With Christmas now in our rearview mirror, the focus has shifted
to thoughts of the new year… and the dreaded resolutions ; - )
Promises and resolutions for me – with encouragement from mem-
bers of my family! –normally include eating better and exercising
more. But as a gardener my favorite list is the one I write with all
of the goals for my garden in the upcoming year. Think of the ideas
below as a springboard for your own resolutions for 2018 . . . which
is just four days away.
1. Hang up the phone and garden. As cell phones continue to take
over our lives, gardening can be a haven and a sanctuary from the
encroaching world of technology. We must all remember to smell
the fresh air, and listen to the music of the bird songs!
2. Get the kids out in the garden… without their devices. We are
all slightly haunted by Richard Louv's 'Last Child in the Woods,'
which is why we need to take action. Get the kiddos to help out
with the digging and the harvesting, or just take them for a fun hike
on the Violet Crown Trail, or have them run around the woodlands
of Mayfield Park. Anything!
3. Shrink the lawn. With Pam Penick’s book Lawn Gone! as a guide,
we are all realizing that there are a myriad of options for replacing
the lawn with pretty, drought tolerant plants that will save you money
and time… and help save the planet as we become accustomed to
gardening in drought conditions.
4. Plant more trees: I would like to plant one a month. Trees add
value to a home and can help with the utility bills as well. By plant-
ing evergreen trees on the north side of your home, they can act as
a windbreak from the cold, north winter winds. Shade trees planted
close to the house provide cooling shade in the spring, summer,
and fall. Deciduous trees provide shade in the summer and allow
warming sunlight in the winter after they shed their leaves. Trees
also absorb carbon dioxide, and this can help slow down global
warming.
5. Plant or expand the vegetable garden. By growing your own
vegetables, you become more independent – less trips to the grocery
and less trips to the filling station. Working the soil and eating the
produce that you have grown is highly rewarding. Gardening is also
great exercise.
6. Create a simple herb garden not too far from your back door,
and take your cooking to the next level by using bountiful amounts
of fresh herbs in your recipes.
7. Start composting. By saving and composting grass clippings,
leaves, and kitchen scraps, you can make rich compost and mulch
for your garden and flower beds. The material is free and just takes
a little bit of effort to convert it to something useful. Compost will
save you money and will help to limit the waste that goes to the
landfill.
8. Start and expand your use of organic practices. Besides mak-
ing your own compost, use organic fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides,
and herbicides. This will make the environment less toxic. There
have never been as many organic alternatives for gardeners to choose
from. In addition, consider setting up a system of rain barrels, and
shift to drip and soaker hose irrigation.
9. Start gardening projects with your neighbor or perhaps the
community. Target a piece of ground that’s going to waste and
produce some vegetables for the Food Bank. Reap the mental rew-
ards of volunteering!
10. Think beyond vegetables. Besides vegetables, establish other
forms of food you can grow. Central Texas is a perfect place for
asparagus, grapes, berries, artichokes, peaches, pears, apples, plums,
olives, apricots, nectarines, and pomegranates. These plants are
perennials and will produce year after year without replanting.
Well, that’s a start for 2018. And on Monday, New Year's Day, I'm
going to plant my first tree of the year, after eating my good luck
food: cornbread for gold, collards for dollar bills, and black-eyed
peas for pennies. Happy New Year everyone! ❦
(The newsletter will return in its normal format next week.)
