a safe trip home after drinking.

Have a safe and happy New Year's celebration. 2012 is going to be a GREAT year!

Avoiding Hangovers - WebMD

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Dog Poop Ain’t Sexy, but picking it up can be

When someone first asked me if they could add dog poop to their compost pile, my immediate response was a firm NO! No Way! NADA!

But just to make sure, I decided to consult an expert. And who better to consult than the self-professed Queen of Dog S*%t, Susan McCullough, author of HouseTraining for Dummies and blogger at the Metro DC Dog Blog.

Susan and I are on similar missions. We both blog about what we love (gardening for me, dogs for Susan) but we also try to encourage people to take care of the planet while they are diggin’ and doggin’. We both know that things like chemicals and dog poop should NOT go into the groundwater.

Anyway, Susan did recommend that people not put pet poop in their compost piles. But since Susan always has the latest scoop on poop, she also went on to tell me about how Cambridge, Massachusetts uses dog poop to power lights in their park and how Ithaca, NY was collecting dog poop for possible future composting.

She also showed me this hilarious video that I just wanted to pass along to my readers, since I know there are a lot of you out there who love dogs as much as I do. I’m hoping this dance will catch on and be the new rage in 2012!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Fairfax County Residents – share your views on the environment – January 17th


ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 17, 2012

The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council has scheduled a public hearing to solicit comments on the state of the environment in Fairfax County.  The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center.  

The public is encouraged to attend EQAC's public hearing to share views on the state of the environment and to identify environmental issues applicable to Fairfax County.  Environmental issues considered by EQAC include water quality, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, stream valley protection, wildlife management, light pollution, visual pollution, climate change response and adaptation, energy conservation, land use, transportation and the use and preservation of ecological resources.  EQAC welcomes written and/or verbal testimony.

A Bee’s Eye View of Native Plants

What: A Bee’s Eye View of Native Plants Seminar

When: Thursday, January 19, 2012, 7:30 pm

Where: Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria, Virginia

Reverse the lens and look at native plants from the perspective of a key slice of life that is tied to these plants...bees. Regionally, there are over 400 species of native bees and many are only found on the flowers of specific plants. Why 400? Why not just one kind of bee? The complexity of color, architecture, and phenology of native flowers is a clue to that relationship.

Explore the plant-pollinator relationship from the bee point of view and learn why what we plant has consequences for these fascinating creatures

Presented by the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. VNPS programs are free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary.

www.vnps.org and www.vnps-pot.org

Information provided by Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener Magazine

How/Where do you give back? Do you have a favorite charity?

As the year draws to a close, now is the perfect time to remember the organizations that help to bring happiness to your life, and to the lives of others. We still have a few days left to make our charitable donations for the 2011 tax year.

I once read a short book entitled The Five Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth,  by Richard Paul Evans.

I especially like lesson five: Give Back.

Evans says, "Hoarding wealth will make your life small and cold. Giving will expand it." He goes on to say, "And service, through sharing our wealth and our time, is love made visible."


Evans believes in financial karma: that "we get back when we give", and I agree. I believe that life, like gardening, is all about sowing what you hope to reap.

I admit that I don’t always feel like I have extra money to donate. But between the two, I usually find that I have more money than time to contribute. There are so many worthwhile charitable organizations that are doing so much for all of us.  So I make an effort to make at least one donation during each tax year and I encourage you to do the same.

You probably already have a favorite charity. There are many groups that help to preserve nature, create public gardens, educate potential green gardeners, etc. But if you are looking for a new group to make a donation to, the IRS has an online resource that can help.

On the IRS site, you can put in a keyword and a state, and the site will display a list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable donations. You can search for keywords such as nature, wildlife, garden, Chesapeake, DC, trees or anything else that comes to mind.

There are also other sites, such as Guidestar.com and charitynavigator.org but these lists don’t seem to be as comprehensive.

Happy giving!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Albert Einstein: It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.

Anne Frank: No one has ever become poor by giving.

John D. Rockefeller Jr.: Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.

Maya Angelou: I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

Peyton Conway March: There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else.

Thornton Wilder: Money is like manure; it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow.

