Reclaimed Wood: What It Is and Where It Comes From

pile of reclaimed wood Reclaimed Wood: What It Is and Where It Comes From
When people need wood, one of the first places they go is the neighborhood lumberyard or home improvement store. A more sustainable alternative, however, is to use reclaimed wood. Reclaimed, or salvaged, wood is catching on as consumers increasingly look for ways to repurpose materials and minimize waste. When you’re seeking products that reflect your environmental values, reclaimed wood can help support your efforts.

 The Reclaiming Process

Remember the saying, “Reduce, reuse, recycle”? Reclaimed wood falls under the “reuse” category. This type of lumber comes from buildings or products that have outlived their usefulness. Rather than send the wood to a landfill, someone salvages and prepares it for use as a new product – like reclaimed wood flooring and paneling. Here’s how the reclaiming process works:

 Salvaging. Potential sources of reclaimed wood are everywhere, often hidden in plain sight. Often, salvaging is simply a matter of someone recognizing the value of the wood and taking the initiative to acquire it. Common sources include:

  •  Ships
  • Wood pallets from shipyards
  • Crating and shipping materials
  • Old barns
  • Abandoned factories and warehouses
  • Decommissioned school gymnasiums
  • Used wine casks
  • Water tanks

 Sorting. Eco-friendly salvaging experts must sort through the refuse that comes with the lumber to separate the recyclable materials from the true waste. Then the wood gets sorted into separate piles and banded together. The lowest-grade wood becomes firewood or bio-fuel. The mid-grade wood gets turned into “utility-grade” lumber for building build shipping pallets and the like. The best lumber gets prepared so it can be made into useful products such as tables or reclaimed wood flooring.

 Preparation. To eliminate the risk of termites and other insects – especially if the history of the material is unknown – most reclaimed lumber gets dried in a kiln before it goes to market. At the very least, experts recommend that you seek reclaimed lumber that has been heated to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, this temperature kills any pests or eggs present. It’s also wise to source your reclaimed lumber from suppliers who do not accept wood that has ever been treated with chemicals and who work closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to keep invasive pests out of the country.

 Sustainability of Reclaimed Wood

 Reclaimed wood is good for more than just making tables, decks, countertops and flooring; you can use it to build an entire house. When you opt for recycled lumber instead of virgin wood, you help reduce deforestation. A single wood-reclaiming operation alone can help save 9,500 40-foot Doulas fir trees in a single year.

Even though wood is a renewable resource, it’s not always harvested using sustainable practices. Forests get cut down more quickly than they can grow. By working with a company that sells reclaimed lumber products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Rainforest Alliance, you ensure that your purchase will support sustainable harvesting practices and protect communities affected by deforestation.

Reclaimed wood products can also help save energy. For example, it takes 13 times more energy to create a wood floor from virgin lumber than it does to make reclaimed wood flooring. Because reclaimed lumber doesn’t have to travel as far to get salvaged, processed and milled, less fossil fuel gets consumed.

 Why Reclaimed Wood is Better than Virgin Wood

 Character and history. Reclaimed lumber has a story to tell about its past life. Perhaps it braved stormy seas as a crate. Reclaimed wood features oxide stains, charming flaws and a lack of uniformity, all of which add appeal and create a truly unique look.

 No eco-guilt. Reclaimed wood makes it simpler than ever to purchase products made from beautiful exotic lumber. Because the material comes into the country as discarded packing materials, you’re actually doing the earth a favor by acquiring reclaimed products made from exotic lumber.

 Strength and durability. Many reclaimed lumber products come from old-growth timber, which is stronger than the virgin trees that come from first-generation forests. Reclaimed wood, in fact, is up to 40 points harder on the Janka scale of hardness than virgin wood. For this reason, reclaimed lumber is more durable and resists wear better.

Reclaimed lumber is a win-win for you and the earth, and its possibilities are endless. If you can dream it, you can build it with reclaimed wood.

Author Bio: This post was contributed by Viridian Reclaimed Wood, a company that provides eco-friendly, unique and affordable reclaimed wood flooring, veneer, paneling, tables & counters.

 

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What are Green Jobs?

images What are Green Jobs?As of 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their definition of green jobs, stating, “Green jobs are either:  jobs in businesses that produce goods or services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or jobs in which worker’s duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources” (http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/state/topics/workforce.html).

Defining a green job also requires defining sustainability. According to Ned Tillman, President of Sustainable Growth, a business definition for sustainability is “A systematic process for balancing economic, environmental, and social issues in every decision made.”

