Lots of people lately are interested in using our resources wisely. I love the t-shirts that workers at Goodwill Industries wear, "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE." It's been the mantra of the tree-huggers since I was a kid. Confession: I'm a tree-hugger! Here's what the EPA says:
- Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you throw away and reuse containers and products.
- Recycle as much as possible and buy products with recycled content.
- Practice composting by using microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) to decompose organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings.
This list, you may not realize, is in a hierarchical order with REDUCE being the most beneficial. Do you really need more clothing, shoes, household goods? Think twice before accumulating more just as entertainment. Use the library, the resale shop, learn to appreciate what you have. So many people in the world truly have very little. Can't we just learn to be satisfied with the amazing abundance we already enjoy?
REUSE is next best. Here are some fun new things I've been doing in the garden this summer: Rain barrels and deer repellant. We installed 2 rain barrels (with 2 more coming) to collect rain water runoff from the roof. I can't rave enough about how great it is to have 110 gallons of fresh rain water at my disposal almost all the time. In case you didn't know, there is no replacing rainwater for plants. They thrive on it! And this is free and saves me money when you consider that my well pump has to run to bring water to the garden otherwise. We replaced the well pump a few years ago and the price was a real shock. So now any saving of wear on the pump is a plus. Also, the water would have just run down my driveway into the culvert next to the road. I love to capture it!
The next picture shows you my new deer repellant. I came across the free plastic strapping used to bind boxes for shipping. Ever get some of this stuff? Normally toss it, right? Well, I found so far it has saved my tiger lilly which gets eaten every year, usually the day before it blooms! It's not open yet, but so far so good! I was surprised at how I could cut this strapping and push it into the ground really easily to create these guardians.
RECYCLE is also good, but the least of the three. It takes energy to melt things down and reform them. It's also often difficult to find uses for the recycled raw materials which is why it is helpful if we buy things that use recycled content.
If you haven't thought much about this jump in! Keep an eye on the things you are discarding. Is there a way to use them for something else? Go to the website above and check out how to get yourself some rain barrels for your garden. Visit the library; it's cool in there! And enjoy this sumptuous time of year.
Menomonee Falls and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
both sell rainbarrels all rigged up and ready to go for $45. Check out:
http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.aspx?NID=534
for more information.
It's a great hosta year!