Winston Churchill: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Disposing of Christmas Trees in Metro DC Area

If you are looking for the best way to dispose of your Christmas tree, first consider some of these ideas for using your tree in your garden.

If none of those ideas appeal to you, there are different rules for tree disposal depending on where you live. Also, keep in mind that many of these trees are ground into mulch, which is later available to you for little or no charge.

This effort has many beneficial results and also conserves space in the landfill.

Mulch is good for:

  • Soil temperature moderation
  • Moisture/water retention
  • Reduction of competition (weeds)
  • Recycling of nutrients through decomposition
  • Conserves government funds through a reduction of purchased mulch

For more information about the benefits of mulch, read Mulch Helps Your Plants Snuggle in for the Winter

In Fairfax County, if your tree is less than 8 feet, you can put it out by the curb during the first two weeks of January for no additional cost. If your tree is larger than 8 feet, contact your trash hauler for collection details. Mulch created by Fairfax County is available to residents free of charge at these locations.

The Montgomery County solid waste website says: We will collect Christmas trees on your recycling day from Monday, December 26, 2011 through Friday, February 3, 2012. Please put your Christmas tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day. After February 3, 2012, you may still recycle your tree through their curbside yard trim collection. Please note that the tree must then be cut into smaller pieces. Mulch created by Montgomery County is available to residents free of charge at these locations.

For District residents, the DC.gov website says:  Holiday trees and wreaths will be picked up curbside from January 3 to January 14. Remove all decorations and place the greenery in the treebox space in front of your home between Monday, January 2, and Monday, January 9. Please do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags. Trees collected between January 3 and 14 will be recycled. Any trees not collected by January 14 should be set out with your trash to be picked up as space in the trash trucks allows over the following weeks. Residents also can bring trees to the Ft. Totten Transfer Station weekdays, 1 pm-5 pm, and Saturdays, 8 am-3 pm, for free tree chipping.

Arlington Virginia tree pickup info: Christmas Tree Collection will be from January 3-17, 2012 on your regular refuse day. Since trees will be ground into wood mulch, please remove the tree stand, lights, and decorations. Please do not place the tree in a plastic bag. During the first two full weeks in January, Christmas trees are collected curbside for residents with curbside refuse and recycling service. Residents are reminded to place the tree on the curb no later than 6 am on your regular trash collection day and to remove all decorations, nails, stands, and plastic bags. After the trees are collected, they will be ground into wood mulch for garden use. Special unbundled brush or metal pickups will be suspended during this time. More Info
Information about getting free mulch from Arlington Virginia is available here.

In Frederick County, Md., residents can drop off their trees at the following drop off points starting Dec. 26 and ending on Jan. 25, 2012.

    • Reichs Ford Road Yard Trimming Area
      9031 Reichs Ford RD, Frederick, MD 21704

    • Ballenger Creek Park (second parking lot on the left)
      5420 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick, MD 21703

    • Kemptown Park (lower left parking lot)
      3456B Kemptown Church RD, Monrovia, MD 21770

    • Middletown Park Recycling Center (area next to maintenance shop)
      7628 Coblentz RD, Middletown, MD 21769

    • Point of Rocks Ruritan Club (left side of parking lot)
      1637 Ballenger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks, MD 21777

    • Eyler Road Park Recycling Center (fenced area on right)
      30 Eyler RD, Thurmont, MD 21788

    • Heritage Farm Park (yard trimmings collection site)
      9224 Devilbiss Bridge RD, Walkersville, MD 21793

    Information about mulch from Frederick County is available here.

    The City of Frederick, Maryland Christmas Tree Drop Off and Recycling program will begin on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 and continue through Tuesday, January 31, 2012. The four drop off points will be:

    • Harry Grove Stadium in the Lower Lot
    • Husky Park (Yard 2) - Highland Street
    • Max Kehne Park  -  West 7th Street
    • Taskers Chance Park - Key Parkway behind Westridge Shopping Center

    Thursday, December 22, 2011

    To My Eco-Friendly Santa Baby

    christmas1 My husband just LOVES Christmas but he always worries too much about what gift to get me. Since my life is already so good, I can rarely think of a darn thing to tell him that I want or need.

    Truth be told, as corny and romantic as it sounds, sharing my life with a wonderful, joyful man like Tom kind of makes every day feel like Christmas.

