As the world’s population increases exponentially, so do food requirements. There is a life-threatening limited amount of fresh water available on earth, and an abundance of over-burdened poor soil. Therefore it’s more important than ever to successfully manage the biggest challenges that gardeners face today.
Climate change is a very real and present threat to human and animal populations globally. The steps we take toward cultivating our own food, must take into account the necessity of sustaining human life. There must be a concerted effort made not to aggravate the attack on Mother Nature that has already begun. The widespread use of pesticides, excessive deforestation, toxic water runoff, and contributing to poor soil quality by continuously growing the same crops have decimated our ability to nutritiously feed the inhabitants of this planet with great abundance.
The Five Problems – Eco-Friendly Solutions
The human race needs to reinvent itself and learn what mankind once did not abuse or take for granted. The problems faced with global warming must be addressed with an eco-friendly mindset that once again respects the earth and restores it to the balance it once easily maintained. For human-beings to survive, solutions must be based on every eco-friendly principle known, with reverence and every kind of innovation imaginable.
Consider these ways to conquer problems and achieve an eco-conscious sustainable earth once again:
1) High-Yield Production Without the Use of Chemicals – When planting and harvesting crops, gardeners have the option to eliminate the use of chemicals. Examples of the methods used to increase crop yields without chemicals include:
- Raising plants native to your area which are hardier requiring less maintenance, water, and fertilizer.
- Regularly rotating crops keeps insects from becoming too familiar with the area.
- Practicing frequent and thorough weed control.
- Remembering that healthy plants will spring from the healthiest soil.
- Keeping the soil healthy by having it analyzed regularly.
2) Creating Natural Methods to Improve Soil Quality & Creating Your Own Compost – When using fertilizers, be sure to go organic. Non-organic fertilizers contain a host of compounds that lead to global warming. These include carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, nitrogen gases, and sulfur. Organic fertilizers contain elements that align with the existing soil including dried and powdered blood, crushed shells, phosphate rock, manure, guano, ground bone and wood.
You can create your own compost by using items that can be easily found in and around the home: Vegetables, fruit peels, leftover food, old newspapers, eggshells, grass cuttings, tea bags, fallen leaves, cardboard egg boxes, and crumpled paper. By maintaining your own robust compost pile, you will create a sustainable environment for healthy plants to grow with no need for chemicals.
3) Protecting Your Garden with Deer Fencing – Although you may have every intention of planting an amazing organic garden to feed your family, hungry deer can quite literally trample all over your dreams giving you nothing but grief for your efforts. All wildlife, especially deer can be extremely destructive to gardens. Establishing a barrier before one seed is placed in the ground is so important. A deer fence physical barrier won’t hurt deer in any way. It will simply encourage them to find other food sources. Other wildlife will also be discouraged, and the existence of the fence will allow your healthy garden to grow unimpeded.
4) Crafting Natural Repellants – There are a wide variety of natural repellants on the market to ward off whatever animals may be lurking in your area. You can easily craft your own, save money and recycling materials you already have at home.
For example:
Deer Repellent – Beat one egg and pour into a spray bottle. Add a tablespoon of dish soap, one tablespoon of cooking oil, and a half cup of milk. Fill the spray bottle halfway with water, shake and tightly seal. Spray this mixture around the crops, but not directly onto anything you wish to eat. Store in the refrigerator.
Other effective methods include – Using dog or human hair along the perimeter of the garden, spreading cat litter or using a mixture of Tabasco sauce, water, eggs, and milk.
5) Use Water Wisely – At some point soon water may be as valuable as gold. It’s the natural sustainer of life, plant and animal, and it’s crucial that gardeners obtain it, retain it, and use it judiciously. Set out tanks to harvest rainwater. Use an irrigation system to disseminate the water when the weather turns dry. Drip lines are more efficient than sprinklers because sprinklers deliver a tremendous amount of water to surfaces that don’t need it. Conserve the water that is used within the home, if it isn’t soapy, such as after doing dishes or housecleaning.
As the world’s population grows, we need to find more and better ways to cultivate crops that are free of chemicals and leave as little a carbon footprint as possible. Instead of continually taking from the earth, it’s time to use our wisdom ingenuity and appreciation for Mother Nature to move in a more holistic and eco-friendly direction, for the betterment of us all.
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