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 

Ecohouse Events

I'm happy to announce some upcoming events that will present OU students with an opportunity to get involved with the Office of Sustainability! 

Service Learning Events:

Tuesday September 25, 2012 (3:00-5:00pm); Wednesday September 26, 2012 (2:30-5:30pm)

 

*Canning/Preserving Food: staff will be present to demonstrate how to harvest, prepare and preserve food! The food preserved will be used for a community meal on November 16 of this year! 

*Location: Ecohouse Community Garden (behind the ridges on Dairy Lane)

Ecohouse Garden Work Day:

Wednesday October 3, 2012 (12:00-3:00)

 This is the area that needs our attention!

*Landscape Work Day: This will be the first garden work day of the semester! Our goal is to clear out all the weeds and grasses that have been left to grow freely- some may be native, but we would like to renovate the area and create a seating area for students to enjoy, as well as add native flora that will attract pollinators! Come ready to work! E-mail Markie with questions about this event: mm633111@ohio.edu

*Please dress appropriately for this event: for your safety no open toes or exposed feet please! Wear work clothes, but avoid inappropriate language or images- thank you!

Pumpkin Canning:

October 25, 2012 (Noon-5:00pm)

Location: Ecohouse

*Pumpkin Canning: Get into the Halloween and harvest spirit with the Office of Sustainability! Staff will be present to demonstrate how to harvest, prepare and  preserve food! The food preserved will be used for a community meal on November 16 of this year!

Let us know if you have any questions about these events or other issues!

Check us out on Facebook

  Office of Sustainability

Ecohouse Garden Contact

Markie Miller

mm633111@ohio.edu

Winterize Your Garden

Autumn is just around the corner, but the garden work doesn’t end yet! It is very important (and beneficial) to take time to winterize your garden beds after a long growing season. Plants take up nutrients from the soil- leaving it depleted and infertile. Some plants put nutrients back into the soil, but winterizing your garden is a simple and effective way of replenishing your soil.

There are many benefits to winterization: less weeds in the spring, retains moisture in the soil, uses up the resources already on your lawn (i.e. dead leaves), less preparation of the soil required in the spring.

I would like to take the time to note that I have editied this blog post after a conversation I had with someone more knolwedgable than me. His advice was greatly appreciated- It is wonderful to know that I have so many resources and avenues for information around me!

Before you begin to cover your beds you have to remove any leftover debris from the previous growing season. Most people choose to chop up the old leaves and stalks from their vegetable garden and compost the plant remains.

First, assess the plants. Does it show signs of disease that may be harmful? If something looks questionable and you’re unsure, it is probably best to just throw out the plant in a securely tied bag. Precautions like these may seem extreme, but are very important in order to prevent the disease from being passed on within your garden or elsewhere.

You will want to remove any seed heads/pods before you compost/mulch the leftovers. If you are not careful you might provide the perfect habitat for unwanted or unexpected plants in your garden or compost pile. This probably will not harm your garden beds directly, but it may cause more work for you in the spring as well as draw from the nutrients in your compost pile. Save yourself the hassle, dispose of the seeds properly (in securely tied garbage bag).

Did you grow any nightshade plants? These include (but are not limited to): tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers (all kinds). Although I found various opinions online, some people prefer to not compost the leaves, stems and roots of these plants. Nightshade crops have edible fruits (tomatoes, eggplants...), however many consider the foliage to be toxic. Most gardeners stay on the safe side and do not include such plants in their compost and winterization ritual; however, the uneaten fruit can of course be composted.

Now the bed is clear of vegetation. The next step comes with a choice: turning the soil. Many choose not to disturb the soil for the fear of stirring up dormant weeds. The weeds will probably not turn up until next spring, but it’s the gardeners choice. If you do decide to turn the soil, use a rototiller, shovel, rake (maybe even your hands)- whatever you fancy- and turn about 6 inches into the soil.

Leave the soil as is and add anywhere from 2-4 inches of organic compost and mulch- this can be dead leaves, old plant remnants and homemade compost (food waste), straw or tree bark. Cover the bed completely. Add some water. Autumn rains will help flush nutrients deeper into the soil and these organic materials will continue to break down over the winter. Moisture will be locked in during cold, so there is no need to water the area regularly.

That’s it! The task of winterization may appear daunting at first, but it will benefit you and your garden in the long run. Sustaining this valuable plot of land ensures you a healthy environment  to harvest vegetables next spring/summer.

Good luck!

The Ecohouse at OU will be winterizing it's community garden soon! If you would like to be involved on this project then please don't hesitate to contact me! mm633111@ohio.edu

Welcome!

Hello Athens!

Let me start by telling you a little bit about me: I'm a first year graduate student studying Environmental Studies at Ohio University. I did my undergraduate work in Anthropology and I have a profound respect for native prairie plants. I'm new to the Athens area and hope to become better acquainted with the community and the natural plant life through this e-environment.

In this blog I will be highlighting various garden ideas/topics, what is happening at the Ecohouse, and discussing issues of sustainability. If you have any questions, feel free to use this blog as a forum for discussion.

My objectives with this blog are:

-To provide students, instructors, and community members at Ohio University and in Athens, Ohio with an array of information on natural and sustainable gardening, area events, and newsworthy current events surrounding sustainability;

-To provide an online meeting place for individuals interested in Athens horticulture and sustainability. This blog will create a friendly and open environment for discussion where individuals can engage in garden-related issues as well as topics of environmental viability;

-To create a sense of place and sense of pride for the community members through gardening;

-To promote sustainability in all forms: personal well-being, environmental integrity and community.

I've used the term 'sustainability' quite a few times already. Society has struggled not only to implement sustainability, but also to define it. The Office of Sustainability at OU uses this definition:

The ability to meet the needs of today's society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We must appropriately utilize resources and advance our own knowledge in all disciplines in order to contribute to the success of future generations.

The Office of Sustainability is here to help you make proactive sustainable choices in your life. We view sustainability on three levels: People, Planet and Prosperity.What does this mean?

We need to take action towards protecting our planet and its resources, but we have to consider our our personal needs in terms of health and well-being. It's important to start at the community level. As the well-known saying goes, "think globally, act locally." Our economy plays a crucial role in how we value our resource consumption and management. This holistic approach to sustainability allows us to look beyond environmental conservation and get people thinking about how they can move toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

I hope I've intrigued your interest in sustainability! For more information on Sustainability at Ohio University, please visit the Office of Sustainability website: OU Office of Sustainability

For more information on the Ecohouse, please visit OU Ecohouse

Good luck students! Remember to keep sustainability in mind as you prepare yourselves mind, body and soul for whatever path you take after college.

I look forward to getting to know the community better and learning together how we can make change happen!

Markie Miller
mm633111@ohio.edu