Besides flowers and other plants, you could try growing your favourite vegetables and herbs, which would be environmentally friendly and save you money at the same time.
Here are some other suggestions as to how you can easily increase the greenness of your green thumb:
- Buy plants that are drought-tolerant so that you can cut back on water.
- Don’t use pesticides or herbicides on your lawn because, along with the runoff from nitrogen fertilizer, they pollute the water. Instead, leave grass clippings on your lawn, as they act as a natural fertilizer.
- Create a composting pile with all the refuse from around the yard, as well as scraps of food.
- Plant a tree in your backyard, not just flowers.
- Don’t use fresh water for your plants. Instead, wash your dishes in a basin and then use the dish water for your garden.
- Water your garden at night so that there’s not as much evaporation. Mulching your garden will also help with this, as well as create healthier soil and reduce the amount of weeds.
- Buy a squeeze nozzle for your hoses and use a watering can if you’re just watering plants.
In order to help you start this process of becoming more eco-friendly, Shop At Sullivan is offering a new Spring salad product that provides you with the seeds to grow salad ingredients in just 3 to 6 days. They are certified organic seeds and GMO free as well. And you can also try growing your own green tea, a crunchy bean mix or herbs from Tuscany for your sandwiches, which are all provided by the boutique.
If you’re not sure what recipes to use once you’ve successfully grown your own salad ingredients and herbs, take a look at the recipe below from the “Cooking with Anne of Green Gables Cookbook”, which calls directly for dried marjoram – one of the Tuscan herbs in Shop At Sullivan's kit!
Zucchini Quiche
3 cups thinly sliced zucchini
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup biscuit mix
4 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup grated Gruyere cheese
½ teaspoon dried marjoram
2 sprigs chopped parsley
¼ teaspoon salt
a pinch of pepper
Preheat the oven to 350F. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Place in a greased 3 litre casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden. Serves 8.
Check out our Road to Avonlea lifestyle blog for tips on how to be eco-friendly in the home!
Source: Global Stewards, Worldwatch Institute
