Let's talk about water
Watering the garden is one of those traditional garden chores, up there with weeding, digging and mowing in the list of things you “ought” to do to be a good gardener.
But perhaps it’s time to rethink the way we’ve always done things. The water we take for our gardens, especially in summer, is frequently drawn from natural wetlands. As they’re drained to supply reservoirs, one of our most efficient carbon sinks turns into a net contributor to climate change as methane-emitting sediments are exposed to the air.
Every gallon of water you use adds to your carbon footprint. Rainwater is better than treated tap water, but storing it in water butts and tanks still entails the manufacture, transport and installation usually of plastic (therefore pollution-heavy) goods. A truly low-carbon garden is one that doesn’t need watering at all.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Greenery to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.