From how it works to learning specific practices for your own garden, these resources are for you

The COVID-19 crisis has touched every aspect of our society and laid bare the fundamental, unjust problems in many of our systems, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, and housing. The waste system is also one that has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, causing problems for communities and sustainability goals, but has gotten less attention:

• Many communities experienced temporary suspensions of curbside recycling while areas are also reporting residential waste increases up to 35 percent.
• Hundreds of waste management professionals have become ill, stressing the need for greater safeguards including hazard pay and more PPE.
• There have been spikes in demand for certain materials, like recovered fiber for tissue and paper towels, while commercial sources for recyclables have stalled with closures.

Meanwhile, the plastics industry has used the global pandemic to try to improve its image, while fighting efforts to reduce waste and improve the recycling system.

Globally, 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced every year. Demand for plastics is a growing source of greenhouse gases as it increasingly drives the world’s consumption of oil and gas. Plastic pollution has reached crisis levels, with a dump truck’s worth of plastic pouring into our oceans every minute. This threatens over 800 species of wildlife. Microplastics are rapidly filling our water, soil, and even our air. This problem devastating our environment and we’re just beginning to understand the potent affects it can have on our health.

There are many reasons why plastics have such a bad reputation and the industry has seized this time to improve its image and ramp up consumption. Industry efforts have been effective, as some companies report double-digit percentage sale increases.

The bottom line is that single-use plastics are not the solution. And the plastic industry’s arguments will lead to a decrease in recycling and reusables that will be harmful to public health nationwide.

Plastics and the Pandemic

At the start of the pandemic, the Plastics Industry Association sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, urging it to publicly state single-use plastics as a safer choice than reusable options. Though plastics are a common material in the healthcare industry, there are still efforts in healthcare to replace harmful plastics with non-toxic alternatives and reduce unnecessary plastic waste.

But there is a lack of substantive evidence to back up claims that daily items such as single-use plastic bags and food service ware are less likely to transmit the coronavirus. The industry has commonly cited older studies that only confirm bacteria can accumulate on unwashed bags (and that washing reusable bags destroys the bacteria).

Recently, over 100 scientists from 18 countries affirmed that reusables are safe and don’t increase the chance of virus transmission. They state that single-use plastics are not inherently safer and cause additional public health concerns.

The plastics industry has also taken part in requesting $1 billion from any Congressional infrastructure support due to COVID-19. This request would provide grants for improvement in recycling collection and processing infrastructure. The US recycling system does need infrastructure improvements – for example, we have limited mills that produce recycled paper products and limited glass refineries which contributes to lower glass recovery rates. But simply focusing on infrastructure does not address the fundamental problem: plastic production.

There are global, multi-stakeholder efforts to reduce plastic pollution and improve its circularity that go well beyond infrastructure improvements. But the industry continues to push back on efforts that will achieve these goals. 

Problems with Plastic Recycling

In the 1980s, people and companies were throwing out more trash than ever, and there were concerns that landfills would reach their capacity. Plastic products faced public scrutiny and local officials were considering product-specific bans to reduce waste. The industry fought reduction efforts and instead pushed for recycling, even though it didn’t believe plastic recycling would ever work in a significant, widespread way.

Plastics have yet to achieve significant recycling rates and new plastics production is expected to triple by 2050. A recent World Wildlife Fund report found that five major brands (Coca-Cola, Keurig, Dr Pepper, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, and Starbucks) collectively use 4.2 million metric tons of plastic annually. Only eight percent of this was recycled plastic (compare to aluminum cans, which average 73 percent recycled material per container).

The US recycling rate for plastics is a dismal 8 percent, propped up by plastic beverage bottles, jugs, and containers made with PET and HDPE (also known as recycling numbers #1 and #2). These items have recycling rates at around 30 percent. Other plastic resins are a large burden on the recycling system, including plastic film, cups, bowls, clamshells, and to-go containers, which do not have any significant recycling rates.

There are important climate benefits to a functional recycling system that curbs resource extraction. The use of recycled glass and certain plastics instead of brand-new materials cuts environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and energy by more than half. Using recycled paper and aluminum reduces impacts up to 85 percent. To see these benefits, we need to close the loop and use recyclables. But there are challenges to plastic recycling that other materials don’t face.

Glass and metal can be recycled infinitely without degrading quality. Paper fibers can be recycled around seven times before they become too weak and can then be composted. But plastic polymers break down in the mechanical recycling process and can only be recycled once or twice before the material is too degraded for further use. Additionally, up to one third of plastic is lost when recycling products like PET bottles.

Proposed alternatives like chemical recycling present more problems than solutions. This process uses a combination of heat, pressure, depleted oxygen, or solvents to take plastic waste back to a “like new” state. But GAIA reports that chemical recycling is energy-intensive, ineffective, and bad for the climate and communities. It releases air pollutants and more plastic waste gets turned into greenhouse gas emissions than turned back into plastic.

The Association of Mission-Based Recyclers warn against unproven and unregulated technologies like chemical recycling. These recyclers have affirmed that the point of recycling is to protect our human health and the environment, reduce our carbon footprint, strengthen regional economies, and prevent the need for more resource extraction. If a process doesn’t do this, it’s simply not recycling.

Low Demand for Recycled Plastic

According to the Association of Plastics Recyclers, the biggest issue is decades-old technology and collection infrastructure. There is certainly a need for better infrastructure to collect, sort, and process recyclables within the US, but producers have continued to churn out products that our recycling system can’t process.

Brands are flooding our waste streams with single-use plastics and complex packaging and insisting that recyclers make it work. But the plastics industry reportedly does little to nothing to increase recyclability of its products, use recycled materials, or invest in recovery infrastructure.

Many plastic products beyond bottles and jars aren’t accepted in local recycling programs, since the system was not created to process this range of plastics and there’s very low market demand for them. For decades, the market “playing field” between new and recycled materials has been inconsistent and uneven. Plastics are petroleum byproducts from the oil and gas industry. The cost of new plastic changes with the cost of oil and gas, and federal subsidies have long supported these extractive industries. Infrastructure to extract and refine the gas for plastic production has been heavily subsidized by the government.

Some of these antiquated natural resource development policies date back to the 20th century, but industry lobbying efforts have kept them intact, preventing recycled goods from being able to evenly compete with virgin materials. While other materials do have higher market value, plastics continue to drag the entire recycling system with its low value. Additionally, the harmful impacts aren’t reflected in the low cost of new plastics.

Plastics Pollute Communities

Air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and intensive resource use are the impacts not included in the full cost of plastics. This is part of why plastic products have remained cheap and plentiful. It’s past time for this to change.

Plastics pose threats to communities from extraction to disposal. Plastics mostly end up in landfills and incinerators which are disproportionately placed in Black and Latino communities, landfills and incinerators pollute the air and water. Race is the prominent factor in predicting where toxic, industrial facilities are built and operated, even more than income or other socio-economic factors. And as environmental justice leader Dr. Robert Bullard identifies, there are no laws that would prohibit a neighborhood from being saturated with these facilities, compounding historical injustices and health risks to communities where they are built.

One example of a community impacted by industry is the Taiwanese Formosa Plastics plant proposed for construction in the 5th District of Louisiana’s St. James parish, where 87 percent of the residents are Black. The air is among the most polluted in the country due to the high concentration of industrial facilities and this new project is set to be one of the largest plastic plants in the country. The permit allows it to emit 800 tons of toxic air pollutants and 13.6 million tons of greenhouse gases each year. Local residents are fighting the construction, calling for the parish council to rescind its vote approving the permits and urging Governor John Bel Edwards to intervene.

This project is among the hundreds of new plastic plants and expansions that are set to happen in the coming years. The industry clearly has no intent of slowing extraction and production of this polluting material. But a growing movement of activists and organizations are pushing back on the plastics boom and demanding real solutions.

Solving the Plastics Problem

Better infrastructure is needed to make recycling more effective for all materials. But companies must also use recycled content and drive down new resource extraction. This is how recycling can be a better piece of circularity along with reduction, reuse, and repair. We need holistic solutions that eliminate nonrecyclable, single-use plastics, grow reusable options, and close the loop with recycled content requirements.

New policy is one key mechanism to create system change. The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act would place more accountability on producing companies, put a moratorium on new plastic production sites, restrict pollutant discharge, and require investigation into health impacts of these facilities. It would ban numerous non-recyclable plastics and require recycled materials in containers.

Businesses can take responsibility and begin to make these shifts now by redesigning products and packaging and invest in better recovery systems. Companies are setting commitments to reduce plastic use and reach reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging. But this is only the first step and we need transparency and accountability from these companies to ensure real results.

As You Sow analyzed 50 companies for corporate leadership on packaging design, reusables, recycled content, transparency, recycling support, and producer responsibility. The report gave most of these companies a D or an F. As You Sow advocates that companies should increase transparency, use recycled content, pursue plans for reusables, and invest at least one percent of their annual revenue towards the needed recovery infrastructure to manage their products.

If plastics has any intention of achieving a circular management of its products, now is the time to make aggressive changes to how it engages with policies like extended producer responsibility and systemic shifts rather than devote its efforts to using the pandemic to improve its reputation.

Take Action to Eliminate Plastic Pollution 

• Support the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act in Congress.
• Support the residents of St. James Parish, Louisiana fighting the construction of Formosa Plastics in their community by visiting StopFormosa.org.
• Use email and social media to urge companies to reduce plastic waste and use responsible packaging solutions.
• Avoid plastic when possible and try these tips to reduce waste at home.

Social and Environmental Philosophy

We care about you and we care about the earth. It's not only crucial that we connect to the Earth for its healing powers, but we must also protect it. Source Vitál takes great pride in being as environmentally friendly as we can be. Here's how:

• We only work with partners and vendors that share our philosophy on natural ingredients.
• We practice an internal recycling program for all plastic, glass, paper, etc.
• Our facility is powered by renewable energy
• We practice energy conservation through internal processes and technology
• Our product packaging comes in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), also known by the recycling codes #1 and #2 respectively. These are accepted by most curb-side recycling pick-ups.
• We use Energy Star certified appliances where possible.

And we never test on animals. We are committed to creating cruelty free products and sourcing ingredients in a responsible manner. Additionally, we do not use any animal byproducts in our formulas.

We are a fee‐based, wealth management firm providing comprehensive financial life planning and investment management services to individuals and institutions.  We specialize in transcending traditional wealth management solutions by aligning our client’s investments with their unique goals and values through sustainable, responsible and impact investing.

FairTrade Caravans is a social enterprise believing in people and planet before profit. Our mission is to educate, inspire and give back by demonstrating how fair trade directly helps people in developing countries earn a sustainable living, all while supporting local communities. 

FairTrade Caravans partners with nonprofits and schools, providing an online fundraising platform where their communities can buy ethically made and sustainable products and they receive 25% of sales for their own fundraising goals.

Fair trade products are made or grown with no child labor, fair wages safe working conditions and sustainable practices.

LONDON – 2 JULY 2020 – A new report by the Climate Safe Lending (CSL) Network details the urgent and pivotal role banks around the globe can play in moving economies in time to avert the worst damage from climate change. “Taking the Carbon Out of Credit: An Integrated Approach to Removing Climate Emissions from Lending” details a strategy toolkit outlining 10 approaches that banks should adopt to accelerate their decarbonization.

The report comes as investors, activists and even industry insiders express frustration with the banking sector, its growing commitments to fossil fuels, and the failure to develop strategies for decarbonization. The CSL Network lays out how banking institutions can take more concrete and comprehensive strategies to decarbonize their lending business within the next five years to avert the imminent climate tipping point of a two-degree Celsius global temperature rise, ensure a just transition, and address climate justice.