    I’ve mentioned before that he is the one who taught me much of what I know about being an eco-friendly gardener. And he really still is the primary gardener in our household. He not only carefully tends our gardens in a complete organic and eco-friendly way, but he always makes sure that my bird and hummingbird feeders are full and that the birdbaths are ready for visitors. In other words, much of the happiness that I get from living in our own little woodland habitat of critters, birds and butterflies; eating meals made from fresh, home grown organic produce; and knowing we are doing our part to help take care of the planet, is because of my live-in Santa Claus, my husband Tom.

    So, sweetie, if you want to know what to get me for Christmas, just keep gardening with me. I love what we are growing together.

    And readers, I’ll apologize in advance for this REALLY corny poem. And I promise it will be my last one for this holiday season!

    To My Santa Baby (Tom)

    Santa baby, slip some compost under the tree
    with me,
    I’ve been an awful good girl
    Santa baby
    so help me spread some compost tonight

    Santa baby, another rain barrel too
    light blue
    I'll help you hook it up, dear
    Santa baby, let’s make another barrel tonight

    Think of all the run-off that we’ve missed
    By being eco-friendly con-ser-va-tion-ists
    We’ve been being oh so good
    By being eco-friendly like I know we should
    Boo doo bee doo

    Santa honey,
    I wanna plot and really that's not,
    a lot
    I’ll keep it chem-ic-al free
    Santa baby, just help me plant this garden tonight

    Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need
    Some seed
    For these critters of mine
    Santa cutie, so help me fill the feeders tonight

    Santa baby,
    I've got a few little more proj-ects
    We’ll get them done in no time
    Santa baby, so hurry while we’ve still got day-light

    Help me trim those old oak trees
    To even out our forest can-o-py
    I’ll hold the ladder
    still for you
    Let's just see
    How well we’ll do
    Boo doo bee doo

    Santa baby,
    forgot to mention one little thing,
    to bring
    Bring some firewood inside
    Santa baby,
    so we can light the fireplace tonight.

    And we can cuddle by the firelight
    And we can cuddle by the firelight….

    Ohh, Santa Baby!

    Tuesday, December 20, 2011

    Fried Green Tomato Hornworms

    eatbugs Here’s another idea for a Christmas gift for eco-friendly gardeners. You can let the recipient decide whether it is a gag gift or not. I know it almost made me gag when I first read about it.

    I was poking around on Facebook the other day and saw a conversation about eating Hornworms.

    Now, I’m all for finding alternative means of garden pest disposal, since I don’t believe in using chemicals on my property.  I usually do hand pick our hornworms and, on some occasions, have probably gotten enough for a nice hardy snack. Still, I doubt that I’ll ever be  tempted to take a nibble out of my hornworms, any more than I’m tempted to eat crickets, grasshoppers, bees or any of the other bugs mentioned in The Eat A Bug Cookbook: 33 ways to cook grasshoppers, ants, water bugs, spiders, centipedes, and their kin, by David George Gordon (aka The Bug Chef).

    Gordon says that eating protein rich bugs is good for you ("Crickets are loaded with calcium, and termites are rich in iron), and good for the earth ("Raising cows, pigs, and sheep is a tremendous waste of the planet's resources, but bug ranching is pretty benign").

    Gordon collected info from bug-eating cultures around the world and includes information on how to cook each bug and which wine to drink with them. He even provides tips on how to catch your own insects – a great eco-friendly means of pest control!!

    I think I’ll buy a copy of the book just so I can have it laying on my coffee table. It will certainly be…ahem…food for thought.

    If you do decide to try any of the deep-fry recipes, just remember to can the grease when you are done. Putting grease down the drain can eventually mean clogs for you, potential backups into your basement and sewage overflows in the local sewer systems.

    canthegrease

    So please do your part by disposing of fats, oils and grease the proper way. 

    1. Pour them into a can;
    2. let them cool;
    3. then throw the can into the trash.
    4. And keep the can covered so it doesn’t spill while you’re waiting to add more grease.

    (If you are a WSSC customer, you can even get free lids to store your canned grease.)

    For more about the Can the Grease campaign, visit these websites: Arlington, VA and MWCOG.