 The green movement affects every facet of our lives from clean water to energy efficient vehicles to recycling or the use of eco-friendly products. Here are three categories in the workforce that will help further define, “what is a green job?”

Green Companies – are a company, business, or organization that is environmentally conscientious. There is a solid recycling program in place, the light bulbs are energy efficient, and plastics and Styrofoam products are no longer used. For further information on going green, read:

http://greenbusinessmatters.com/2012/02/07/is-there-a-priority-order-for-sustainability-actions/

Green Manufacturing – can be defined in two ways: the manufacturing of “green” products, particularly those used in renewable energy systems and clean technology equipment of all kinds. Then there is the “greening” of manufacturing — reducing pollution and waste by minimizing natural resource use, recycling and reusing what was considered waste, and reducing emissions http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/15/green-manufacturing/#fmmtI2s0zgTTUpxm.99. Green products include household cleaners, products packaged in recyclable containers, eco-friendly material for clothing and local produce, to name a few.

Green Jobs – are jobs mostly in the non-profit or government that work for an environmental cause.  Locally these would be such organizations as Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Environmental Services, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources. These businesses are dedicated to preserving our natural resources, provide operational and technical services to protect and enhance the environment, and make the state greener, healthier, and more sustainable, respectively http://livegreenhoward.com/live-green-howard-county/green-business-council/.

If you are considering a career or career transition into the environmental sector, a good place to start is your County One Stop Career Center (http://www.dllr.state.md.us/county/).

A few networking opportunities that occur on a monthly basis are:

Green Building Institute 1st Tuesdays – (networking meetings resume in June). http://greenbuildingnetwork.groupsite.com/main/summary

Green Drinks Columbia  2nd Tuesdays – www.greendrinks.org

Green Drinks Annapolis – http://www.annapolisgreen.com/index.html

Mid-Atlantic Regional Environmental Professionals last Thursdays – http://www.marepweb.org/

Search http://www.Meetup.com and use environmental as the keyword. There are ample environmental meetups occurring on a daily basis in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia. It’s now so easy to be green.imgres

By Danielle Angeline

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Earth Day – Let’s Celebrate

Earth Day Earth Day   Lets CelebrateEarth Day is an annual holiday, celebrated on April 22 and this year marks the 43rd anniversary, of which events are held around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection, according to the website: http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement. Earth Day is celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.

Originally proposed at the 1969 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Conference in San Francisco, it was suggested that the first Earth Day would be celebrated on the Spring Equinox (March 21, 1970) for the northern hemisphere. In a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations, this day of nature’s equipoise was sanctioned. “A month later, a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970,” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_day). In 1990, Denis Hayes – founder of Earth Day network (http://www.earthday.org/) – took Earth Day international and organized events in 141 nations. Today, numerous cities, towns, and municipalities have turned Earth Day into Earth Week – an entire week dedicated to environmental activities, issues, solutions.

In Maryland, there are numerous Earth Day events taking place this week. For example, Friends of Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis is having movie night on Wednesday, April 25th. The documentary Bag It will be screened at 7 PM (http://www.annapolisgreen.com/calendar.html) On Saturday, April 27th, Baltimore is hosting a session on Introduction to Tree Identification (http://baltimoregreenworks.com/events/baltimore-green-week/). Additional events can be found online by searching on Earth Week + city = Earth Week Rockville, MD.

However you decide to acknowledge Earth Day and Earth week – celebrate the beauty of the natural resources that Mother Earth has given us – the land, the air, and the water. Happy Earth Day – it’s okay to hug a tree this week.

By Danielle Angeline

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That’s (not) a Wrap – Environmental Legislative Wrap-up

Midnight, April 8, 2013, marked the close of the Maryland General Assembly session. According to the Maryland League of Conservation voters, the hot environmental issues for this year’s agenda were:

  • Offshore Wind
  • Marcellus Shale – Hydraulic Fracturing
  • Smart on Pesticides: Maryland For Safe Water and Healthy Kids
  • Maryland Bottle Bill (Recycle For Real)

Offshore Wind celebrated a landmark legislative victory by passing the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 after four years of grassroots campaigning and partnering with Legislative Black Caucus, NAACP, and over 500 other businesses and groups (http://www.scribd.com/ doc/134897909/2013-Legislative-Wrap-Up).