These are the 10 elements of the CSL decarbonization “toolkit” for banks:

The report also puts forward the new notion of “Triple A” ratings for banks that “Anticipate risk,” “Add value” and “Act now” when it comes to dealing with the challenges of climate safety, sustainability and resilience.

James Vaccaro, report author and interim director, CSL Network, said: “Banks need to understand the imperative to get their climate strategies right - for the future success of their business and to make a demonstrable positive impact for their customers and the economies they serve. Turning positive impact approaches into sustainable business models will be critical as economies emerge from COVID-19 and transition towards a just, sustainable economy of the future.”   

Sandrine Dixson Declève, president, the Club of Rome, said: “The planet and humanity are facing a deep systems crisis rooted in a number of interconnected global challenges. This is the moment to show collective leadership between government, business and citizens to shift our financial and economic systems beyond a growth paradigm and towards a more equitable well-being economy that will ensure resilience to future shocks.”

Geeta Aiyer, founder and president, Boston Common Asset Management, LLC, said: “We have the capital, technology, and scientific knowledge to address climate change. Proactive leadership from financial institutions is required now to make the most of this opportunity.”

Fran Boait, executive director, Positive Money and CSL Network design team member, said: “Taking the Carbon out of Credit lays out how a banking institution can move through target setting into the practical strategies to decarbonize their lending business at a pace that is commensurate with the scale of the challenge.”

Ivan Frishberg, director of Impact Policy, Sustainability Banking at Amalgamated Bank and CSL Network design team member, said: “The banking sector can no longer sit in the world of institutional risk mitigation and think that we will avoid systemic risk. The agenda now has to be about comprehensive action and real pathways for decarbonization, and that is what the Climate Safe Lending Network has outlined.”

Tjeerd Krumpelman, global head of Advisory, Reporting & Engagement, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., and CSL Network design team member, said: “Instead of waiting for a perfect strategy for assessing climate impact, the Three Horizons Approach to Climate Safe Lending described in Taking the Carbon Out of Credit offers banks an iterative process for setting and reporting on targets for reducing climate emissions. This approach helps us to align our portfolio with the Paris Climate Agreement.”

Michael Swack, professor, Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire and CSL Network Policy Initiative advisor, said: “Managing risks is necessary for banks but not sufficient for the planet; Managing impact and innovation is necessary for the planet but needs sound strategy to become a tangible opportunity for banks. Taking the Carbon out of Credit offers a strategy toolkit outlining 10 complementary approaches that banks could adopt to accelerate their decarbonization pathways.”

The Climate Safe Lending Network consists of diverse bank stakeholders from across North America and Europe who are collaborating to align bank lending with a well below two-degree Celsius global temperature rise. The CSL Network brings together senior leaders and changemakers within banks, stakeholders and influencers (including clients, foundations, shareholders), policy experts and civil society groups, connecting with one another to collectively explore how they can play their optimum role in accelerating change. https://www.climatesafelending.org/ 

The CSL Network is part of Green America's Center for Sustainability Solutions, which brings together diverse stakeholders to solve complex systemic problems that no one company, organization or governmental agency can solve alone.  Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s most serious social and environmental problems.  http://www.GreenAmerica.org  http://www.centerforsustainabilitysolutions.org/  

MEDIA CONTACT: Alex Frank for Green America, +1 (703) 276-3264, afrank@hastingsgroup.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  A video recording of the webinar will be available shortly after the live event on the CSL Network’s website: https://www.climatesafelending.org.   

Amazon says it stands with Black communities; Amazon also says it cares about solutions to climate change and climate justice. But here’s the thing, actions speak louder than words.

Last year, Amazon’s carbon footprint increased by 15%. And despite claiming to stand with Black communities, Amazon’s energy usage and warehouses pollute Black and Brown communities disproportionally when compared to predominately white communities.

Amazon continues to disrespect warehouse workers, a quarter of which are Black. Earlier this year, when a Black warehouse worker, Chris Smalls, tried to organize around improving Amazon’s response to COVID-19, he was not only fired; Amazon’s general council called him ‘not smart or articulate’. Demeaning workers who raise concerns instead of taking worker safety seriously demonstrates what little respect Amazon executives have for the workers that make Amazon’s profits possible. 

While Amazon was trying to distract consumers with its statement on police brutality and “standing with the Black community”, it was busy firming up 29 new partnerships with police departments for the use of Ring as a tool of surveillance, which includes a police department just miles away from where George Floyd was killed. As Americans across the country were (and still are) calling to end police brutality, for an end to systemic racism, for accountability for all the Black lives unjustly lost at the hands of police officers – Amazon was working to profit off the situation.  

Additionally this week, Amazon was caught lying about the infection rates in warehouses. On a 60 Minutes interview this spring, an Amazon representative stated that the rates of COVID-19 infections in Amazon facilities are “generally just under what the actual community infection rates are”. But a leaked memo showed that this was not true, and Amazon knew it wasn’t.

This seems to be one of Amazon’s tactics: distract with positive PR all while perpetuating harmful practices.

Let’s look at Amazon’s response to climate change:

Amazon announced a $2 billion climate fund to invest in technologies addressing climate change, which follows on Bezos’ pledge of $10 billion in climate change donations. Amazon even went so far as to buy the naming rights of Seattle’s NHL stadium to name it the Climate Pledge Arena.

While investments and donations are nice, it would be nicer if Amazon’s operations weren’t designed to exploit the planet. For example, while pledging to advance technologies to address climate change, Amazon simultaneously is working with oil and gas companies to use its computing technology to find more fossil fuels.

And, Amazon has failed to make clear if its new $2 billion investment fund or Jeff Bezos’ pledge of $10 billion will address the impact of pollutants and climate change on Black and Brown communities caused by the company’s operations. Air pollution has many harmful health impacts, including increasing an individual’s risk of having a severe case of COVID-19 and was recently linked to serious pregnancy risks.

Amazon Employees for Climate Justice’s (AECJ) research has shown: “the majority of Amazon’s facilities are located in zip codes that have a higher percentage of POCs than the majority of zip codes in their metropolitan area. This indicates that when Amazon builds its logistics infrastructure in a metropolitan area, it’s likely to put them in neighborhoods where a high proportion of the community is Black, Latinx, or Indigenous. In contrast, Amazon’s corporate offices are in zip codes with smaller percentages of Black, Latinx and Indigenous residents..... Amazon’s logistics infrastructure, and its associated pollution, is concentrated in communities of color.”

Racial justice and climate justice are inextricably linked; falling short on one results in falling short on both. Amazon continues to fail the planet and workers while trying to distract us all from what it is doing. Amazon has proven to be an important source for staples for many during this pandemic, but if its operations continue as is, we’ll all suffer as Jeff Bezos rapidly expands Amazon’s reach and even explores ways to colonize space. Its time Amazon is held accountable for its actions that harm people and the planet!

Take action to hold Amazon accountable:

Sign our petition to demand that Amazon step up its efforts to respect the planet and workers. And, check our expanded list of Amazon alternatives, all of which are certified Green Businesses.

By London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, June 28, 2020

In the midst of World War II, Americans came together to grow fruits and vegetables in their backyards, forming a network of victory gardens that at one point provided as much as 40% of the country’s vegetables. Today, thousands of Americans are turning to victory gardens again, but for a very different fight — the fight against climate change.

In Indiana and across the country, climate victory gardens are popping up as part of a movement from Green America, an environmentally-focused nonprofit.

Much like the gardens last century were meant to rally communities around a common cause, these victory gardens center on environmentally friendly food production and require gardeners to use regenerative techniques.

“It was an incredible household-level movement that just showed that people’s individual actions could really come together,” said Jes Walton, food campaigns manager for Green America. “We’re trying to make that happen again, but we’re doing it for the climate this time.”

Since Green America’s campaign for victory gardens began in 2018, at least 75 gardens have been registered in Indiana, including many in the Indianapolis area.

And as the COVID-19 pandemic has kept Hoosiers at home this spring, the number of registrations for new gardens has blossomed. Since February 1, Walton said nationwide more than 1,000 new gardens have registered — an increase of roughly 50%.

In Indiana, 55 new victory gardens were registered this spring, more than tripling the number that existed before February. Many joined as part of a collaboration with school garden organization Big Green, but others were simply individuals moved to participate.

Walton thinks more people might be gardening during the pandemic because it’s a good way to get outside while staying safe and maintaining social distancing.

“In this time when people are just kind of stuck at home … gardening is really good for your mental health and physical health and provides actually for education opportunities,” Walton said.

Although not part of a war-time effort to reduce food insecurity, the purpose of Climate victory gardens centers on growing food sustainably and capturing carbon in the soil — a more environmentally friendly practice than purchasing store-bought produce that has often traveled hundreds or thousands of miles.

Green America encourages gardeners to use regenerative methods that sequester carbon in the soil, such as using natural fertilizers, composting and not using pesticides or herbicides. Covering the soil with mulch, cover crops and strategically allowing weeds also promotes soil health.

And that’s an important aspect of gardening, as healthy soil pulls more carbon out of the air, Walton said.

“The idea is, if folks are taking care of their soils, then they’re also pulling carbon out of the air,” Walton said. “It’s kind of a win-win situation.”

Bill Ryerson has promoted soil health for years by composting his waste in his garden, which he says makes the soil nice and rich. And after about 48 years of gardening experience, Ryerson grows squash, beets, carrots, potatoes and more in his northwest Indianapolis victory garden.

Gardening can be a step toward more sustainable food production, he said, especially keeping in mind the future that climate change could bring.

“If we change the environment enough, the inhabitants of the planet will change and that may not include us ... It’s getting awfully, awfully late,” Ryerson said. “We’ve ignored it for way too long, and some of these people need to wake up and smell the ozone, I guess.”

In East Indianapolis, Julia Spangler and Mark Clayton are also motivated by the idea of producing more sustainable food. In their garden, which they just expanded this year into 500 square feet. They now grow 62 different species.

“It’s not a product of industrial agriculture,” Clayton said. “It’s not traveled hundreds of thousands of miles to get to you.”

This year, they hope to grow enough produce to have a surplus and create a community food box in their yard for neighbors to come and take what they need.

“You know where (your food) has been,” Spangler said. “You have the satisfaction of having raised it from a seed or a very small plant ... I just think it’s kind of magical.”

Victory gardens offer more than just environmentally friendly produce, Walton said. They also build community.

Much like community gardens that stock food pantries or church services, excess food grown in backyard gardens is often donated, Walton said. Green America has an online database of victory gardens, so that people can look up and reach out to other gardeners in their area.

Many community gardens might not be in full operation as people have stayed home social distancing, but Walton said she’s noticed people sharing their backyard crops and supporting each other.

“You’ll see a box with a little sign on it that says, ‘Take what you need,’” Walton said. “It can be exciting to show that there’s community momentum, and that you’re part of a bigger thing.”

David Ranalli, a victory gardener in North Indianapolis, describes his garden as more of a magical “food forest.”

Complete with fruit trees, a mushroom growing system and vegetable beds, Ranalli’s layered garden has taken on a life of its own and even has become the focus of an Instagram account and website.

Also a magician, Ranalli said he has benefited from his food forest in a myriad of ways, from seeing wildlife return to his property to coming back into touch with his relationship to plants.

“It was sort of a personal satisfaction in being able to take part in restoring these kinds of natural elements in my life,” he said. “But also, as a magician, I’m always looking for a magical thing, a magical experience.”