    By the way, while reading about the book I noticed that a local restaurant, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana on 7th Street in DC sells  Chapulines: The legendary Oaxacan specialty of sautéed grasshoppers, shallots, tequila and guacamole for $5.00

    Recipe for Fried Green Tomato Hornworms, printed with permission of the author, David George Gordon

    What does a tomato hornworm taste like? Well, what would you taste like if you'd been stuffing yourself solely with tomato leaves for the better part of a month? Hornworms are ridiculously chlorophyll-rich. They taste great with just about any summer vegetable, but my favorite recipe draws inspiration from the cuisine of the Whistle Stop Cafe, that fictitious Alabama diner made famous by novelist Fanny Flagg.

    "You'll think you died and gone to heaven," boasts Flagg of her recipe. To which I add, "If you do go to heaven, ask the Powers That Be to keep the tomato hornworms out of my vegetable patch."

    3 tablespoons olive oil
    16 tomato hornworms
    4 medium green tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
    Salt and pepper to taste
    White cornmeal

    In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil. Then lightly fry the hornworms, about 4 minutes, taking care not to rupture the cuticles of each insect under high heat. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
    Season tomato rounds with salt and pepper, then coat with cornmeal on both sides.

    In a large skillet, fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sides
    Top each round with 2 fried tomato hornworms.
    Garnish the paired hornworms with a single basil leaf.

    Yield: 4 servings

    George Washington - Founding Native Gardener

    I am NOT a history buff. Trying to wade through the details of what happened ages ago, regardless of the impact those events had on present day life, isn’t something that would normally hold my attention. The same is true of most biographies. So before I picked up Andrea Wulf’s book, Founding Gardeners: the Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, I have to admit that I knew very little about George Washington, other than the fact that he was the first president of the United States. But now I feel as if I know the man intimately. Why? Because now I know how he felt about his gardens.

    “His love for his country was deeply rooted in his passion for nature, agriculture and gardens.” To me, one of the best ways to get to know someone is to walk with them through their gardens, listening to their stories of how they discovered certain plants, the struggles and secrets they have learned in growing them, and why they particularly like one species over another. Ms. Wulf has provided all of that information, not just about George Washington, but about some of the other Founding Fathers of our country such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. But nothing in this book is as staid or boring as many history books. Wulf is an elegant writer that brings the details of history to life through the eyes of devoted and dedicated gardeners who seemed to be forever planning their gardens, even when miles away fighting for our country. “…the condition of his soil and the new shoots of spring were far closer to Washington’s heart than any strategy of war.”

    In 1776, while Washington is preparing to defend Manhattan from 32,000 invading British troops, Wulf writes: “Washington brushed aside his generals and his military maps, sat in the flicker of candlelight with his quill and wrote a long letter to his estate manager and cousin Lund Washington at Mount Vernon, his plantation in Virginia. As the city braced itself, Washington pondered the voluptuous blossom of rhododendron, the sculptured flowers of mountain laurel and the perfect pink of crab apple. These “clever kinds[s] of Trees (especially flowering ones,” he instructed, should be planted in two groves by either side of his house.”

    Wulf goes on to describe WHY thoughts of his garden were so dominant in Washington’s mind. Washington was planning an American Garden. “Washington’s new garden was to be truly American, a radical departure from the traditional colonial plots, for it was the first ornamental garden to be planted almost exclusively with native species.”

    “Only American natives should be used, he instructed, and all could be transplanted from the forests of Mount Vernon. As the young nation faced its first military confrontation in the name of liberty, Washington decided that Mount Vernon was to be an American garden where English trees were not allowed.” So Washington’s “native” garden was as much a political statement as it was for any other reason.

    I had never really thought of state or country loyalty when listing all the benefits of native plants. (I prefer them primarily for their ease of maintenance and wildlife value.) But if you are a history buff, an avid gardener, or both, I encourage you to read Founding Gardeners, or give it as a gift to the good little gardeners on your list. And once you receive it, I encourage you to go outside, find a quiet spot, and allow yourself to be immersed in the history of our Founding Gardeners.

    “Washington recommended that the troops make “regimental Gardens” in order to produce vegetables for army rations and also because he believe it would be healthy and comforting for his men – what we would call therapeutic.”