The rest of the environmental community’s priorities were weakened or killed. A bill exempting agribusiness from future clean water laws passed.  The League of Conservation Voters expressed their disappointment but while they may be down, they are not out. LCV is already gearing up to bring more environmental advocacy to the2014 legislature (http://www.mdlcv.org/issues/one-step-forward-two-back).

 The Marcellus Shale – Hydraulic Fracking legislative moratorium would have provided an 18 month period to conduct and review studies of the process and would have required the adoption of regulations based on the recommendations of the studies. This bill died in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee by 6 – 5 vote.

Smart on Pesticides Maryland focused onpesticides and the serious risk to our health, the Chesapeake Bay/watershed and homeland security. Maryland lacks a public source for information about some pesticide use and the sales of restricted-use pesticides. The Pesticide Reporting Act (SB 675/HB 775) passed but was amended to create a work group until next year. This legislation would have created a simple and cost-neutral, centralized online pesticide reporting database. It would have been paid for by a modest fee increase for chemical manufacturers.

The Maryland Bottle Bill (Recycle For Real – SB641/HB1085) hadMaryland lawmakers unveiling a proposal to enact a 5-cent rebate for all disposable beverage containers. The program would have shifted the recycling burden from retailers to distributors and wholesalers. It would have boosted the recycling rate from 22% to 75%. Unfortunately, this bill was withdrawn by the House Sponsor but will be reviewed further over the summer (http://www.bottlebill.org/legislation/campaigns/marylandc.htm)

“In the final days of session, a priority bill to fix state property exemptions in the 2012 Stormwater bill was hijacked and almost became a two year delay of the strong stormwater program enacted last year,” (http://www.scribd.com/doc/134897909/2013-Legislative-Wrap-Up).

By Guest Blogger Danielle Angeline

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Why we need trees

city trees Why we need treesThe other day, I was in Annapolis, near my former residence when I noticed there were townhouses being built. Out of curiosity, I drove by, only to discover the trees – aka thick wooded area – had all been cut down and there stood maybe a dozen homes crammed on two small lots.

I’ve always been a tree lover especially when my mom had managed to grow an oak tree from an acorn when I was elementary-school age. Today, my mom’s oak tree still stands majestically at least four-stories tall in the backyard of my childhood home. I gained an appreciation of nature at an early age – thanks to my parents.

Growing up, we had an abundant vegetable garden and flower gardens every year. Once or twice, they were featured in the local newspaper. There was nothing more beautiful than the crabapple tree blooming outside my bedroom window in the spring. Or the weeping willow in full bloom by mid-summer. It was a great tree to climb with childhood pals, have a picnic, or even take a little snooze.

According to the website, http://forestry.about.com/od/treephysiology/tp/tree_value.htm, there are at least ten reasons why we need trees:

  1. Trees Produce Oxygen and a mature leafy tree can produce as much oxygen in one season as 10 people inhale in a year. Plus, forests act as giant filters that clean the air we breathe.
  2. Trees Clean the Soil by filtering bad elements.
  3. Trees Control Noise Pollution by muffling urban noise almost as effectively as stone walls.
  4. Trees Slow Storm Water Runoff by absorbing water and slowing runoff. In turn, this recharges underground water-holding aquifers.
  5. Trees Are Carbon Sinks that absorb and lock away carbon dioxide in the wood, roots and leaves. A forest is a carbon storage area or a “sink” that can lock up carbon.
  1. Trees Clean the Air by removing pollutants, by lowering air temperature through respiration, and by retaining particulates.
  2. Trees Shade and Cool by providing a dense cover from the sun’s UV rays, thus cooling the air temperature in buildings and on the ground up to 12 degrees.
  3. Trees Act as Windbreaks during windy and cold seasons. Trees have a significant effect of reducing snow drifts. A reduction in wind lessens the drying effect on soil and vegetation behind the windbreak and helps keep topsoil in place.
  4. Trees Fight Soil Erosion becausetree roots bind the soil and the leaves break the force of wind and rain on soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff and sediment deposits after storms.
  1. Trees Increase Property Values because they beautify a property or neighborhood. Trees can increase the property value of your home by 15% or more.

Since trees and the environment is such a robust subject and can easily roll into other tree topics, I refer the readership to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website on forest management and various tree related subjects: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has launched their new website, http://www.forestactionplans.org/.  Their Forest Action Plans offer the best thinking and innovation of local experts to proactively fight threats to forests from wildfires, insects, disease, and encroaching development.