Victory gardens began in World War I as a way for communities to supplement produce as food was being diverted overseas to the front lines. Now, there’s an opportunity for people to think about modern food supply and how gardening could help in the fight against climate change, Walton said.

Altogether, she said, using calculations based on regenerative agriculture techniques that are being practiced in the registered gardens around the country, these gardens could absorb 92,100 tons of carbon in the next 10 years — the equivalent of taking 70,000 cars off of the road for one year.

But Walton said she believes they can do more: Green America is pushing to double the acreage of gardens currently registered by the end of the year. It’s a lot to ask, she acknowledges.

“A lot of other campaigns and programs are like, ’sign this petition,” Walton said. “And we’re literally asking someone to go outside and have a garden, which is just such different commitment and level of commitment.”

Spangler and Clayton agreed maintaining their victory garden is a time commitment, but it can bring people together to rally around a cause that’s desperate for solutions.

“The climate crisis isn’t going to be solved only through gardening or through regenerative agriculture, so I like the allusion to victory gardens because of the kind of coming together and the community aspect that is suggests,” Spangler said. “But I think it’s important to keep in mind that climate change needs a lot of different solutions.”

Ranalli said he gardens because he believes small decisions should be considered for how they can impact the next generation.

“If we want to create a better world, we have to do it through the lens of, would our kids be proud of the work we did and would they be reaping benefits that we didn’t get to have?” he said. “We can do all of that through the power of plants.”

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Mogalixe's staff work remotely in order to minimize the company's impact on the environment by not creating a dedicated workspace.  This eliminates daily commuting and the use of additional electricity in an office space, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.  When necessary for face-to-face meetings, we use only shared offices or public spaces like restaurants.  We encourage our staff to use recycled paper for printing and to print only when necessary.  Staff are given employee discounts on Mogalixe products and are encouraged to use these products in their homes to help the environment.  We recycle all paper waste used in the business.  

Plants fall into two categories: annuals and perennials. Many of the most common garden plants are annuals, meaning they have to be replanted every year or season. They have short life cycles and mature and die (or are harvested for you to eat) within the course of a single season. Annuals include crops like peas, corn, basil, and carrots. There’s too many to list here, but the back of your seed packet will tell you whether your plant is an annual or perennial.

Perennials are plants that grow and provide harvests for multiple growing seasons. You plant them once, and depending on the crop, they can live for two years up to decades. Perennials that are commonly planted in and around gardens include berry bushes, rhubarb, rosemary, asparagus, and fruit/nut trees. Depending on where you live, some perennials—like kale—are grown as an annual crop because it’s not able to survive the winter.

While perennials can be more expensive upfront, they can save you money over the years because you don’t have to buy new seeds or seedlings each year. They also require quite a bit of attention the first year, but are quite sturdy and self-sufficient after that.

The added benefits of perennials

Perennials play an important role in the soil health of your Climate Victory Garden. Because they don’t need to be replanted each year, soil disturbance is minimized and soil organisms thrive. These healthy soils hold carbon and grow vigorous crops. The plants themselves take carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in their trunks, stems, and leaves—as well as in their deep root systems that ultimately feed the soil microbiome. Perennials have extensive root systems, with the added benefit of storing carbon deeper in the soil where it is more stable. When above-ground parts of a perennial plant are harvested, the plant sheds its deep roots (and the carbon they’re made up of) but retain enough to grow back the following season.

Beyond carbon sequestration and climate benefits, perennial plants can help increase the water holding capacity and reduce the erosion of soils; reduce time, labor, inputs; and improve habitats for invertebrates and small mammals. 

Diversity above ground encourages diversity in the soil. Growing a variety of crops—a combination of annual and perennial plants—supports healthy, carbon-sequestering soils because it encourages diverse soil communities and distributes carbon at varying depths underground. Diverse gardens are better able to resist weather extremes and are more resilient in the face of droughts, floods, and other impacts of the climate crisis. They have greater ability to withstand some pests, which reduces the need for pesticides. And, having a variety of crops also improves the diversity of diets and food security for consumers and local communities.

Don’t be afraid to ask neighbors or local gardening experts for help if you are struggling with your garden. Check out the Climate Victory Gardening map to see if there are other climate-focused gardeners in your area and let us know if you’d like to connect.

Join our Climate Victory Gardeners Facebook group so that you can connect with a community of gardeners who care about the climate. In this group, you can ask questions, share resources, and stay up to dates with gardens across the country.

For optimum success in your garden come spring, we recommend using the fall to tidy up, do a bit of strategic planting, and protect your more delicate and tender plants from the coming frost and snow.

Preparing your garden for winter can seem like a daunting task, and it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list to make sure you don’t miss a trick and to ensure that your garden is as healthy as it can be all year round.

10 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

1. Clean up, but leave important habitat and cover soils

We know it can be tempting to clear everything from the garden before winter. We’ve long been taught to value this neatness, but we invite you to embrace a lower maintenance method that’s also better for the environment.  

Old corn stalks? Flowers past their prime? Leave these roots in the ground to cover and protect soils from erosion and low winter temperatures. 

If you don’t like how it looks, you can push plant material flat on the ground so it’s less visible but still provides the nooks and crannies for beneficial insects to wait out the cold season. If you still can’t stand the look of this, you can trim plants down to within a few inches of the soil, still leaving the roots intact. We encourage you to see the dry plant stems as a way to add a little winter beauty to your garden, especially on frosty and snowy mornings where they can showcase their dramatic shapes.

You can also use dead leaves to cover the soil around plants as mulch, which insulates the roots, provides foraging habitat for birds, and serves a safe space for other small wildlife and pollinators.  Learn more about the benefits and methods of composting leaves from our friends at Greenability.

2. Save for the future

If you’ve allowed plants to go to seed or fruit to stay on the plant, consider saving these seeds. You can preserve excess harvest by freezing, drying, or canning. Or, share with friends.

3. Reconsider your lawn 

Think back to how much time you dedicated to your lawn this year—how much maintenance it required. There are many less time-intensive alternatives to the lawn that are better for you and your family, local ecosystems, and global environmental health. Fall is a good time to replace that turf grass with a carbon-capturing, biodiverse meadow; extend your Climate Victory Garden; or try out a low-maintenance landscaping style like xeriscaping. 

4. Overwinter plants

Some plants benefit from being protected from the cold in a dry, sheltered area. If you’re growing in containers, this is easy! Bring any tender potted plants into your home or greenhouse. 

If you have sensitive plants in the ground, do some research on best ways to overwinter. Preparing your garden for winter includes insulating them where they are, trimming and repotting to bring indoors, and taking cuttings to plant in the spring.

5. Plant perennials 

Perennial plants are those that survive for many seasons and don’t need to be replanted annually. They’re an important part of Climate Victory Gardening, because of their ability to capture carbon and protect soils. 

For perennials that bloom and produce in late spring/early summer, fall is the best time to plant. Get started before the coldest weather to give them a good opportunity to get established.

6. Compost 

Fall is a great time to start composting because of the abundant compost material available this time of year, especially leaves. Pile your leaves—and your neighbors if they have extra—with alternating layers of soil and/or coffee grounds. (Not a coffee drinker? Tea leaves work too!) Water thoroughly and protect the pile from blowing away. By spring, materials will break down into nutrient rich compost.

Already a composter? Move your compost to a sunny area and insulate it with layers of straw, cardboard, or similar organic material. Even if the cold temperatures stop decomposition, continue adding food scraps and other materials, which will continue to break down from freeze-thaw cycles.

7. Regenerate soils

Add compost to soil that grew plants during the past season, especially where you planted heavy feeders like tomatoes. 

Sheet mulching with newspaper or cardboard can provide important weed control and add much needed organic matter to depleted soils. 

8. Update your garden plan 

You might have created a garden sketch or something similar to plan your garden in the spring. Did you stick to that plan? If not, we recommend updating it, as this will help you to rotate your crops the following year.

9. Take care of odd jobs you’ve been putting off

Clean, repair and replace tools. Patch up fences, sheds, pathways, and greenhouses. All this is much easier to do in the cooler weather of fall, and you will be grateful for it when it’s time to get busy in the garden again.

10. Prepare for Spring

Even in the off-peak gardening season, there’s still lots of planning to do.

Want to expand your garden or try out some new plants next year? You have all fall and winter to research new varieties, and many gardeners find great joy in seed catalogs. 

Making lists and diagrams is a great way to keep you excited about the next season while also helping you plan better. Review your garden sketches, notes, and journals to determine what plants and/or methods didn’t work, and plan accordingly for next year. Create long-term goals for your soil and re-evaluate goals for the season passed. Consider what carbon-sequestering methods you used and how to improve upon these and try new Climate Victory Gardening practices next year.

Spring always seems to come around quicker than expected. Fall and winter give you plenty of time to hone-in on what you want to do with your garden next year. So, don’t go into hibernation, take advantage of this time and prepare your garden for winter! 

By Chris Lee, a freelance writer, with writing published about cycling, green living, and ways to make a difference without fundamentally restructuring your lifestyle. Prepared in partnership with Upgardener.

Composting is something that everyone can do, even if you live in an apartment. Every compost arrangement will look different based on where you live and how much waste you have to process, but all can be good for the planet (and your garden).

Why composting is important

Composting is all about assisting in the natural decomposition of your kitchen and yard scraps to create a rich garden fertilizer. It’s good for the planet and your garden. Food and yard waste take up a quarter of municipal landfills, where they release the harmful and very strong greenhouse gas methane.

Instead, these organic materials can be turned into compost to feed soil microorganisms that boost our crop health and sequester carbon. Using compost as a fertilizer also offsets the climate impacts associated with the production and transportation of store-bought fertilizers.

Types of composters

If you live in an urban area or lack outdoor space, vermicomposting (worm composting) might be the best solution, because it can be done in a small space and even indoors in five- or ten-gallon buckets. Compost can be put on indoor plants or shared with anyone who has a yard.

If you have more outside space, multi-tiered composters and tumbling barrel composters are good low-maintenance options that are pest resistant, but they can be costly.

Piles and holding bins are also good options for those with outdoor space. An open compost pile is free, but takes a lot of strength to turn regularly by hand, requires a lot of organic material, and is the slowest to decompose. A holding bin can be made out of repurposed materials, making it an affordable option that’s more contained if you think your neighbors wouldn’t appreciate an open pile.

If you want to redirect your organic wastes but don’t want to compost yourself, chances are there’s a local or even municipal compost service that will take your food and kitchen scraps. This is often fee based. Consider reaching out to local farms and gardens to see if they want this material for their own composts.

How and what to compost

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information out there about composting. Composting is like your gardening journey: start simple and adopt more advanced techniques as you feel ready.

• Start in the spring or summer, as warm temperatures help decomposition.
• Aim for a roughly 50/50 mixture of “brown” and “green” organic waste in your compost to yield ideal results. “Green” waste is moist, organic waste like fruit and vegetable peels. “Brown” waste is dry, papery waste like dried grass clippings or twigs (make sure the yard waste wasn’t treated with chemical pesticides or fertilizers).
• Keep your compost moist, like a wrung-out sponge. Water it and add more green materials if it feels dry. Add more brown waste if it feels too wet (or smelly).
• Turn your compost to speed up the process and give the bacterial air to do their job.
• Keep a small container for food scraps in your kitchen (in the freezer if you’re worried about odors). This will eliminate trips outside to toss scraps into the compost after every meal.
• Do not compost pest waste, meat, or dairy. Also avoid weed seeds.
• Do compost unbleached coffee filters, paper, cardboard, straw, fresh or dry grass clippings, twigs, leaves, wood chips, fruit and veggie scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, and tea bags.