    Now its your turn to answer the question. Why do you have native plants in your landscape?

    Sunday, December 18, 2011

    Naughty or Nice – how to have a natural landscape without annoying your neighbors

    weedwarriors Let’s face it. Gardening is all about choosing what we do and don’t want to grow on the chunk of land that surrounds our home.

    It is up to us to decide what is welcome and what is not. We define what is a weed and what isn’t….what forms of wildlife are a nuisance and what forms are welcome. We usually even decide what areas the plants and animals must remain in, setting up garden borders and designated feeding stations for wildlife.

    Other people may not agree with or even understand our gardening style. A front yard full of vegetables may fill your heart with joy and your refrigerator with fresh food, but may earn only raised eyebrows from your neighbors. The same is certainly true of a yard that welcomes birds, bunnies, squirrels and deer. You may look at these visitors with awe and wonder and your neighbors may be having visions of venison and rabbit stew. And a yard left to “go wild” with native wildflowers and shrubs may be called weedy and unkempt by those with a penchant for a more manicured look.

    “Green”, eco friendly gardeners may face additional challenges when it comes to being accepted by the rest of the neighborhood, as they integrate rain barrels and compost piles into their landscape design.

    But eco-friendly gardening has many benefits. The use of native plants, the elimination of chemicals, the capture and re-use of rainwater and garden waste all do their part to help protect not just one garden, but every interconnected piece of property and, eventually, the entire planet.

    So how do you keep peace with your neighbors while you are creating a more eco-friendly landscape? Just remember that it is all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

    R – Recognize the right of other people’s opinions. Remember that although you have a right to your coneflowers and native grasses, your neighbor has the right to a manicured lawn, plastic geraniums, and cement lawn deer if they want.
    E -  Educate. You have good reasons to create an eco-friendly landscape -- let others know them before you start. If you tell your neighbors why you're tearing up the lawn, or planting native plants, or constructing a rain garden, chances are that they will be more likely to accept it. Share the Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog with them so they can learn more.
    S – Set it apart. Something as simple as keeping a neutral zone between your eco-friendly landscape and the property of others can go a long way in keeping the peace. A simple border of lawn, hedge or fence provides a nice transition area between landscapes.
    P – Personalize it. Add interest to your yard with paths, benches, sculptures and other human elements, letting your neighbors know that your yard is as much your own personal sanctuary as it is a place for environmental stewardship. Decorate or disguise rain barrels and compost piles to make them less obtrusive.
    E – Ease into it. You will reduce expense, increase the effect of your learning curve, enjoy your efforts more, and engender less resistance from neighbors if you start in small steps.
    C – Certify it. Once your eco-friendly landscape is established, it may easily qualify as a National Wildlife Federation certified habitat. Applying for certification and displaying the Certified Habitat sign will let everyone know that your yard is a special place, deserving of recognition and admiration, not contempt.
    T – Trim, tend and primp. Although eco-friendly landscapes often require less care, that doesn’t mean they should be neglected. Keeping your plants pruned and your flowerbeds weeded and mulched will help to give “green” gardens the neighborhood seal of approval.

    Remember, your eco-friendly landscape is a great gift to the planet. Taking a few extra steps to make sure that your landscape fits in will help your efforts earn the recognition and respect that it deserves.
    For more information, visit the Wild Ones Handbook on the EPA website.

    Friday, December 16, 2011

    Why do you like native plants?

    I love native plants in my landscape for several reasons. Probably the most important reason, to me, is that they attract native wildlife. But there are several other reasons that native plants make great additions to a landscape and since many of us are already planning our Spring gardens, I'll be talking about the benefits of native plants for the next few weeks. In the meantime, I'd love to know why you choose native plants. Please take our poll to let us know:

    Why do you have native plants in your landscape?

    Tuesday, December 13, 2011

    Christmas Bird Count Starts December 14th

    I've often written about the fun and important function of Citizen Science Programs. What I call Citizen Science programs are any programs that encourage people to go out and monitor various forms of wildlife and report their statistics so that scientists can study the habits and habitats of local wildlife. 

