Most of us aim to do right by the earth. We try not to litter, we turn the water off while brushing our teeth, or we pick up trash when we see it on the way into a store.
Our gardens are the best place to make our pledge to be the earth’s stewards. We can control the chemicals that go into the earth, the structures and their ability to decompose in a beneficial way, and how to best support the animals and organisms that also call this patch of earth home.
Mindful gardening is all about being aware of all that goes into the process that make up your garden.
Here are a few things I do to keep my slice of heaven more alive.
1.) I dont spray my lawn with any fertilizers with weed killer added in. I am the only house on my street that has skunks and possums digging up her yard. I love it! It’s a great sign that my soil is thriving. The nightly visitors don’t bother us during the day and even show me where I might have to check for squash vine bores.
2.) I stain my cedar garden beds with TUNG oil. This oil is safe for microorganisms and growing food. No worries of toxic chemicals leaching into my food or the environment. It needs to be reapplied once a year, but it’s easy to slop on.
3.)I use lots of compost in my garden. This feeds plants as well as microbes. The cons are that the soil level drops over time, but by the the time that happens, Im already ready to put something new in that spot anyways. I love to plant my annual vegetables in it as well as top dress all my garden beds every year.
4.) I plant the NATIVE cultivars of plants when I can. This helps native bees, butterflies, moths, and wasp. I make sure to put these all over my garden so they can have plenty of food. I also make sure to stagger the plants by bloom time so there is always something for them to eat until they go into hibernation.
5.) I don’t kill spiders. I leave these hard working mamas and papas to protect my garden from the insects that would eat my plants down to nubs. Jumping spiders are my favorite followed by the orb weavers.
Do you have anything you do that brings about more health to your yard that you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments.
SUNYATA YOGA 