Raised beds are essentially extra-large planters, generally made of wood, brick, or stone.

It may be tough to disassociate gardens with raised garden beds, as this is such a common element in today’s home gardens. But, take a minute to consider whether you really need raised beds. They can be costly to build and are resources intensive, which has impacts on the planet. For many, planting directly in the ground is the easiest and cheapest option.

However, they’re a great option if you’re unsure of the health of your existing soil (as is the case in many urban areas). Because the beds are raised up from the ground, they also help prevent back strain, since you won’t have to bend down far to tend your plants. Their height may discourage some garden pests, and they have excellent drainage by design, making it tough to overwater them (but also tough to keep moist if you live in a dry area).

Although you can purchase ready-made raised beds, making your own can save money—and help ensure that all of the materials are as good for the planet as your garden. There are a number of things to consider when building raised beds such as depth, width, and materials.

Size

Length and width are important elements of designing any garden bed (raised or not), which are covered here.

Depth is a new variable if you’re planting in raised beds. No matter what you’re growing, beds should be an absolute minimum of six to twelve inches deep. This minimum is most appropriate for plants with small root systems like lettuce and other greens. If you want to grow root vegetables, like carrots or beets, consider the final size of these vegetables and ensure your bed is at least this deep, plus a few inches extra. For larger plants—like tomatoes—and more substantially rooted perennial plants, consider providing the same amount of root space as the plant takes up above ground.

Materials

Avoid pressure treated woods. There are a number of chemicals and fungicides used in pressure treated wood—these types of wood are actually prohibited under the organic certification, which means you probably don’t want to use it for the food you are growing at home either! 

Some woods are naturally rot-resistant, which make them the most natural option for building a garden bed frame. Cedar, black locust, and redwood are examples of this, with lifespans up to 15 years once exposed to the elements in your garden. Do your research on the wood’s source and choose sustainable options when possible.

There are many recipes for creating natural wood sealants using beeswax, jojoba oil, linseed oil, and others. Here are some examples. You might also consider other long-lasting materials, like pavers.

You’ll also need to fill the beds with soil. Contact your local garden stores and even local farm and compost operations to find the option that fits your budget and your goals of being part of the climate solution. Soil is often the most expensive material in creating raised beds. Choose organic and local options where possible. If you can’t find local soils, consider mixing whatever option you do have with locally made compost, in a ratio of 1:1. The local compost has rich microorganisms adapted to your area that will thrive to support healthy crop growth and carbon capture in your soil.

Potting soil can also work well for elevated raised beds.

Building garden beds

Every garden bed will be uniquely suited to each gardener’s needs. Those with back issues, will want taller beds. Those worried about gophers will fasten chicken wire to the bottom before adding soil. Some beds will be built right on top of existing soil to extend the root area and welcome native soil microbes into the bed, while others will place beds on impermeable surfaces or need to create barriers to ensure roots don’t come in contact with toxic soils underneath. Still others will incorporate crop covers or insulation for pests and challenging climates. YouTube is full of amazing tutorials for all needs.

If you don’t have access to outdoor space, you can still grow good food indoors. You can find creative solutions for growing just about anything indoors, but some plants especially thrive indoors. Follow the guidelines on growing food in containers, with these additional considerations for growing indoors:

Location

Choose a location that’s easy to access, but also out of the way enough that the containers aren’t in the way or easily knocked over. Windowsills and large countertops are great options, especially if they get at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day.

If natural sunshine is in short supply, consider purchasing a small indoor grow light. Many local garden stores and online vendors have starter options as inexpensive as $20. With a grow light, you open up a lot of possibilities for location. Because plants also like warmth, which they would naturally get from the sun, some folks keep their plants on top of the fridge (which gives off a bit of warmth and warm air rises). Keep plants away from air conditioning units and strong fans and choose a location with generally consistent temperature and humidity.

Microgreens and baby greens

Microgreens are packed full of nutrients, only take around 10 days to grow, and take up a tiny amount of space. Choose from fast growing radish greens, spicy water cress, or substantial sunflower greens.

Each plant will have different growing requirements (check your seed packet), but many require seed soaking before planting in soil. You can grow them densely in repurposed fast food containers, yogurt cups, or any other vessel that you can add drainage holes to (or there’s lots of trendy kits online). Keep a pair of scissors handy to trim microgreens onto a salad, sandwich, smoothie, or just about any meal.

Baby greens are essentially micro greens that have been given more time (around 2 weeks) and space (space around an inch apart).

Sprouts

Sprouts are younger than microgreens—they’re seeds in early germination and growth. This means they’re ready to eat even faster, as soon as three days after you start them.

Choose a sprouting seed like alfalfa (to make the classic sprouts you see at the grocery store), broccoli, chia, or pumpkin. You can even sprout many raw nuts and beans. Be sure to buy seeds that are meant for eating instead of planting, as they’re treated and processed differently.

You’ll need a large mason jar, repurposed pickle jar, or other clear glass container with a lid. Many seeds are very small, so you need a special lid for draining water from the sprouts. You can purchase a sprouting lid for a few dollars at many health food stores or online, or you can repurpose a piece of screen or mesh secured to the jar with a rubber band.

Soak 1-2 tablespoons of seeds in the jar overnight. After soaking, drain, rinse, and store upside down so excess water can drain out. Rinse at least twice a day until your seeds sprout and store in the fridge in a container lined with paper towel or filled with cold water (change the water regularly).

Herbs

Fresh herbs are expensive to buy at the store but are relatively cheap and easy to grow indoors year-round. They prefer 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day, otherwise may need a grow light.

The herbs that grow best indoors are perennials like mint, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Parsley, basil, and cilantro can also be grown indoors but need to be replanted regularly. Trim off the plant with scissors as needed for adding to meals—this trimming actually encourages the plant to grow more, just like a haircut—but avoid removing more than a quarter of the leaves at any one time.

Grow your kitchen scraps

Foods from the grocery store that still have the root node can be placed in a jar or bowl of shallow water and grown at home. When you’re shopping, choose produce with this root node still intact, like a full head of lettuce instead of loose-leaf lettuce. Other foods you can grow this way include celery, beet greens, bok choy, and green onions.

Mushroom stems, onion ends, and sprouted potatoes can also be used to grow food at home.

Growing at home helps you eliminate food miles and the climate impacts of shipping food around the world. Growing from kitchen scraps takes that one step farther by keeping these organic materials out of the landfill where they produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Some plants need to be started indoors, while others need to spend their whole life outdoors. Some are resistant to frost, and others need cozy soil temperatures in the 70s or higher. This tool from the Old Farmer’s Almanac provides a general planting calendar and information on which plants should be started indoors vs outdoors based on your zip code. Write the details directly on your seed packets or on a list for your future reference.

It’s important to know your local freeze dates too. This will help you determine when to plant in the spring. The back of your seed packet will have language like “plant outside two weeks after last frost” or “start indoors three weeks before last frost.” If you live in an area with a short growing season (i.e. a short summer), avoid plants that may not mature before the first freeze in the fall.

Maturity dates are found on the back of seed packets. Subtract the number of days to maturity from your fall’s first frost date to determine when to plant that specific variety.

As the climate crisis increasingly affects local weather patterns, expect for these average frost dates to vary and plan for possible losses by planting more than you think you might need.

Starting seeds indoors

Depending on what you’re growing and where you live, some seeds will have to be started indoors and eventually transplanted outdoors, especially those that have long maturation periods and need an extended season. If you live in an area with a long winter, you will need to start most of your seeds inside so that they have the ability to mature and grow strong before planting them outside to face the elements.

If your soil quality isn’t that great, seedlings nurtured indoors the first few weeks of their life will have a better chance of survival once planted outdoors. Critters also have a tendency to pull out and snack on seeds, so seedlings may fare better in this situation too.

Starting your seeds inside is also a great option if you live in a region where you have multiple planting seasons. You can get a head start by planting your seeds indoors so that the seedlings are ready to be planted outside as soon as it’s time to transition your garden to the next season.

Growing from seed requires soil, containers, warmth, light, and very regular watering. Choose organic soils and containers that can be recycled—or consider repurposing supplies from your recycling bin like old yogurt containers and egg cartons. Buy or repurpose a spray bottle for watering, so as not to damage the delicate seedling stems. Water at least twice a day during germination; the soil should never feel dry to the touch. Place containers on a sunny windowsill where they’ll stay warm and get 4+ house of sunlight each day. Look into inexpensive indoor growing lights if your home lacks natural light.

Always plant more than you think you’ll need and expect some losses during this fragile phase. Share any extras you have in seedling swaps and with neighbors and friends.

Transplanting seedlings

Transplant your seedlings according to seed packet information or planting calendar.

If you grew your seedlings from seed at home, they’re well accustomed to the relatively consistent temperature, light, humidity levels, and lack of wind and pests indoors. That’s also the case if you’re transplanting seedlings purchased at a nursery or garden store, where your seedlings likely grew up in a climate-controlled, protected greenhouse.

Before you transplant outside, you’ll need to do what’s called “hardening off” or slowly acclimatizing your seedlings to the elements and their new outdoor home. Start with just an hour or two a day and work your way up to leaving them out overnight. When you finally plant in the soil outdoors, water thoroughly to help them settle in their new home.

Seedlings and seeds are extremely sensitive to new environments and can experience shock when planting; make sure to keep to a consistent watering schedule, feed your plants if needed, and cover them from sunlight if it’s particularly hot or sunny when you are planting. 

Remember to minimize disturbance of seedling roots and garden soil during transplanting to give the plants a better chance for survival and to protect microbes so they retain carbon in your soil.

Planting seeds outdoors

Some crops—including root vegetables and fast growers like peas—must be grown from seed outdoors because their delicate roots won’t tolerate transplanting. Seed packets will advise whether it’s best to start the variety indoors or outdoors.

If you live somewhere warm, with a very long (or even constant) growing season, consider planting seeds directly outdoors to disturb plants less in the transplanting process.

Don’t forget to label!

Whether you’re starting indoors or planting outdoors, don’t forget to add labels to your newly planted seeds and seedlings! Weeks or months later, you won’t remember what you planted where. A tiny melon seedling looks a lot like a cucumber seedling, but one needs lots of room to spread out and the other needs to climb up a trellis.

Create labels from repurposed or compostable materials, like popsicle sticks, which can be moved from pot to plot and reused year to year.

Read the beginner gardener toolkit for more about when and how to plant your garden.

There are pros and cons to consider when choosing between starting your garden with seeds or transplants (also known as planting seedlings).

Transplants

This option is easier and quicker than starting from seed, because you’re buying a seedling that’s already several weeks old. It’s past its most vulnerable stage and has been given the resources it needs to grow into a healthy mature plant. Because of this, it’s also more expensive to buy seedlings.

You can find seedlings at your local nursery. Quality may be an issue, so check closely for pests and signs of stress like wilting or damaged leaves. Ask the vendor if chemical pesticides or fertilizers were used on the plants; it’s always best for your health and the climate to buy organic when possible. Support local farms and small green businesses when you can.

Seeds

Starting from seed saves you money and often offers more diversity than what’s available at the plant nursery. You can find seeds at your local garden store or in one of many free seed catalogs. Choose organic and as local as possible for the most climate- and planet-friendly options. Consider buying seeds from local farms or sourcing from local seed libraries for seeds that are adapted to your specific area.