    There are wildlife monitoring programs for birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, frogs and other forms of wildlife. These programs are open to anyone with an interest in wildlife. In most cases, the only skill required is the ability to count! They are a great opportunity to get outside with your family and explore the creatures that live around us.

    The best known of these counts are the various bird counts conducted, in part, by the National Audubon Society.   Starting on Wednesday, December 14th, you can participate in one of the more popular of these counts: The Christmas Bird Count.

    The National Audubon Society website describes the Christmas bird count in this way:
     From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season.
    Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.
    If you would like to get more information about a bird count in your area, use this search tool to find the count nearest you.

    Monday, December 12, 2011

    Gifts for “Green” Gardeners

    butkit Yikes! How can there be less than two weeks until Christmas? If you are still looking for gift ideas for the eco-friendly gardener on your list, here are a few last minute suggestions.

    *Please note: catalog links provided are for reference only and are not recommendations on my part. Many of the products were chosen for their unique or “green” qualities. Whenever possible, I suggest you shop local.

    Pamper your gardener. Forget the day in the spa. To pamper your favorite gardener, give them gifts to protect their hands and skin. Every gardener needs garden gloves but eco-friendly gardeners are often more hands-on than other gardeners. Why? Because we don’t stand back and spray weeds or bugs with toxic chemicals. We get right down there in the dirt and hand pull weeds and hand pick bugs. Gloves are good. Along the same lines as gloves, eco-friendly gardeners can use kneelers for getting down close to their gardens and hand tools used for weed removal. And hats are great to help protect faces from harmful UV rays. All of these products can be found locally at garden centers or even big box stores.

    Give the gift of water AND cleaner local waterways. You can buy or make a rain barrel to give. But make sure the gift is used and appreciated by helping the recipient install it. Other options for saving water are water timers ($19.95 from Plow & Hearth) which provide automatic shutoff after a designated amount of watering. And there are even high-tech models that check the weather on the internet $499.00 from CyberRain) and then set your irrigation systems for you, depending on the weather forecast.

    Nurture their soul - Butterfly or hummingbird garden kits can be purchased ready made, or you can make your own by checking our lists of plants for hummingbirds and butterflies and picking up seed packs at your favorite garden supply center. Don’t forget to include a book (or pages printed from the internet) about how to create a butterfly or hummingbird garden.

    Keep them organized and enlightened with a Garden Journal – I love garden journals (and I wish I would remember to use my own more often). Keeping a garden journal is a great way to see what works and what doesn’t in your garden, and to write down those “deep thoughts” that always seem to come when your hands are deep in the dirt. You can buy very inexpensive empty journals at many book stores, or go all out and buy a ten year, cloth bound journal with A Gardener’s Journal stamped on the front cover ($39.50 from Lee Valley)

    The gift that keeps on giving: Compost Buckets – IMHO, everyone should compost. But having a big pile of decomposing plant matter in the corner of one’s yard isn’t for everyone. But compost buckets come in all shapes, sizes and designs. From stylish kitchen designs that sit on a kitchen counter and allow for collection of coffee grounds and eggshells, to high tech under counter kitchen  models that do all the dirty work for you($199 and up from NatureMill). You can even go a step further and buy worm composters or even products that compost pet poo. But again, these gifts are only appropriate for the dedicated green gardener.

    Subscription to local gardening magazine – One of the main principles of eco-friendly gardening is to learn to garden WITH Mother Nature, not against her. That means plant things and use techniques that are known to work in the area that you live. When things like rain, snow (or dark of night) keep the avid gardener inside, there is nothing quite like curling up with a great garden magazine that makes you eager to get back out there in the dirt. Since 2005, Washington Gardener Magazine has been providing information to gardeners in the DC/Virginia/Maryland region. A yearly subscription is $20.00 and contains six issues.

    Should you give plants? I don’t really recommend giving plants to people unless you are sure about the site conditions of their property and how much time and energy they plan to devote to gardening. I think a gift certificate or gift card at a local nursery is much more thoughtful and allows them to choose their own plants or opt for something more soothing to their garden soul, such as a wind chime or bird bath.
    Here’s a gift that I have to share just because of its uniqueness. The Kangaroo pocket apron lets you pull weeds and trim plants and carry the trimmings to your compost pile in a Kangaroo style pocket ($38.50 from Lee Valley)

    Of course, one of the best things that you can give to any new gardener is your time, your expertise and your enthusiasm. Being generous with all of them may be the greatest gift of all.

