Residents of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District in Minnesota are being offered green to go green. The district is currently offering homeowners a significant incentive to implement eco-friendly landscaping techniques. Those who install rain gardens that allow rain water to soak into the ground, install a green roof or plant native plants along shorelines to restore stream banks could be reimbursed as much as $3,000.

The program started after watershed officials in the area were trying to assess the best way to meet clean water goals and decided that people could make a difference by making changes in their yards or bigger developments. The question is would they? Apparently by offering up some sort of financial gain they just might. Eligible individuals could qualify for as much as $3,000, with businesses and governments having the potential to earn back $25,000.

Now there's an idea! In an ideal world, would we all do this kind of landscaping because it's good for the earth? Of course. However the reality is that sometimes people need a little push to get the momentum for positive change going and waving some money (or the potential for money) in their faces is a pretty effective way of doing that.

» Star Tribune

One of the benefits of using native plants in your garden is that they can provide a natural habitat for local wildlife. While it's doubtful that you want wild rabbits uprooting your vegetable garden, smaller less intrusive wildlife such as birds, butterflies and frogs still need homes and your backyard may be the idea place for them. Don't assume that any old backyard can be a safe haven for small creatures; careful planning and design are necessary if your yard is to contain the necessary resources to create a home for them. Giving wildlife a place to call home doesn't just benefit them, it can do a world of good for your garden as well.

You can spend less time mowing, weeding, pruning, trimming, applying pesticides, herbicides and watering. Instead of mowing your yard, if you plan the layout of your yard in advance with native plants that give shade to your house, it will cut down on the area of mowing that needs to be done and save on the power bill. These plants can also be chosen to attract birds or butterflies, and the amount of area in grass that is reduced is also the same amount of area reduced for necessary herbicides and pesticides.  

Some tips for turning your humble little garden into your own miniature animal kingdom include:

- Add a birdbath, bird feeder, squirrel feeder or frog house to your yard. However, be sure to keep these clean because if fungi and bacteria grow in them, they can actually make the animals sick or even kill them. Use nine parts of water to one part of vinegar every few days.

- Bird feeders and birdbaths require strategic location. It doesn't take much for a bird to feel threatened, so try to keep these close to vegetation that can act as a retreat for the bird.

- For something a little more unique, add a bat house to your yard. Bats eat insects and when they're feeding, they can consume as many as 600 mosquitoes in one hour. That means 600 less mosquitoes to hang around and bite you as you enjoy a backyard barbecue. Not to mention, come Halloween, forget those paper bat decorations for windows because you could have your own (real!) small bat army.

- Do some research to find out what kind of creatures native plants might attract. For example, certain butterfly species are attracted to specific native plants, so if you're particular about exactly which species you want to see, catering to them will probably improve your chances.

Most importantly, have fun with this project! Get your kids involved and find out which creatures they'd like to see in the yard (you can draw the line if they really, really want to see bears in the garden) and take time to educate them about caring for wildlife.

» The Walton Sun

Yesterday John Sibley advised gardeners to consider choosing some native plants when deciding what to grow. For those residing in Canada, that task is made easier by the Evergreen.ca website. The site is a great resource for starting a native plant garden, offering some general steps to follow as you decide exactly how you want your garden to look.

The most beneficial component of the site will undoubtedly be the tips for choosing plant species and the Native Plant Database, which allows users to perform a guided search by province of native plants to the area, or else an advanced search where you can enter more specific information about the type of plants you are seeking. Users can also view species at risk if they want to take action and incorporate some plants that are facing a rocky (no pun intended) future. The site also includes a glossary of terms to help you understand some of the more common local gardening terminology.

There is also extensive information regarding school and community projects if you're so inspired after planting your own native garden that you decide to share the love beyond your home. Hit the jump to learn more about this great resource.

» Evergreen.ca

Last year it was reported by the Apiary Inspectors of America that the dying bee population is still in trouble. This problem isn't just occurring in the U.S.; a couple of weeks ago British beekeepers lobbied Parliament for more research funding to try to get to the bottom of the potential crisis which will inevitably occur if ithe effects of ssues such as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) are not reversed.

In the meantime people are starting to ask if there's any way they can help increase the bee population, and as it turns out, we may not be completely helpless when it comes to the plight of the bees. Here's how:

Take a leaf out of Pooh's book and eat more honey. And, says the British Beekeepers Association, support other bee-related products, be they face creams or ice-creams, so long as they are produced in the UK. Creating a healthy market makes beekeeping more attractive and financially rewarding; therefore, more people are likely to take it up, increasing bee numbers. So stock up on beeswax lip balm from the Cotswolds-based skincare company Apples & Pears (£9.25, http://www.apples-and-pears.com/ ) and honey marmalade from Brynderi Honey Farm in Wales (£3.80; http://www.brynderihoney/ farm.com ).

Sadly, this approach isn't guaranteed to save our bees.

Only time will tell whether our enthusiasm for honeycomb and beeswax furniture polish will match the dual destruction caused by disease and invasive species.

