by Jennifer Lefebvre

Did you know that even your garden could benefit from being “green”?  One of the most sustainable ways to green your landscaping is to use native plants.  Native plants are species that have naturally grown and survived in a particular environment.  These plants have evolved and adapted over many years and have shown to be resilient and vigorous.  They enjoy the soil in which they grow and have survived on the water supply they naturally receive.  They’ve survived diseases and pests that have come and gone which may have afflicted other species of plants.  In essence, they are low maintenance and thrive with the least amount of care.

A benefit of using native plants in your landscaping is that it fosters the existence of a natural ecosystem.  When native plants are healthy, the animals and insects that survive on them are also healthy.  Native plants offer a recognizable and diverse habitat for local wildlife.  This creates a balance in the environment.  Since native species have been able to survive on the water they receive from natural sources, it is not typically necessary to water them by hand.  In addition, they use water more efficiently because they have learned to; their root systems have adapted to their environment.  Not needing regular watering can save over 50 percent of landscape water usage.  Because of their root systems, they also help to control soil erosion.  In addition these types of plants do not require fertilizer or chemical pesticides.  Soil erosion and pesticides used on other types of plants can cause run-off that threatens our streams, rivers, and estuaries.

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by Jennifer Lefebvre

New Year’s Resolutions are typically made with the best of intentions but sometimes fall by the wayside as the year progresses.  If one of your resolutions for 2010 is to live a greener lifestyle, there are several ways you can do so without revamping your entire life.  Maybe you aren’t planning to make huge changes in your life, but want to want to make some sort of effort to be friendlier to the environment.  It doesn’t take much and those small changes can make a big difference.  Our daily activities have an impact on the planet, whether they are good or bad.  Going green is not only about how to save the planet, but also about living in a healthy environment and nurturing a healthy environment for others.

With just a few small changes, you can make a big difference.  Below are just a few simple ideas that you can use to help make that change:

1. Save water.  Instead of leaving the water running while you brush your teeth or wash dishes, turn it off and then back on when you actually need to use it.  Do you really need to take a 20 minute shower?  Sure, it’s nice and warm in there, but even shaving just 5 minutes off your shower will make a huge difference in your water usage – and save you money!  Use a kitchen timer to keep track of your time in the shower to make you more conscious of how much time you’re spending and water you’re using while you get clean. 

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