    And of course, the greatest gift for a garden blogger?????? Our followers! Thanks so much to all of you and remember, you can join us on Facebook, too!

    Friday, December 9, 2011

    Casey Trees Newsletter

    Are your on Casey Tree’s email list? If not, you are missing out on a lot of great information that they send out periodically in an online e-newsletter called the Leaflet. Here are some highlights from the latest issue:

    Data from a new study released by the Center for Chesapeake Communities and Pinchot Institute for Conservation shows how valuable D.C.’s urban forest really is.
    • Trees in the Washington, D.C. area remove more than 8.3 million pounds of nitrogen dioxide each year. More than 274,000 cars would need to be taken off the road each year to achieve the same amount of pollutant reduction.
    • Based on studies of the costs of pollution to society such as health care, the District’s tree cover saves nearly $51 million each year annually.
    • Trees in D.C.’s Rock Creek Park remove 63,500 pounds of ozone-forming pollutants each year, which has a value of $285,000 dollars.

    More articles in this issue:

    • Clues make winter tree identification possible
    • Trees continue to provide benefits through winter months
    • WINTERIZE YOUR TREES
    • Kids Corner - Edible Evergreen Tree Decorations

    I encourage you to signup for their newsletter, and take some time finding out what Casey Trees is all about!

    Wednesday, December 7, 2011

    Seeds Bombs: For or Against?

    packet As a garden blogger, there are a couple of topics I tend to shy away from because opinions on both sides of the topic are so strong. Cats, for instance. Many gardeners love cats in the garden. Others feel just as strongly against them. Same thing with deer.

    And a third topic, and one that has been getting a little bit of “news play” lately, is seed bombs and guerilla gardening. Normally, I would stay away from this controversial topic, too. Except for the fact that I think that seed bombs can be harmful to the environment.

    I wrote about guerrilla gardening back in February of 2011. I admit that part of my problem with both guerrilla gardening and seed bombs are the words, themselves. (Back in my hippy days, I used to get together with a group of people that discussed things like words that brought violent thoughts to mind, and those two words just do, to me.)

    Anyway, Frederick Maryland resident Brian Slagle has been in the newspaper and even on TV lately because of the seed bombs that he makes and sells online and at local stores. Apparently, they are a hot item for Christmas.

    I was ALMOST swayed to change my opinion about seed bombs when I was reading the article about him on CBS Baltimore.com. I read about how these bombs of wildflower seeds, thrown into vacant lots and bare land, can attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. ‘Ahhhh,’ I thought. ‘More hummingbirds and bees and butterflies!’

    But here is my concern with seed bombs. The whole point of seed bombs are to grow things on other people’s property. The online video on TBD.com even shows a picture of Slagle’s kids throwing the bombs onto a piece of property bearing a sign that says Private Property – No Dumping Allowed. WHAT IF THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THAT PROPERTY DON’T WANT THE PLANTS THERE AND USE CHEMICAL HERBICIDES TO KILL THEM? Even using a gas mower to mow the plants down puts pollutants into the air. And if the local government comes in to mow or clean up the property, who do you think pays for that?

    I do understand the principle behind taking over a vacant lot and planting vegetables or other plants, IF YOU TAKE responsibility for the care and maintenance of the plants. But seed bombs are something else all together.

    My suggestion for seed bombs is this: Plant native plants on your property to attract birds. They will eat the berries and seeds and create their own seed bombs when they poop them out across the city.

    And if you want to spread the joy and beauty of flowers, by giving seed bombs or other seed packets, encourage people to plant them in their own yard. If they want to know more about the joys or gardening for bees, butterflies or hummingbirds, I’ll be happy to tell them.

    Monday, December 5, 2011

    12 Days of Christmas for Eco-Friendly Gardeners

    greensanta

    Written by Betsy S. Franz

    On the first day of Christmas my garden gave to me
    An eco-friendly native tree (Native plants are often excellent choices for eco-friendly gardens, since they require less chemicals and less water to maintain)

    On the second day of Christmas my garden gave to me
    Two new loves – (when you look closely enough, every day in your eco-friendly garden will bring you something new and wonderful to love.)
    And an eco-friendly native tree.
    On the third day of Christmas my garden gave to me
    Three full bins - (kitchen scraps, leaves and garden discards keep my compost bins full)
    Two new loves
    And an eco-friendly native tree.