Last year the Bumblebee Conservation Trust encouraged us to make our gardens wildlife-friendly with the help of green methods (http://www.greengardener.co.uk/ ) and by growing old-fashioned wild flowers, such as lavender, geranium, honeysuckle and foxgloves.

If you want to be fully committed, what about a beekeeping summer course and then taking on a hive yourself (http://www.bee-craft.com/ )?

Obviously these suggestions are aimed at residents of the UK, but the principles apply to all of us. Source out local honey sold by beekeepers in your area. It's almost time for farmer's market season and fresh produce isn't the only thing you can find there. Many honey producers sell their products at the local markets and once you make contact with them, you can usually purchase honey year-round, even once the market has closed for the winter.

Check out products by Burt's Bees, available in most major retailers across North America and also sold online (click here if you want to visit the Canadian Burt's Bees site).

And of course, no matter where you are from, you can always take up beekeeping as the article suggests. The summer is the perfect time to take up a new hobby that will get you off the couch and outdoors, and in a case like this, make a positive contribution to a widespread problem.

» Times Online

If you're still debating the type of plants to add to your garden this year, one expert is offering his two cents: don't stray too far from home. As in, buy plants that are local to the environment you live in. They're chances of survival increase if they are native to the area, plus they're better for the environment.

John Sibley, who owns the All Native Garden Center in Florida, says that native plants require less chemical intervention.

"They don't require a lot of maintenance, and no chemicals, they're healthier especially for people who have pets and children."

"It's estimated that about 60% of the chemicals found in our drinking water, the source is from urban landscape, over use...abuse of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides."

That's not the only reason to consider native plants, according to Sibley. They are also more likely to survive hurricanes and drought, and provide natural habitat for wildlife.

Next time you head to your local garden center or nursery, be sure to ask the professionals there for recommendations of plants that are native to your area and be sure to include some of those this year.

» WINK News

If you're giving your green thumb a workout this summer make sure you do so with minimal impact on the earth. After all, you don't want to negate the positive benefits benefits of gardening by committing the common mistakes made by many, from the newbies to the gurus. You may already know better, but just in case, quickly review the 10 commandments of eco-conscious gardening.

Thou shalt conserve water: the gardener needs to plan ahead, conserve as much water as possible and deploy it thoughtfully. Use water butts to collect run-off rainwater throughout the year and recycle household “grey” water from baths, and so on, ideally using biodegradable detergents and soap.

Wherever you live, watering generously only when absolutely necessary is far better than little and often, as it encourages deep rooting rather than shallow surface roots, enabling plants to search more effectively for water in dry weather. Whether dealing with containers or plants in the ground, water only in the evening or early morning to minimise evaporation, and direct the water at the soil rather than the leaves.

Thou shalt put the right plant in the right place: this might seem obvious, but in the past we have been able to push the boundaries, coaxing thirsty plants to grow in thin soil with liberal watering. If you choose your plants carefully, once they are established, it should be possible to achieve a non-irrigation policy in most gardens. Juvenile plants will need to be watered while they settle in, but once they reach maturity, it may be best to accept that what doesn’t survive without extra help is unsuitable anyway.

Thou shalt not use peat: peat bogs are an essential part of the ecosystem and once they have been harvested, they are gone for ever.There are now so many excellent alternatives to peat that it has become impossible to justify its use in domestic gardens. Sometimes, however, garden centres make buying peat-free composts more difficult than it needs to be. Lobby your local retailers. Tell them you want to be offered the widest selection of quality peat-free products. If we vote with our wallets, they will soon get the message.

Thou shalt recycle garden waste: composting is the key to successful garden management. There’s nothing more satisfying than producing sweet-smelling crumbly home-made compost simply by chucking a lot of unwanted vegetation on to the heap. Once you start turning kitchen waste, grass cuttings, annual weeds and ripped-up newspaper into black gold, fallen leaves into flaky leaf-mould and shredded sticks and prunings into valuable mulch, you’ll never burn or chuck out garden rubbish again.

Thou shalt reuse non-biodegradable products: we all have teetering towers of plastic pots in the shed. Before you throw anything out, ask yourself: is there still life in it? Many plastic containers can be reused, although a thorough clean is a good idea to prevent disease

Thou shalt minimise the use of chemicals: this can be almost taken as read nowadays, although there is a notable exception. When I studied practical horticulture, I was taught that, even if you intended to garden organically in the long term, it was justifiable to zap a badly neglected, weed-infested plot with glyphosate at the outset and thereafter keep on top of things with a regime of vigilant prevention rather than cure. Unless you are prepared to wait months for pernicious perennial weeds to give up the ghost beneath thick sheets of black polythene or old carpet, this is still the most practical approach, though purists may disagree.

Thou shalt leave a messy bit: a pile of logs, long grass and fallen leaves are an ideal habitat for beneficial wildlife, providing somewhere to shelter, hibernate and reproduce. Encourage hedgehogs, ladybirds and beetles into your garden, and you will have an army of aphid, slug and snail-eaters permanently on call — far better than reaching for the bug gun.

