Sustainable Suburbs: Living in Concert with Nature

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

  ~Native American Proverb

What a powerful statement! Sustainability is by no means a new topic. It has been a buzzword in the political and social realms since the 1970’s. Looking at our economic standards and priorities today, how far have we really come? Climate change is happening and leaving its mark all around the globe. I can remember the eerie feeling last winter when my hometown in southeast Michigan received practically no snow for the entire season.  Many students were relieved by this phenomenon! No dangerous driving conditions, no layer upon layer of sweaters and heavy winter coats, or depressing gray days to keep us indoors. Sounds pretty great, right?

Native Garden at the University of Toledo

The truth is that our environment- especially in Southeast Ohio- depends on those cold winter months. Beneficial prairie wildflower seeds need a certain amount of consecutively cold days in order to germinate in the spring. The key to a beautiful spring is a successful winter.

Not everyone has a direct voice in what goes on in the global- or even national- economy, but that doesn't mean we cannot make a difference. The starting point is right outside your window! Local communities can be very powerful players in evolving the nation’s understanding and importance of sustainability.

Evaluate your outdoor space:

Do you have a large and luxurious lawn? Think about all the synthetic chemicals in the fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides- you do this to protect your lawn- but you really just endanger your family, your pets, your neighbors, nearby waterways and beneficial wildlife.

It is time for the American culture to reevaluate their love affair with these green deserts. Every year we throw needless amounts of money, labor and time into protecting these barren patches of green. Your lawn has great potential to be a metropolis of plant and animal biodiversity!

   Tiger-Swallowtail Caterpillar 

Using native plants in your landscaping will attract pollinators! Birds, bees and bats will help your garden flourish. Pesticides are not species specific. This means that they will attack whatever creature they come in contact with: butterflies, skippers, grasshoppers, ladybugs, katydids, caterpillars, ants, spiders, praying mantises- the list goes on!

Unwanted pests serve, more often than not, as food to birds, bats and other predatory insects. If you create a space for them to thrive, they will act as protectors of your vegetable garden in return. Let nature work for you- don’t try to control it. A garden is a very powerful tool that we often take for granted. 

Praying Mantis trying to hitch a ride!

Compost! Composting can be a great way to reduce food waste, enrich your garden without artificial or synthetic chemicals, and get the community involved. Composting can be done through community efforts- get together with your neighbors and share all the benefits. Those who garden can use the final product while others can reduce the food waste in their homes. This will help build an overall sense of community and pride while contributing to the annual harvest of local foods. Initiatives such as this can lead to community recycling and community gardens.

Growing some of your own vegetables, maintaining a native garden and reducing your chemical impact on the planet are all noble, courageous and somewhat laborious tasks, but individual efforts may not be enough. Make it your personal goal to tell at least five people about sustainability each year and what steps we can all take towards a sustainable future. Ask them to do the same. And remember, the best way to lead is by example!

All photographs were taken by Markie Miller