Growing from seed is more challenging and time consuming than buying seedlings. There’s more potential for issues but also more opportunities for experimentation and learning. In addition to seeds, you’ll need soil, containers for growing in, and in some cases lights and heating pads. Some seeds need to be planted directly outdoors, while others need to be started indoors. This information can be found on the back of your seed packets and our resource on how to plant seeds. During germination, seeds need to be watered at least twice a day and the soil should remain moist—a demand that can be tough to meet if you’re not at home a lot during this phase.

If you want to try growing from seeds for the first time, you might want to pick something that’s easier to grow, like lettuce and other leafy vegetables, or sunflowers.

Transplants and seeds

For many gardeners, a combination of growing from seed and buying transplanting is the best option. If you try to start from seed and don’t succeed, you can often find transplants to replace them, even if late in the spring. Plant sales are great ways to support local farms and organizations, and help you diversify your garden. For both seeds and transplants, source is incredibly important. Choose companies that are committed to non-GMO, chemical-free, organic, sustainable, and/or responsible growing.

Grow what you love.

Make a list of what to grow based on what you like to eat. Start simple, with the “must-haves,” just like you would if you were trying to find a new car or place to live. Don’t waste time growing things you think you “should” eat. And check to see which veggies grow well in your area. Ask neighbor gardeners what grows well for them. A lot of time and effort will go into your garden, so grow the veggies you love and those that will thrive where you are.

Plant strategically.

If you have a great homemade salsa or tomato sauce recipe, look at the ingredients to see what you can grow. If you’re particularly fond of a unique or expensive herb, spice, or vegetable, see if you can grow it. Have friends, families, or neighbors also gardening? Plant foods that complement their garden for future trades, when you just can’t eat another zucchini.

Some foods have bigger climate impacts than others. Check to see if your favorite exotic fruits and veggies can be grown in your area. If so, you’ll eliminate countless food miles and the emissions associated with transporting food around the world to get to your plate. Some plants are also better at capturing carbon underground than others. Choose deep rooted, perennial plants that do this best—berry bushes and trees for example.

Some plants are easier to grow than others.

Be sure to include some of these easy starter plants: peas, beans, radishes, lettuce, and sunflowers. These plants all grow quickly and are ready to harvest quickly too—leaving less of a chance for pests, weather, or lack of attention to interrupt. Squash are also great for the beginning gardener, but beware that they need a lot of space. Most herbs are also good options because they can be harvested anytime.

Consider the amount of space you have.

Many plants come in an array of varieties to suit your taste and your space. For example, some beans come in bush varieties (good for small spaces and containers) and vining varieties (good for climbing up trellises and have a small garden footprint).

Find the best veggies for your climate.

The US is divided into zones based on what types of plants grow best. Find your zone on the USDA website. The back of seed packets will tell you which Plant Hardiness Zones are ideal for growing that particular variety—be sure to pick plants that will thrive in your zone, which takes into account temperatures, season length, and humidity.

Choose native varieties and seeds adapted to your area when possible. They’re more likely to thrive without climate-negative, synthetic chemicals and are also more resilient in the face of our changing climate.

Read the beginner gardener toolkit for more about deciding what to grow in your garden.

It’s important to assess your time and availability during this step—be realistic. A container garden is best for those with just a few minutes a day. For those with two to three hours a week, a small raised bed might be the option. Don’t go too big on your first garden, they can be more work than expected (try 10 square feet if you’re a first-time gardener).

Size

The maximum width of beds should be around four feet or narrow enough for you to reach the middle to weed and harvest. Length will depend on your space, but eight to ten feet gives you plenty of room to access the garden from all sides. Square four-foot beds can be ideal for small spaces and gardening with children. Consider how you’ll access all parts of larger beds or garden spaces and add pavers or pathways, so you don’t compact growing areas or inadvertently step on germinating seeds or small seedlings.

Incorporate pathways wide enough to walk down once your plants have grown large. Give yourself more room than you expect—at least two feet wide. Transfer soil from paths to beds to build them up and delineate clear walking areas. Where possible, use permeable materials if you want a “paved” walking area.

If you’re short on space, consider growing “up” with plants that climb trellises and have a small garden footprint to allow you to grow more food in the same square footage.

Layout

When determining the best layout for your garden, start with a simple sketch. Physically measure or estimate the dimensions of your area and get it on the page (it doesn’t have to be pretty). You might use the ratio of 1 square inch on the paper to 1 square foot in the garden. Read about plant spacing on seed packets or online and sketch a layout that works for what and how much you want to grow.

Use your sketch as a guide when planting this year and keep it to ensure you’re rotating plants next year. Consider companion planting in the future, once you feel comfortable experimenting with some more advanced practices. These advanced planning practices help your plants succeed without costly external inputs like fertilizers and pesticides that have negative impacts on the climate—and they all rely upon strategic layout and planting techniques.

Read the beginner gardener toolkit for more about choosing your garden's size and layout.

By guest blogger: Michael Twer, CEO/Founder of Delilah Home and Chairman of the Organic Trade Association Fiber Council. Delilah Home is a certified Green Business Network member.

By now, most people know that organic matters and is the way to go when it comes to food. What we put in our bodies matters. It’s better to have something natural that has been cultivated without pesticides and chemicals. But what you put on and around your body matters too. That’s why you should exclusively use organic cotton bed sheets, bath towels, and other items. 

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. If you’re using blankets and towels that are made from non-organic cotton, you’re letting something filled with chemicals and pesticides sit on your skin. Keep reading to find out more about how harmful non-organic can be and why organic cotton is the way to go.

Non-Organic Cotton is Filled with Pesticides and Chemicals

Despite the prevalence of cotton, it might surprise you to know that this crop is actually extremely destructive. Cultivating cotton damages the environment more than any other crop. Harmful chemicals are used to grow cotton, and the seeds themselves are genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

There are more pesticides that go into growing cotton than almost any other crop in the United States. Cotton is also fourth in terms of fertilizer use, right behind corn, soybeans, and wheat crops. The cultivation process is only the beginning. So many chemicals are used in the production and dying process. These chemicals are pumped back into the environment, harming the planet and everyone in it. 

Thinking about this staggering amount of pesticides might be enough to make you switch to eating only organic food. But it should also make you think about other items in your home. Is everything in your linen closet filled with pesticides and chemicals? Unfortunately, unless you’re using other best bed sheets and towels made from only organic cotton, the answer is yes.

But when you choose organic cotton that’s certified according to Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), you don’t have to worry about these things. The entire cultivation and production process is audited, verified, and certified by a third-party. There are no false marketing claims. Just honestly good organic cotton!

Non-Organic Cotton Wastes Water

Cotton crops are a huge burden on the environment and not just because of all the pesticides. According to the Organic Trade Association, it takes over 2,700 liters of water to create just one t-shirt and nearly 11,000 liters to create an average pair of jeans. Jeans and most t-shirts are made from cotton. But when you only buy products that are made from organic cotton, you won’t be wasting as much valuable water just to fill your closet.

Non-Organic Cotton Contributes to Climate Change

Cotton that isn’t organically-sourced leaves a huge carbon footprint. For every metric ton of non-organic cotton, 1.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide are produced. When you choose organic cotton, you’re protecting the environment and helping to combat climate change. Every small action makes a difference! You’re also reducing the demand for energy and protecting soil from erosion.

Organic Matters By Protecting Those with Allergies and Asthma

The items that are in your home make a big difference not just on the planet but on you personally. They could potentially cause harm to you or your loved ones. Over 65 million people suffer from allergies or asthma. Both of these conditions can be triggered by the kinds of chemicals that go into cotton production. 

Even if no one in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, at some point, you’ll probably have someone in your home who suffers from one of these problems. As you get older, you could even become more sensitive to harmful chemicals as your body changes. 
The last thing you want to do is make anyone you care about feel uncomfortable. 

When you use organic cotton, you don’t have to worry about your exposure to harmful chemicals and synthetic pesticides. Organic cotton won’t put anyone’s lungs in danger. It’s also good for sensitive skin.

The Best Towels Made from Organic Cotton Don’t Contain Carcinogens

When you start digging into the pesticides that are used in the United States cotton crops, the information is terrifying. Pesticides like diuron, tribufos, and glyphosate are some of the top pesticides used in cotton production. These pesticides (and others associated with cotton) are either known carcinogens or probable carcinogens. You wouldn’t want to put anything like that in your body. So don’t put it on your body.

You may think that finding organic cotton must be very difficult. Otherwise, it would be the most common choice, right? Wrong. Finding organic cotton products is actually pretty simple. It’s one of the easiest ways you can make a tangible difference in the lives of your loved ones as well as the environment as a whole.

Choosing Organic Means You Can Feel Good About Where Your Cotton Comes From

Organic cotton is also safer to grow than traditional cotton. Although there aren’t a lot of regulations for non-organic growing, organic cotton crops are heavily regulated. The ethics of organic cotton extend beyond just those for the environment. Organically-grown cotton is fair trade, so you know the producers have been paid a fair price and are treated well.

Switch to the Best Bed Sheets and Towels

More and more brands are finally catching on to the importance of using organic cotton in their products. But this doesn’t make a difference if consumers don’t actually buy organic products. Vote with your dollar. Make a difference by switching to organic products! 

If you realize you need to completely revamp your linen closet, look no further than Delilah Home. Our products are made from 100% organic cotton and certified to the Global Organic Cotton Standard (GOTS).  And, we are the only textile company that is Vegan certified through Vegan.org. So, they are not only good for you and the planet, they are exceptionally high-quality. 

All our Delilah Home bath towels, bedsheets, and 100% Hemp bedsheets are also incredibly soft! You won’t find cotton bed sheets or towels on the market that are as soft and luxurious as the ones from Delilah Home. Once you start using the best towels and bed sheets available, you’ll never go back to low-quality non-organic ones again. 

Learn more about Delilah and her 62 day adventure lost in the North Carolina mountains here. Sustainability, Impact, and Community brings us all together.

Over the past several years, we have witnessed a sea change in investor votes on climate-related resolutions, culminating on June 11, 2020 in a strong majority vote at Dollar Tree for action on climate.  The resolution filed by Jantz Management, a Green Business Network member, calls on the company to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals, and received a whopping 67% support.

Green Business Network Director Fran Teplitz stated: “This vote is extraordinary as most social and environmental resolutions do not receive majority support and at most, 10% support, is needed for a resolution to be re-filed in the future to keep the issue in front of both corporate management and investors. Clearly investors want Dollar Tree to be part of climate solutions.”

The Jantz resolution was among the dozens of shareholder resolutions featured in Green America’s 2020 Shareholder Resolution Focus List. Christine Jantz, the firm’s CEO stated: “We believe this tremendous vote is a result of community wide activism on climate issues. Shareholders are urging the companies in which they invest to recognize and remedy their contributions to the climate crisis.”

Jantz Management filed the resolution at Dollar Tree because climate change poses an increasing threat to the fate of humanity and the global economy. Action is overdue and we must address the problem now, using every strategy we can – including shareholder pressure to urge companies to change their practices. 

Shareholder Voters at Dollar Tree Make Big Move

While Dollar Tree engages in some energy efficiency enhancement measures, Jantz Management is not aware of company calculations or disclosure of estimated greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.

“Contrary to Dollar Tree's statement that the board and company have implemented the substance of the shareholder resolution, we are not aware that the company has made a commitment to setting long term GHG emissions reduction goals with quantitative targets. The Company has merely proposed to "discuss long-term goals." To our knowledge, Dollar Tree also has not established goals for reducing GHGs based on any time frame,” added Jantz.