Thou shalt use hard landscaping with sensitivity: it is worth questioning where materials such as stone, timber and gravel have been sourced and looking at their impact on the environment — concrete is particularly ecologically unsound. Before buying new materials, consider whether you could use something reclaimed or recycled.

Thou shalt use lighting responsibly: light pollution is irritating for neighbours, confuses birds and is a waste of electricity. Solar-powered versions are worth investigating, and there are plenty of candle-holders, oil-burners and torches on the market that will create more sparkle and atmosphere than any amount of electricity.

Thou shalt teach thy children where food comes from: children love to grow things. It is fun getting mucky, and if they can eat the fruits of their labours, so much the better. If we are really going to change habits in the future, we have to tempt our kids away from their computers and televisions and inspire in them a genuine love of nature and respect for their planet.

» Times Online

The remnants of your garden from last year may be looking a little rough these days if you haven't already started preparing for this year's planting attempt. Have it looking fresh in no time with this guide to annually updating your garden whether you're growing flowers, vegetables or vines. There were no chemicals contained in any of the fertilizers used by the creator of this tutorial, so you'll be able to keep your garden natural and organic with these tips.

Intro: How to Update Your Garden Annually for Flowers, Veggies, or Vines

Welcome,
In this Instructable I will show you what I did to update the soil, plants, and watering system. I hope that this Instructable will inspire you to create and or update your own garden. You can update your garden annually for planting Flowers, Veggies, Vines, or what ever you would like to plant there. You will also find a few ideas of how to stay GREEN in your garden. I did not use any chemical fertilizers in this garden, it is all natural.

Step 1: Tools and Supplies

Tools
Shovel
Knife (used to cut tubing)
Diagonal Cutters (used to cut tubing)
Gloves

Supplies
The amount of each will depend on your garden size and number of plants.
1/4 inch irrigation line
1/4 T-section adapters
1/4 inch adjustable drip valves
3 Cubic Ft of Nature's Way 3 Cu. Ft. Composted Mulch (not fertilizer)

Your choice of plants, flowers, vines (etc.) to plant.

Follow the jump for the remaining steps to preparing your garden for the new growing season!

» Instructables

If you're looking for a good weekend project to keep you busy this weekend, how about building your own raised planter bed? The advantage of a planter bed is that it will conserve water because it requires less than a traditional garden and you can include a greater variety of plants. Then there's the fact that not everyone has the ideal setting or soil conditions for a regular garden, making this a great alternative.

Watch the video tutorial below to see just how to go about the project and put those soon-to-be-green thumbs (and the rest of your hands) to work!

How To Build A Raised Planter Bed

» Video Jug

The news about the global food supply may not be great lately, but there isn't any reason to panic just yet. Instead, be pro-active and try growing your own vegetable garden this summer. It's not too late yet to start planting, but you'll want to get started as soon as possible.

Easier said than done? Watch the Introduction to Vegetable Gardens video below for an overview and then hit the jump to read some tips and advice to help you get started!

» Video Jug

If you're just starting to plant your garden because the final frost is imminent (goodbye until November!), you'll probably need some soil at some point. But just how much are you willing to pay, and more importantly, how much is it actually worth?

The writer for Sustainable Scoop recently started to grow a garden and is living proof that is pays - quite literally - to shop around if your buying soil. After all, it's dirt we're talking about here, not water from the Fountain of Youth.

As I mentioned earlier, we’ve started our own little garden in our backyard. We live in wine country, so it was relatively easy to find some once-used wine barrels that are discarded by wineries every year. These wine barrels, cut in half and filled with plants of all kinds, are a common sight in our neighborhood. We decided to use these containers for our backyard garden.

Of course, opting to use containers for a garden meant finding good soil to fill them with. After calling several nurseries and landscaping supply yards, we realized that soil isn’t cheap. Not even close. One nursery was selling its standard-sized bags of potting soil for twelve dollars. Really, guys? Twelve bucks for a bag of dirt? That soil had better grow chocolate and rainbows if I’m going to drop that kind of dough.

So we headed over to Whole Foods, where, thankfully, they had bags of potting soil and compost stacked high on the sidewalk outside the store. These bags were the exact same size as the twelve dollar bags of soil, and guess what they cost? $1.99. Two bucks. Plus, the compost they sell is made from food scraps that are gathered from their stores, taken to a composting facility, and then turned into nitrogen-rich compost. Besides being a brilliant way to put some of their waste to good use, Whole Foods’ compost is of good quality. The bags are warm, a sign of the bacterial activity inside, which is what you want in compost. The company’s soil is also nice, it smells woodsy and slightly sweet. And for two dollars each, these bags of soil and compost are a great buy.

So there you have it, a good reason you should do some cost comparison before buying. If the price of an item seems somewhat exorbitant, call around to make sure that's average. Your wallet will thank you.

Visit The Sustainable Sccop for more tips and ideas, and even some recipes!

» The Sustainable Scoop