    On the fourth day of Christmas my garden gave to me
    Four hummingbirds – (planting the right plants and eliminating chemicals make hummingbirds regular visitors to my garden)
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree.
    On the fifth day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Five less wat-er-ings - (eco-friendly gardens conserve water with adequate mulch, drought tolerant plants, and rain barrels)
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree.

    On the sixth day of Christmas my garden gave to me
    Six trees a swaying - (Trees protect water quality, clean the air and provide wildlife habitat.)
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree
    On the seventh day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Seven barrels brimming - (rain barrels not only conserve water, but help keep harmful pollutants out of our waterways)
    Six trees a swaying
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree
    On the eighth day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Eight monarchs milking - (Okay. Monarch butterflies don’t really “milk” milkweed, but their tiny caterpillars need these native plants to grow into beautiful butterflies)
    Seven barrels brimming
    Six trees a swaying
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree
    On the ninth day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Nine ladies dancing - (Painted ladies are another beautiful butterfly that you can attract to your DC area garden by planting the right plants for them)
    Eight monarchs milking
    Seven barrels brimming
    Six trees a swaying
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree
    On the tenth day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Ten worms a creeping - (Worms help aerate the soil while producing valuable nutrients)
    Nine ladies dancing
    Eight monarchs milking
    Seven barrels brimming
    Six trees a swaying
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree
    On the eleventh day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Eleven pipes a piping - (we direct all excess rainwater, and overflow from our rain barrels, into the grass and other permeable surfaces)
    Ten worms a creeping
    Nine ladies dancing
    Eight monarchs milking
    Seven barrels brimming
    Six trees a swaying
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree
    On the twelfth day of Christmas my garden gave to me

    Twelve weeds succumbing - (chemical free weed control helps keep our weeds under control)
    Eleven pipes a piping
    Ten worms a creeping
    Nine ladies dancing
    Eight monarchs milking
    Seven barrels brimming
    Six trees a swaying
    Five less wat-er-ings
    Four hummingbirds
    Three full bins
    Two new loves and
    An eco-friendly native tree

    Friday, December 2, 2011

    Volunteers Needed – Common Good City Farm

    Common Good City Farm is seeking volunteers for its Green Tomorrows Program. The Green Tomorrows (GT) is a gardening and education program providing fresh food to low-income individuals or families in DC. If you are interested in helping low-income individuals in DC and improving our food system, this would be a great opportunity

    Common Good  needs people for the following committees
    -Outreach
    -Program development
    -CSA (Community supported Agriculture)

    Please email jeremiah@commongoodcityfarm.org

    Common good city farm's Mission is to grow food, educate, and help low-income DC community members meet their food needs. Our Vision is to serve as a replicable model of a community-based urban food system.

    Thursday, December 1, 2011

    Sustainable Landscaping Conference - Starts Tomorrow

    If you still haven't decided to attend the Sustainable Landscaping Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania starting tomorrow, here's another reason to make the trip. Thomas Rainer, DC area landscape architect, gardener and blogger, will be giving a talk entitled "Hot or Not: How Making Sustainable Landscapes Fashionable will Revolutionize the Movement." I'm a big fan of Rainer's blog, Grounded Design, and have mentioned it several times on this blog. Registration is still open for the 2011 Turning a New Leaf sustainable landscaping conference on Friday, December 2 in Lancaster, PA. This conference is organized by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council and offers a great educational program with · Four tracks: Every Design Counts, Every Drop Counts, Every Plant Counts and Every Message Counts · An EcoMarketplace, featuring local organizations and green businesses · A networking reception Lancaster is also a wonderful destination for an early December weekend away! Registration is $119 and includes all sessions, snacks, lunch and entrance to EcoMarketplace and networking reception. For more information or to register, visit www.chesapeakelandscape.org/2011leaf.htm.

    Website by Water Words That Work LLC