Competitors to Dollar Tree, including TJX and Ross Stores, have already adopted strategies consistent with the shareholder resolution and in response to earlier shareholder resolutions brought by Jantz Management at these firms.

Shareholder power can make a real difference – we look forward to hearing about changes at Dollar Tree to address the company’s role in the climate crisis confronting us all.

By guest blogger: Christine Jantz, CEO of Jantz Management. Jantz Management is a certified Green Business Network member.

Sustainability, Impact, and Community

Our Mission:  We manufacturer the highest quality organic, natural and sustainable home use textiles that are safer for your health and better for the planet. 

Our Vision:  We are a company that cares.  Not only do we produce the very best quality products, we live each day to the best of our sustainable ability.  By putting practice into play, we believe in being excellent stewards of our environment and community.

We believe:  In doing things right the first time and without sacrificing the future in producing products that are not harmful for the environment, our workers, or the end users we serve, and in being good stewards of our community we serve. Ten percent of profits go toward causes that make us all better OR that make the world a better place.

At Delilah Home, we care about quality, the environment, and the community we serve.  We manufacturer and partner with factories who are certified to the highest textile standard.  Furthermore, all of our products are made to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) using the highest quality organic cotton and hemp material.  With little to no chemicals used in our entire supply chain, we aim to protect the environment from harsh chemicals that are commonly used in conventional cotton production.  The results, our ”pure” products are the safest and cleanest textiles on the market.  Lastly, we believe in being stewards of our community and partner with local charities (Humane Society, Habitat, Make A Wish, Beds for Kids).

Delilah Home was named after a scared puppy who survived a life-threatening ordeal in the Carolina mountains. She weathered extreme cold temperatures and record winds by living off the land for 62 days. Around her,  an entire community rallied for her return, watching, and searching until she was eventually reunited with her family. Sustainability, impact, community. Her story reflects the fundamental pillars of Delilah Home. The company’s mission statements and visions aren’t just corporate speak.. They are how we live our lives when we are not at work. Our core values weren’t born out of a branding session, they are a part of who we are as humans and are at the heart of every decision we make.

Report Grades AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon on Renewable Energy Sourcing and Commitments; New Sections Detail Diversity Issues in Industry and COVID-19’s Impact on Findings.

WASHINGTON – June 16, 2020 – Verizon is back at the bottom of Green America’s Clean Energy Wireless Scorecard that grades the top U.S. telecommunications companies on their renewable energy usage, with only 3-5 percent estimated clean energy use. Verizon previously ranked above Sprint, which has raced to the number two spot after being the industry laggard.

According to Green America’s updated “Clean Energy is Calling” report, T-Mobile continues to lead the industry through its commitment to reach 100 percent renewables by 2021. Second-place Sprint announced a goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2025 and its first renewables project to provide 30 percent of its total energy use. With T-Mobile merging with Sprint, T-Mobile has committed to release an updated timeline to move both T-Mobile and Sprint to 100 percent renewables. In third place, AT&T has acquired over 1.5 gigawatts of renewables since 2018, an estimated quarter of its total use. However, AT&T is now the only telecom without a public target or timeline on clean energy. In February 2020, last-place Verizon announced a new wind energy project as its first move to use part of its $1 billion green bond to reach 50 percent renewables by 2025. But its current clean energy contracts will only result in an estimated 3-5 percent renewable energy

“Consumers have a clear choice between telecoms when it comes to clean energy, with T-Mobile (now merged with Sprint) still in the lead,” said Todd Larsen, executive co-director of Green America. “While AT&T and Verizon have made important first steps towards powering their networks with 100 percent renewable energy, they still have a long way to go to get to the 100 percent needed to protect people and the planet.”

While the telecom sector already uses enormous amounts of energy – the four largest companies collectively use more than 3 million MWh of electricity each year – the new report discusses the impact of COVID-19, including significant increases in usage since March likely to result in an uptick in energy consumption, which could outweigh the gains of energy efficiency in the networks. The report also includes a new section on social responsibility of clean energy firms and how telecom companies can influence improvements in diversity and equity in the renewables sector.

At a time when the clean energy sector in the U.S. has lost over 500,000 jobs due to COVID-19, increased purchasing of renewables by the telecom sector could also help to re-employ thousands of people in renewable energy. And, the four largest telecommunications companies can use their massive clean energy purchases to encourage the solar and wind sectors to increase their diversity. Currently, women and African Americans are underrepresented in solar and wind jobs.

When Green America launched its “Hang Up on Fossil Fuels” campaign in 2017, the sector used less than 2 percent renewables with hardly any significant commitments in place to increase. Now, Green America estimates that if all current commitments are met, approximately 45 percent of the four companies’ networks overall will be powered by clean energy. AT&T followed by Verizon use the most energy so if they move to 100 percent renewable energy, it will bring the sector much closer to 100 percent renewable energy.

“Ever since people across the country began calling on telecoms to shift to renewable energy, we’ve seen significant changes throughout the industry,” said Beth Porter, climate campaigns director at Green America. “But there’s still more work to be done to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2025 and our campaign will continue to urge for progress and hold these companies accountable to their commitments.”

Each of the companies is graded on current commitments and actual clean energy being used. This is based on direct responses from companies to Green America’s Clean Energy Calling questionnaire and publicly available data through company announcements and the Carbon Disclosure Project, which reflects 2018 energy use.

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroup.com.

When you grow a Climate Victory Garden, you’re using methods that draw carbon out of the air and store it underground. This action fights climate change, builds soil health, and helps you mimic natural processes that reduce your environmental impact. Growing your own food can reduce your waste footprint as well. 

When you purchase food from a grocery store, there's often unnecessary packaging and pollution generated throughout the food supply chain, from the farm to your fridge. And, as many grocery stores across the country aren't allowing reusable bags during the pandemic, the amount of waste from a single shopping trip can really pile up.

Gardening can reduce your waste footprint, because you're growing food close to home, using the best methods possible, and avoiding packaging--a boon for the planet and an important part of the climate solution. 

Ready to reduce waste in your own Climate Victory Garden? These resources are for you:

• Climate Victory Gardening: How does it work?
• What Practices Make My Garden a Climate Victory Garden?
• I'm ready to start my own Climate Victory Garden.

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of the Minneapolis Police, many Americans are wondering how they can support black communities better. They may be taking part in protests, signing petitions, and calling their representatives to demand immediate reforms to policing. Another arena we can turn to is the green economy: to support Black communities, we must support Black-owned business.

Structural racism in the US extends beyond policing and includes economic inequality that is driven by centuries of racist practices and policies, starting with slavery and extending through the present, exemplified in current practices like redlining, employment discrimination, predatory lending, and many other actions that reinforce white supremacy.

In addition, corporate leaders are not doing enough to help promote Black employees to leadership positions, and as a result only three percent of C-suite executives are Black.

Those practices have devastating impacts on Black communities. In Minneapolis, white residents bring home more than twice as much income on average as Black residents. And while 76 percent of white families in Minneapolis own their homes, only 25 percent of Black families do so.

We need to urge our politicians to address all aspects of racism, and at the same time, we can all take action in our daily lives to support Black communities economically with our spending and investing.

7 Actions to Support Black Communities

1. Shop at local Black-owned stores. With COVID-19 hitting small businesses hard and many Black-owned businesses locked out of government loans, it is more important than ever to shop local. Green America’s 6 Reasons to Support Black Owned Businesses can help you get started in your community. There are several apps that can help, as well as the website Five Fifths. And you can find minority-owned green businesses online that are members of our Green Business Network.

2. Dine at Black-owned restaurants. Black-owned restaurants play a vital role in building community. But, even some of the most long-standing Black-owned restaurants in the US, like Ben’s Chile Bowl in DC, are at risk in this economy. Seek out Black-owned restaurants in your community and order directly from them for pick up (since using delivery apps cuts into their revenues) or join them for outdoor dining (depending on where you live and what is safe for you). The EatOkra app lists Black-owned restaurant options in many cities.

3. Move your banking out of megabanks and into Black-owned and community development banks and credit unions. You can find Black-owned banks and credit unions on the BlackOut site or Watch the Yard. You can find community development banks and credit unions, including minority-owned institutions, that support their local communities through Green America’s Get A Better Bank database.

4. Divest from private prisons and fossil fuels. Private prisons profit off of and drive higher rates of incarceration for Black people. Fossil fuel companies produce pollutants that disproportionately impact Black communities and communities of color overall. You can find out if you have stock or mutual funds in your portfolio that support private prisons using Investigate. You can find out if you are investing in fossil fuels using  As You Sow’s Fossil Free tool. And check out Green America’s Divest & Reinvest  for funds to invest in that support clean energy instead.

5. Take part in the 15 Percent Pledge. Encourage national stores you shop in to carry 15 percent of the products on their shelves from Black-owned businesses. You can do so by talking to the store manager, leaving comment cards at the store, and reaching out to the store online. The more people who ask stores to take action, the more likely they are to do so. Nike, Amazon, and Sephora have expressed their support, and now need to take concrete action.  Many retailers have not even expressed support.  You can follow the campaign on Instagram.

6. Seek out Black professionals. Are you looking for a doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, therapist, wedding planner, or architect? Choose to spend your time and money at a Black-owned private practices.

7. Buy from Black-owned farms. Less than 2 percent of American farms are Black-owned because of long-standing structural racism in US farm policy.  You can support Black farmers and advocate for food justice. Look for Black farmers selling food at your local farmers market or subscribe to a CSA.

These are just seven ideas for supporting Black communities with our dollars. There are many more actions we can all take to support Black communities nationwide, so be on the lookout in your local communities and online for opportunities to support Black-owned business and projects.

June 9, 2020, Washington, DC—Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions is proud to announce and welcome Courtney Pineau as Senior Director of Climate & Agriculture Networks.

Pineau will lead the Center's Climate and Agriculture programs including the Regenerative Supply Working Group, the Carbon Farming Innovation Network, and the Soil Carbon Index (SCI)—an outcomes-based, verifiable standard to improve soil health and build soil carbon. These networks, comprised of stakeholders across the supply chain, seek to collaboratively reverse the climate crisis by restoring soil health and eco-system biodiversity, and rebuild farm, farm worker, and rural community economic sustainability.

Courtney joins the team from the Non-GMO Project, located in Bellingham, WA, where she served as the Associate Director for seven years. In this capacity, she helped lead the growth of the organization from infancy to its current position as one of the leading food certifications in North America. Pineau’s career has focused on supporting mission-driven organizations in scaling their impact through story, outreach, and strategic partnerships.

“It is a great honor to join Green America in their critical work of bringing stakeholders together to find solutions that rapidly scale regenerative agriculture—one of our most powerful tools in reversing climate change and ensuring the resilience of our food system.” 

Courtney holds an BA degree from Western Washington University and an MBA in Sustainable Business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (now Presidio Graduate School).

"The work of the Center's Climate and Agriculture Programs is a source of profound hope for reversing the climate arrow, protecting vulnerable people and our magnificent planet," said Alisa Gravitz, Green America's CEO.  "We are thrilled that Courtney has joined our team to lead this work so crucial for the future of the human family."

About Green America: Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power, and practical tools for consumers, businesses and investors to solve today’s social and environmental problems. Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions brings together diverse groups of stakeholders to solve the complex sustainability problems that no individual business, organization, or leader can solve alone www.greenamerica.org  www.centerforsustainabilitysolutions.org  

While many of us are fortunate enough to be able to shelter-in-place during these times, essential workers throughout our food supply chains, from farm workers to delivery drivers, are risking their health to ensure food makes it to our tables. There are an estimated 2.5 million farmworkers in America, many of which are migrant workers. This number doesn’t even include all those individuals in processing, retail, or delivery.