 

Maryland’s Forest Action Plan (http://www.forestactionplans.org/states/maryland) includes:

¡  Restoring and sustaining forest landscapes

¡  Ensuring healthy and resilient forests

¡  Expanding forest benefits

Spring is just around the corner. Incorporate into your gardening plans – planting a tree or two. The Governor’s website is a good place to start: http://www.trees.maryland.gov/. Remember, “trees provide ecological, economic, and quality of life benefits such as protecting air and water quality, reducing energy costs, increasing property values, and beautifying neighborhoods.” And it is not just children who gain rewards from trees.  The research shows that employees are happier, healthier, more creative and more productive if they are surrounded by nature or take a walk in nature every day.

Guest Blogger Danielle Angeline

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Rain Barrels – For Commercial and Residential use

MD flag Rain Barrels – For Commercial and Residential useWhat is a rain barrel?
According to the Department of Natural Resources  a rain barrel is usually a 55-gallon drum with a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, a screened grate (to keep out debris and insects) and other off-the-shelf items. A rain barrel is simple to construct, quite cost effective, and can sit conveniently under most gutter down spouts. A rain barrel is a way to collect and store rain water from roof top run-off. Without a rain barrel, the rain water runs off the roof, to storm drains, to streams, and then to the Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, the run-off picks up debris, chemicals, even animal excrement that is not filtered thus becoming contaminated stormwater run-off.(http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ed/rainbarrel.html)

Why use rain barrels?

The Department of Environmental Protection Montgomery County says, “Many people mistakenly believe that the rainfall run-off from roads, driveways, and parking lots that enters storm drains is treated at a wastewater treatment plant. But most runoff into storm drains goes untreated into streams, rivers, and lakes.”

Whereas DNR says that a rain barrel collects water and stores it until it is needed most, such as during periods of drought.  A rain barrel will save most homeowners from using about 1,300 gallons of potable water during the peak summer months. Collected rain water can be used to water plants, wash cars, or to top off a swimming pool. Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total residential water use during the summer. Why use water you pay for when you can use rainwater from a rain barrel?

Commercial lawn care can be expensive for property owners or tenants to maintain. By implementing a rain barrel system, it not only saves costs for the businesses, it provides an ample supply of “soft water.” The soft water contains no chlorine, lime, or calcium making it ideal to use collected rain water for landscaped gardens or property maintenance such as window washing.

Saving water in this capacity not only helps the environment, it decreases the demand for treated tap water. A rain barrel, whether for commercial or residential use, is an easy way to save the bay and have a consistent supply of FREE, fresh, clean water for outdoor use.

Where to purchase a rain barrel?

Pre-made rain barrels can be purchased from various companies. Below are just a few listed but not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Natural Resources or the State of Maryland:

As presented on  http://home.howstuffworks.com/rain-barrel5.htm, one can always be adventurous and build their own rain barrel system. There are ample websites, workshops, and organizations that will provide the steps and information to be a successful rain barrel builder and user. Not only will it benefit one’s water bill (commercial or residential), it will also benefit the gardens and lawns one strives to maintain – especially during the hot summer months.

By Guest Blogger Danielle Angeline

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BayScapes for gardens, the Bay, and your business

bayscapes BayScapes for gardens, the Bay, and your businessHow can BayScaping your property be good for your employees, your community and your business?

What are BayScapes?

BayScapes are landscapes that are environmentally-friendly and benefit people, communities, wildlife and the Chesapeake Bay according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck/bayscapes.html). BayScaping encourages a healthy approach to land management through principles inspired by relationships found in the natural world. BayScaping teaches and inspires landowners and employees how to apply conservation landscaping, conserve water, create diversity, use native plants, create wildlife habitat, use Integrated Pest Management and plan for the long term.

Why are BayScapes favorable to the Bay and the wildlife?

Conservation landscaping works in cooperation with nature to reduce pollution and enhance wildlife habitats. By planting native-specific species, the novice or expert gardener can attract specific species such as hummingbirds or butterflies. There are ample websites that will hone in on the plant species native to the Mid-Atlantic for attracting these colorful creatures. Gardeners can also inquire with their local nursery. There is one consensus, restrict using fertilizers and pesticides or find eco-friendly products. Wise management of soil, water, and vegetation are crucial to conservation landscaping. This includes creating a healthy vegetative cover, maintaining proper soil pH and fertility levels, and preventing soil erosion.

Benefits of BayScaping my land?

