Gardening can be one of the most eco-friendly activities when done sustainably, but it also has the potential to be a not-so-eco-friendly hobby. It all depends on what practices you choose to adopt in your garden space.
Pesticide use, water use and materials all play a role in whether your garden is helping or harming the environment. It doesn’t have to be difficult to make your garden sustainable. We've comprised a list of 7 sustainable swaps to make it easier for you to reduce plastic waste in your garden.
Biodegradable pots
Most seed-starting pots are unfortunately plastic. They are typically non-recyclable, and can only be used a handful of times before they crack or break. If you are growing from seed, consider our grower series, made from renewable rice hulls. They can be reused many times and will biodegrade once they are no longer usable. They are truly a zero-waste product.
Reusable plant ties
Instead of single-use plastic plant ties, you can opt for reusable ones. There are several types of durable and resuable plant ties on the market.
Reusable plant labels
Instead of plastic plant labels, opt for bamboo, metal or ceramic labels that can be used over and over. For seed starting there are always the classic popsicle sticks. You could even get creative with upcycling all sorts of materials for labeling, like single-use silverware or old blinds.
Compost
To avoid buying compost in single use plastic bags, you can try making your own. This will double your sustainability efforts by reducing your kitchen waste as well. There are plenty of online resources on how to compost at home.
Metal watering cans
Invest in a metal watering can instead of a plastic one. It will last longer and can be recycled.
Metal tools
Instead of plastic garden tools, go for metal tools with wood handles. The quality is better, they last longer and won’t leave plastic behind when disposed of.
Plastic-free weed barriers
Instead of plastic sheeting to prevent weeds, you can use cardboard covered in mulch or upcycle some burlap sacks from coffee roasters. These are biodegradable options that will also feed the soil as they break down.
Every bit of plastic waste that you keep out of your garden makes a difference. Every gardener that makes a shift in plastic use is keeping a lot of waste out of the landfills. If demand for more sustainable materials increases, the manufacturing of single-use plastics will decrease.