Unfortunately, in many cases, workers in our food supply chain may not have paid sick leave, health insurance, or are not being paid fairly for their work, so on top of risking their health to help keep our country running, many of these workers do not have the necessary safety nets and are at great risk from COVID-19.

COVID-19 has impacted all of us and shined a spotlight on injustices throughout our society. Along with these trying times comes the opportunity to reshape a new normal --one where all people are supported; those that are essential are always treated as essential; and creating a society that works for all people and the planet.

Across the world, governments and multinationals are struggling to come up with and agree on solutions, but this new context provides the opportunity for people to come together and support one another unlike we have in the past.

In that spirit, we have compiled a list of actions that you can take (and share!) to support local worker initiatives within the food supply chain and to source or grow food in a way that’s good for workers and the environment. We recognize that this list is far from exhaustive, so if there is a local group in your community that is doing great work to support workers and the planet in our food supply chains, please share them with us!

To support ALL essential workers, call on Congress to pass an Essential Workers Bill of Rights!

Essential workers on the farm

Agriculture workers abroad 

In April, the International Labor Rights Forum, Fair World Project, and the International Union of Food Workers (IUF) Latin America Regional Secretariat released a report documenting long term human and labor rights abuses on melon plantations in Honduras, specifically focused on Fyffes, one of the largest fruit companies in the world and the largest supplier of melons in the US. They found long-term toxic chemical exposure, which can cause lasting health impacts and make workers more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Send an email to Fyffes demanding they treat melon workers with the respect they deserve: Take action here.

Agriculture workers in the US 

The US government estimates that about half of farmworkers in the US are undocumented, so many do not have health insurance or sick leave. Regardless of legal status, our system relies on these workers and takes advantage by not providing the necessary benefits.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a worker-led human rights organization, is calling on the governor of Florida to protect farmworkers in Immokalee. Support farm workers and call the Florida governor!

Buy directly from the farm 

Many farmers and farmworkers are feeling the impacts of COVID-19, as supply chains to restaurants, universities, and other large purchasers dry up. Some have been able to pivot, selling directly to consumers facing shortages at the grocery store, experiencing health concerns around shopping at large retailers, and looking for ways to support more resilient local food systems. When you purchase directly from farms and eliminate the middleman, more of what you pay goes to farmers, their employees, and their environmental/agricultural values. Purchasing from smaller, local, family farms is a remedy to the corporate consolidation that happens at many levels of the food system.

Check to see if your local farmers market and CSA options have gone virtual. Find and contact your local family farms to see how they’re selling their food.

Essential workers in food and meat processing 

Meat processing factories

Tyson Foods, JBS, and Smithfield, the largest meat producers in the US, “failed to provide protective gear to all works, and some employees say there were told to continue working in crowded plants even while sick”. At the end of April, at least 20 meat processing workers have died.

Venceremos is a newly formed, worker-based organization in Arkansas whose mission is to ensure the human rights of poultry workers. Venceremos is calling on Tyson Foods to protect its workers and provide paid sick leave. Join Venceremos and sign the petition here!

Local and regenerative 

The grave concerns about the health and safety of food workers in meat factories are largely attributed to the huge quantities of meat and rate at which they’re processing. Instead of buying factory farmed and processed meat, consider looking to smaller, local ranchers and processors for meat, dairy, and eggs that come from animals raised in a humane way that’s good for people and the planet. When animals live outside and are processed on a smaller scale, worker safety concerns and localized pollution become less of an issue. Regeneratively managed flocks and herds are also part of the climate solution.

Check out these Certified Green Businesses that are currently delivering food options:

• KOL Foods: Glatt kosher 100% grass-fed beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, and duck. Wild Alaskan salmon.
• Frontier Co-op: a full line of culinary herbs, spices, teas, health foods, baking flavors under Frontier Co-op and Simply Organic brands. Personal care and aromatherapy products are also available in the Aura Cacia brand.
• Amafruits: superfruits from the Amazon in purees, freshly frozen smoothie packs and sorbets
• Thrive Market: Looking for gluten-free snacks, hypoallergenic cleaning products or organic baby food, there's something for every dietary need and lifestyle online at Thrive Market.
• Higher Grounds Coffee: 100% Fair Trade and organic. Specializes in small-batch roasting of sustainably grown coffees from all over the world.
• Grounds for Change: Roasting exclusively Fair Trade, organic, shade-grown coffee for wholesale, retail, and fundraising. Also offering a wide selection of coffee gifts and a coffee-of-the-month club.
• Equal Exchange: Since 1986 Equal Exchange has been America's pioneer brand for Fair Trade organic coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.

Find local meat, eggs, and dairy here.

Looking for delivery? Explore over 400 entries for good food deliveries from pantry items to meats here.

Buy regenerative meats here.

Essential workers in grocery stores and retailers

Across the retail sector, many chains struggled to respond appropriately to COVID-19, at times resulting in workers not being provided the needed protections. While a few chains did initially increase pay due to the increased risks that workers were being exposed to, large chains, like Kroger and Whole Foods, are now looking to reduce pay back to what it was prior to COVID-19.

It is completely unacceptable for these profitable corporations to end these benefits while workers continue to take health risks!

Amazon/Whole Foods 

On June 1st, Amazon and Whole Foods will end both hazard pay and double overtime – right in the middle of a global pandemic. Workers at Amazon facilities and Whole Foods stores across the country have contracted COVID-19. In early May, the first known Amazon worker died from COVID-19. Amazon and Whole Foods are owned by the wealthiest man in the world, and stocks prices are up during the pandemics. Amazon’s treatment of workers is completely unacceptable and put the entire populations health at risk. Tell Jeff Bezos to respect workers and the planet today!  

Local food hubs

Supporting local food systems is more important than ever in the face of this pandemic. If you don’t like how your grocery store is treating its workers or are fed up with empty shelves, look to decentralized and local food systems. While farms and ranches might only be able to focus on producing a few foods, local food hubs gather the many possibilities and make them accessible to you in one place. Many are offering deliveries or special pick up options right now.

Find your local food hub here. Or, consider joining a local coop or CSA program.

Delivery

For many delivery drivers, like those that work for Instacart or Uber, they do not have access to benefits like paid sick leave because of their classification. Gig Workers Rising is a campaign supporting and educating app and platform workers who are organizing for better wages, working conditions, and respect. In the COVID-19 context, individuals, like those driving for Instacart, are often the final step in getting your food, but they do not have proper safety protections from their employer due to misclassification.

Additionally, delivery apps often take a percentage of the profits from the restaurant, leaving already struggling restaurants with even less. If you are able, try to prioritize picking up your food instead to ensure that restaurants get 100% their profits.

Check out their resources to better understand issues facing gig workers and to get involved whether you are a rider or a driver!

Mutual aid funds 

If you are looking for other ways to support those in need, mutual aid funds are a great option. Check out this extensive list of mutual aid funds across the country. You may even be able to find one that is supporting your own community!

What you can do in your home

With so much uncertainty around the stability of supply chains and the safety of workers, many are turning to gardening at home. Growing your own food means you know exactly where and how your food was grown, which is more than can be said about a lot of the food we find at the store. Gardening is a great lockdown activity, can contribute to your own food security, and can relieve some of the pressure on our ailing food system. You can garden in a way that grows good food and is a boon for the environment. During WWII millions of Americans grew 40% of US produce at home.  We can do that again!

Learn how to grow a Climate Victory Garden.

Buying fair trade 

Many grocery chains now carry fair trade options, so in addition to taking action, you can use your purchasing power to increase the demand for fair trade products. Take a look at this resource to learn more about what you are supporting when you by fair trade. By increasing the demand for fair trade products, your purchases will help to reshape our economy to one that treats all workers fairly!

Even though it seems like we have many choices, most of the seeds in this country are owned by a handful of huge seed companies. These seeds are grown thousands of miles away from where they’re finally purchased. We don’t know the details of how they’re grown or their impact on the place they’re grown. It’s likely the seeds aren’t adapted to the area they’re ultimately planted, and the diversity of available varieties is low.

Seed saving is the solution, both to the seed industry’s impact on the climate (production and transportation, for example) and to our gardens’ ability to adapt to climate change.

When we save seeds, we've allowed plants to fully mature beyond the eating stage, into their reproductive stage when they set their seeds. Seeds are then selected from plants that have desired traits such as drought and disease resistance, flavor, size, or abundance. It only takes one generation for seeds to be imbedded with this ecological and cultural knowledge. As climate change creates unpredictable weather, our gardens and farms become more vulnerable. The health of our gardens depends on saved seeds that have generations of coding specific to our local and changing weather patterns.

Saving seeds is a powerful act, but it’s also simple to get started. Think of it as the final stage in a season of gardening, when we allow plants to grow to their mature stage and let seeds form. The following are easy, beginner-level vegetables for you to bring seed saving to your own Climate Victory Garden:

Lettuce

• Select a variety that prefers local precipitation levels, maintains good leaf growth, doesn't go to seed early, and has a desirable flavor.
• Pull out all the plants with undesirable traits.
• Allow the remaining plants to mature, and you'll notice that the leaves start to head up (get more elongated, pointed, and more vertical growth).
• Flowers will begin to form at the top of the stem. When a majority of the flowers are dry, pull the plant out of the ground and cut off the upper stem with the flowers. 
• Store this top of the stem in a cool dry place until you have the time to sort and clean the seeds. 
• Strip the flowers off the stems and crumble them. Then winnow (separate) the chaff from the seed.
• Store in glass, paper bags, or envelopes.

Tomatoes

• Select for flavor, size, color, water needs, and strength of the plant.
• Pick a tomato that is fully ripe. Cut in half and squeeze the juice and seeds into a small glass jar or cup. Make sure it's a juicy liquid. If it's a tomato that’s inherently not juicy, then add a small amount of water so that the seeds are suspended. 
• Allow this to sit at room temperature three to four days. A mold will likely form on the top.
• The viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and the protective gel around the seed will break down in this fermentation process.
• Skim off the mold first, then pour the rest into a strainer and run the seeds under water until they are clean. 
• Put the clean seeds on a dish to fully dry, then store in a glass jar, paper bag or envelope.

Always store your seeds in a cool, dark, dry space. Label with the name of the plant, date, location, and growing conditions. Consider adding any other pertinent information regarding the growing season that may be helpful to the future. And, if you have a special story that goes with those specific seeds you might want to include that as well.

Ready to take the next step in seed saving? Check out this Seed Saving Guide from the Organic Seed Alliance.

Written by Wendy Weiner, a gardener by trade, graduate of Seed School, and one of the founding members of the Salida Seed Library in Salida, Colorado. 

Don’t let a lack of space or an urban setting stop you from participating in the carbon capture movement. An excellent way to get your hands dirty is to sign up for a community garden. Or offer to help in someone else’s garden.

If neither is an option, you can grow food in containers using regenerative techniques like composting, mulching, and minimal soil disturbance. Containers can be placed on porches, patios, balconies, window boxes, and even indoors. Here are a few tips to get you going.

Find a big container

Bigger is better when it comes to pots. Especially if you're growing perennials, small pots make it hard to take advantage of these plants’ robust root structures. Root-bound or crowded plants won’t weather outdoor temperature swings well and typically need more tending. A good rule of thumb is to choose a container that offers as much space below ground as a mature plant’s foliage above ground (and, 6 inches deep at a minimum).