No matter the size of the planting area, diversity in the landscape provides for the needs of humans, animals, and other plant life along the Chesapeake Bay. Native grasses, ground covers, wildflowers, shrubs and trees add a variety of shapes, colors, smells and habitats.

As stated on http://dcgreenworks.org/programs/rainwater-conservation-and-reuse/rain-gardennative-habitat-garden/ BayScaping is a low-cost alternative to traditional landscaping and requires much less maintenance.

BayScaping:

  • Can eliminate the need for mowing, pruning, irrigation, and fertilization
  • Is 50-80% less costly than conventional landscapes
  • Has a greater survival rate than turf and ornamental plants
  • Is creative, unique, and aesthetically pleasing
  • Improves the health of local waterways by absorbing more stormwater

A variety of environmental agencies throughout the Mid-Atlantic region highly promotes BayScaping and host Home BayScaping programs. Very small or urban yards can be transformed using container gardens, patio/deck plantings, and wall gardens for a relaxing and aesthetically pleasing BayScape. Regardless where BayScaping is planted, it will benefit the Chesapeake Bay, your property values, and offer a more pleasing and healthy environment for your employees and your neighborhood.

Guest Blogger Danielle Angeline

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Stormwater Management – Time to Rebuild our Green Infrastructure

SWSpeakers Stormwater Management – Time to Rebuild our Green InfrastructureIt has been a challenging week. The county has introduced legislation to create a guaranteed fund for repairing and enhancing our stormwater infrastructure here in Howard County. This is not a minor thing. The county and the development community have spent over $600,000,000 over the past 50 years to create the storm drains, culverts, bioretention facilities, etc. that we use today.  It is estimated that we will need to spend another $800,000,000 over the next decade to repair and expand our stormwater management system (http://livegreenhoward.com/water/stormwater/).

The problem we are trying to fix is that so many people have moved into the county that we have paved over a lot of ground. Our population in the 1950s was 25,000 people. Today it is closing in on 300,000. These people live in homes and go to offices and stores and churches with impervious roofs, driveways and parking lots. Rainwater that used to filter into the ground now rushes off these surfaces and takes our entire residue (fertilizers, chemicals, oil and gas leaks and trash) and dumps it into our streams, lakes and the bay putting at risk the health of our food supply and our citizens. It is clear we have to fix it, but how???

On Tuesday the County Council meeting room was packed with about 200 people listening to over 3 hours of testimony about a new stormwater utility fee that we will all have to pay. Representatives from church organizations, farmers, local research facilities and teenagers all came out to see how the county will handle this issue. The vast majority of folks realize we have to fix the system and they all had their own ideas of how to do it. There was a lot of talk about how all of us need to look at our land and see what we can do to reduce the runoff.  There will be rebates to help with the costs of restoration and credits that will reduce the fees. For more information on what you can do go to http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/documents/Rain_Gardens_Across_MD.pdf. The evening turned out to be one of the more constructive hearings I have been to.

Then on Thursday the Columbia Association held a Symposium with 4 speakers addressing an audience of 153 people that discussed the causes, proposed legislative approaches, and what the community has already done. A youth conservation corps (READY) that started up last year showed results on how effective it was in the installation of rain gardens (https://allianceforthebay.org/2012/06/ready-program-takes-off-in-howard-county/). It is quite encouraging to me that so many facets of the community are coming out to learn more about the challenge and are engaged in trying to find the best solutions.

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Business Community Gets Behind Cleaner Energy and Climate Change Policies

Rally Business Community Gets Behind Cleaner Energy and Climate Change PoliciesThe large rally on the DC Mall today offered a number of insights into the mood in the country for implementing cleaner Energy and Climate Change policies in the US. From the interviews I conducted the 40,000 plus crowd was a mix of scientists, businessmen and everyday people who care about their health and the future of our country.

Even though the effort to take action on carbon tax and “cap and trade” options has languished in Congress over the past 6 years significant progress has been made. The Sierra Club, now led by the pragmatic Mike Brune, outlined the progress that has been made with business and political leaders around the country to change our dangerous dependency on fossil fuels as our dominant fuel source in this country.

Brune reported that over the past decade over 250 coal fired power plants planned by Dick Cheney during the Bush years, have not been constructed. Many others have been shuttered. Business is realizing that investing in coal results in major financial risks as well as significant increases in our national health care costs. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/17/forward-on-climate-rally_n_2702575.html

A major investor in billion dollar energy projects who also spoke at the Rally said it was time to invest in safer and cleaner energy sources.”….investment in either will produce a host of new jobs. The difference is that the US can be the leader in developing new energy technologies and profit from these advances instead of allowing other countries to create these new technologies and reap all the benefits.  It is clear that alternative energy options are economic today because we are seeing significant growth in solar and wind electrical generation around the world. Why would we wait? Why would we continue using dirty fuels….?

These business remarks reflect similar sentiments as were expressed by Mayor Bloomberg this past week. NYC has learned the lessons of what the real costs of fossil fuel use can be.  They are deep into the rebuilding of their city from the havoc wrought by Hurricane Sandy.  They cannot wait and dicker any longer so Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is leading the charge for better energy and climate change policies. In his State of the City talk on Thursday he laid out his plans to make  ”New York City into an international leader on green growth and climate change.” http://www.latinospost.com/articles/12135/20130214/mayor-bloomberg-state-city-address-2013-live.htm

Progress is happening. These pragmatic leaders, businessmen and citizens are finding their voices. It will be interesting to see what they will do. It will also be interesting to see what each of us will do? How soon will we shift to alternative energy supplies? How soon will we take actions to lower our carbon emissions? How soon will we act?

 

 

 

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Sustainable Springtime Gardening Tips

workshopsoilworms Sustainable Springtime Gardening TipsAs the temperatures rise and the days grow longer, now is the time to prepare, plan, and plant for sustainable springtime planting. Focusing on the Mid-Atlantic region, these gardening tips can be accomplished over the next few months.

PREPARATION

The first step is to take an inventory of gardening tools and equipment. Basic tools such as a shovel, rake, sprinkler, and hose should be rust-free, debris-free, and the handles should be secure. Replace any tools that are not in excellent working condition is imperative.

Use a 5-gallon bucket or large basket for hand tools which allows for easy movement around the garden and keeps tools organized when stored away. The lawndoctor.com (http://www.lawndoctor.com/lawn_mower_maintenance.html) suggests a lawnmower check up. It is suggested to have the blades, oil bearings, cables, spark plugs, and gas tank serviced. Always clear the yard of any debris, rocks, and twigs before mowing.

PLANNING

Planning your springtime gardening requires research, time, and patience. By going native, one must know that native plants are defined as those plants that existed in the Chesapeake watershed when the first European settlers arrived. Native plants are best adapted to local conditions, thrive with the least amount of care, and include a great variety of species for all conditions (http://mysite.verizon.net/IrwinsOtheBay/GoNative.html).

Converting the garden to native plants requires commitment and time. However, according to the US Botanic Garden Conservatory – USBGC, (http://www.usbg.gov/mid-atlantic-gardening) growing plants in a natural landscape provides the resources birds and other wildlife need. This is also a beautiful way to lessen environmental impact and support the local ecosystem.

Part of the planning process may include soil testing. This will determine the soil type and its acidity or alkalinity (pH) levels and what plants will prosper. To navigate moist soil, place boards on the ground to establish walking and kneeling areas for planting.

When sketching the garden plan remember natives do not need to be planted in perfect rows. Research the plants and shrubbery that will grow sufficiently in the soil type. As a reminder, annuals are a one-time planting, whereas perennials come back every season.

Once the planning process is complete, plan planting dates by monitoring the outside temperatures:

  • Plant shrubs when the ground is continuously warm.
  • When the night temperature stays above 55 degrees, this is the time to direct sow and transplant hardy annuals
  • Wait until the soil warms and dries before planting summer bulbs
  • Research what is the best time for natives to be planted

Even if the sun is not shining, but the temperature is comfortable for working outdoors, plants will need pruning, feeding, and weeding. Many home improvement stores and gardening centers supply weed-eating products that are environmentally friendly. This year, consider composting. There are ample websites that provide easy instructions such as http://howtocompost.org/.

As March winds subside and the April showers bring May flowers, gardening with the proper planning and preparation will yield a successful season and a reduction in the carbon footprint. Going native covers a variety of programs supported by the county and local gardening companies that host workshops. Conduct research on native plants of your state and other environmental topics such as BayScaping, Rain Gardens, and Rain Barrels. By using conservation landscaping techniques one or more of the following will result: improved storm water management, better wildlife habitats, greater water conservation, reduced nutrients use and reduction of toxins. With a lot of patience and TLC, the leaves will bud and the flowers will bloom, and this pleasant and fruitful endeavor will flourish in color and aroma.

By Danielle M. Angeline

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