Choose your plants wisely

Many vegetables have varieties that are better suited to grow in containers, like dwarf and bush varieties. Check the back of your seed packets or ask an expert at your local garden store if you're unsure. If you grow annual plants like lettuce or tomato, you'll replant each season. Perennial plants like herbs will live for years in a container. If you're growing a perennial that won't withstand the cold, consider how you might bring the container indoors in the winter.

Keep plants well drained

The biggest reason potted plants don’t fare well over time is soggy soil. Some containers come with drainage holes, but many do not. Buy the ones that do (or create them yourself!). If your pot is over six inches wide, it needs more than one hole. If you're repurposing something like an old 5 gallon bucket, drill or cut drainage holes in the bottom (large enough for water to easily escape, but small enough to not lose precious soil).

Use potting soil

Garden soil often becomes compacted over time, and potted plants are almost impossible to aerate without damaging the roots. If you're growing food in contains, make your own potting soil mix by combining equal parts of coconut fiber, good garden soil, compost, and sand. The coconut fiber and sand prevent soil from compacting and increase drainage.

You can also buy potting soil from your local garden store. Potting soil is usually mixed with perlite or vermiculite, textured styrofoam-like pebbles, to help container soil stay loose and porous. Look for potting soil that is 100 percent organic and, if you can find it, inoculated with mycorrhizae, a fungus that works with plant roots to absorb more nutrients. Avoid soil mixes with peat due to their environmental impact.  

Maintain regeneratively

While potted plants are resilient, they do take a little extra care. Garden plants have deep root structures that can find water and nutrients underground, but if you're growing food in containers, it's up to you to keep them moist and fed.

• Watering: The exposed sides of the pot absorb heat and dry out the potting soil quickly. Water your soil whenever it’s dry. 
• Composting: Twice a year in the spring and fall, add valuable nutrients by layering on a half-inch of compost. Gently mix it into the top two inches of soil.
• Mulching potted plants: If you're growing food in containers outside during the summer, cover the top of the soil with mulch to keep it from baking in the sun. Mulch also helps retain moisture, whether your plants live inside or out.

Troubleshoot

If your potted plant has stopped growing or the roots have pushed through the drainage holes, it’s time to repot. Find a new container big enough for your plant to stretch out and grow. Fill in the extra space with an equal mixture of potting soil and compost.

Yellowing leaves may mean a plant needs more nitrogen. Liquid fish emulsion can quickly boost plant growth. It’s simple to add, since you don’t need to mix it into the soil. Dilute the concentrate with water, following the instructions on the label, and slowly pour the mixture into the pot. Be aware that fish emulsion smells pretty, well, fishy, which can be a problem for indoor plants. Cut down on the stink by adding a few drops of lavender oil before pouring.

Written by Acadia Tucker, a regenerative farmer, climate activist, and author.

Most of us don’t know the entire history of our homes and the land they’re built on. And, renters likely know even less. In some cases, your yard may have had uses in the past that make it unfit for growing food altogether. Your home may have been painted with lead paint that flaked off. Or, there could have been potentially polluting industry near your home and garden. 

If you have any question, it’s best to test. 

Soil testing can give you information about possible contaminants and toxins. It's great for learning what nutrients and supplements your soil might need to produce a healthy and successful garden too. Climate Victory Gardeners can request additional soil carbon testing alongside the basic kit to measure their climate impact after they've adopted carbon-capturing practices.

You can often find soil testing kits at local agricultural extension office associated with a state university, even if that university is hundreds of miles away. You can also contact the university or lab directly to have a soil testing kit mailed to you (find the contact info for your nearest office here). While you may be able to find kits online or at local garden and hardware stores, we suggest going through a local university to ensure the tests are conducted in professional labs. 

The kit consists of a simple plastic tube or bag and instructions on how to collect the soil.

Early spring is a great time of year to test your soil. It’s best to do it when the ground is thawed and digging up the samples won’t disturb growing plants. But really, you can do this just about any day of the year.

Learn more about the details of what you can expect from testing your soil—including tracking soil carbon for your Climate Victory Garden. 

Stopping climate change is hard enough, but racism only makes it harder.

By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, June 3, 2020

Here is an incomplete list of things I left unfinished last week because America’s boiling racism and militarization are deadly for black people: a policy memo to members of Congress on accelerating offshore wind energy development in U.S. waters; the introduction to my book on climate solutions; a presentation for a powerful corporation on how technology can advance ocean-climate solutions; a grant proposal to fund a network of women climate leaders; a fact check of a big-budget film script about ocean-climate themes, planting vegetables with my mother in our climate victory garden.

Toni Morrison said it best, in a 1975 speech: “The very serious function of racism … is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” As a marine biologist and policy nerd, building community around climate solutions is my life’s work. But I’m also a black person in the United States of America. I work on one existential crisis, but these days I can’t concentrate because of another.

The sheer magnitude of transforming our energy, transportation, buildings and food systems within a decade, while striving to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions shortly thereafter, is already overwhelming. And black Americans are disproportionately more likely than whites to be concerned about — and affected by — the climate crisis. But the many manifestations of structural racism, mass incarceration and state violence mean environmental issues are only a few lines on a long tally of threats. How can we expect black Americans to focus on climate when we are so at risk on our streets, in our communities, and even within our own homes? How can people of color effectively lead their communities on climate solutions when faced with pervasive and life-shortening racism?

Even at its most benign, racism is incredibly time consuming. Black people don’t want to be protesting for our basic rights to live and breathe. We don’t want to constantly justify our existence. Racism, injustice and police brutality are awful on their own, but are additionally pernicious because of the brain power and creative hours they steal from us. I think of one black friend of mine who wanted to be an astronomer, but gave up that dream because organizing for social justice was more pressing. Consider the discoveries not made, the books not written, the ecosystems not protected, the art not created, the gardens not tended.

It’s hearing police sirens and helicopters in my Brooklyn neighborhood and knowing those who sound them do not always aim to protect and serve. It’s walking the back roads near my mom’s home Upstate New York and being more scared of the local white kids in the pickup truck with the Confederate flag on the bumper — in a state that was never part of the Confederacy — than I am of the local black bears. It’s spending my weekend writing these words.

Here’s the rub: If we want to successfully address climate change, we need people of color. Not just because pursuing diversity is a good thing to do, and not even because diversity leads to better decision-making and more effective strategies, but because, black people are significantly more concerned about climate change than white people (57 percent vs. 49 percent), and Latinx people are even more concerned (70 percent). To put that in perspective, it means that more than 23 million black Americans already care deeply about the environment and could make a huge contribution to the massive amount of climate work that needs doing.

I did get tiny tasks done last week — emails, (virtual) meetings. Because we are taught the show must go on, I mustered the composure to conduct an interview about the importance of planting trees. But none of the deeper work got done, none of the work that could be a significant contribution to how we think about climate solutions and how fast we implement them. Instead of working, I was checking in on my people, staying informed, doom-scrolling.

Now I’m totally spent. Not from the day, but from the week, the month, the year, this presidential administration, this country that keeps breaking my heart. We are resilient, but we are not robots.

People of color disproportionately bear climate impacts, from storms to heat waves to pollution. Fossil-fueled power plants and refineries are disproportionately located in black neighborhoods, leading to poor air quality and putting people at higher risk for coronavirus. Such issues are finally being covered in the news media more fully.

But this other intersection of race and climate doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: Black Americans who are already committed to working on climate solutions still have to live in America, brutalized by institutions of the state, constantly pummeled with images, words and actions showing just us how many of our fellow citizens do not, in fact, believe that black lives matter. Climate work is hard and heartbreaking as it is. Many people don’t feel the urgency, or balk at the initial cost of transitioning our energy infrastructure, without considering the cost of inaction. Many fail to grasp how dependent humanity is on intact ecosystems. When you throw racism and bigotry in the mix, it becomes something near impossible.

Look, I would love to ignore racism and focus all my attention on climate. But I can’t. Because I am human. And I’m black. And ignoring racism won’t make it go away.

So, to white people who care about maintaining a habitable planet, I need you to become actively anti-racist. I need you to understand that our racial inequality crisis is intertwined with our climate crisis. If we don’t work on both, we will succeed at neither. I need you to step up. Please. Because I am exhausted.

Pollinators are important allies in your Climate Victory Garden. These bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and wasps (and even birds and bats) pollinate between three quarters and 95 percent of all flowering plants on earth, including many of the crops and plants in your garden.

One in three bites of our food wouldn’t exist without pollinators, but these important players in our ecosystem are at risk due to habitat destruction, climate change, and the misuse of chemicals.

The best thing you can do to support pollinators is to reduce or eliminate use of synthetic chemicals in your garden, especially pesticides that are meant to kill pests but also inadvertently kill the beneficial pollinators. Be wary of chemicals that are advertised as non-toxic or low toxicity—for example, some formulations of permethrin are considered non-toxic to humans but are extremely harmful to bees. Fewer chemicals means fewer risks for pollinators (and you!) and contributes to the climate solution.

Creating habitat is also an important way to support pollinators.

Eliminate your use of non-organic pesticides.

Many pests can be easily controlled in a well-balanced garden. Using integrated pest management techniques like rotating crops, planting locally adapted pest resistant varieties, encouraging the natural predators of pests, and physically excluding and removing pests.

That said, if you find yourself needing to use chemical control, opt for organic options that protect your local ecosystem and pollinators, many of which are derived from plants or naturally-occurring bacteria. Be on the lookout for products that are greenwashed, and actually contain toxic ingredients—review the ingredients before using. Or, consider DIY remedies that are often comprised of nontoxic home ingredients, like soap, beer, garlic, and pepper.

Various pesticides work in different ways, so be sure to read the instructions carefully. If possible, apply in the evenings, when most pollinators are least active. Avoid spraying pollinators directly with whatever product you’re using, and cover plants after spraying for the duration of time that pollinators could potentially be harmed. Consider avoiding any pesticide use on all plants while they’re flowering.

Include pollinator habitat in your garden plan.

Select plants that support pollinators. In some cases, these are plants you’d like to eat yourself like tomatoes or sunflowers. In other cases, they’re specific to the pollinators like milkweed for Monarch butterflies that add beauty and diversity to your garden.

Pollinator Partnership has a great tool where you enter your zip code and learn more about the specific plants that will grow in your area and what types of pollinators they will attract. For example, bees prefer bright white, yellow, or blue flowers with a mild odor and shallow shape. Butterflies, on the other hand, prefer bright reds and purples and flowers with a wide landing pad. Choose native and perennial options for greater climate impact, and plant strategically so there’s always something blooming.

Build a Monarch butterfly habitat. Plant a tree, where 30 percent of bees live and where most honeybees get their nectar. Buy honey from local beekeepers who care about pollinators and the environment. Build a hotel for mason bees (which are docile and don’t require much care).

You can also take action beyond your backyard. You can plant pollinator parkways in the spaces between your sidewalks and curbs. And, if your city is not yet a Bee City, you can encourage your city council to take part and get all residents on board with protecting pollinators.

A rain barrel is a water catchment system that you can easily set up in your yard. All you need to do is find a large plastic barrel, install a screen over the top, and put a faucet at the bottom. Rain will run off your roof and into the barrel (placed strategically under a rain gutter downspout). The screen will catch debris, and you can attach a hose to the faucet and use the water as needed.

The most challenging part of installing your own water barrel will likely be finding the barrel itself. You’ll need a 50-gallon plastic barrel that is strong enough to handle the water pressure (a plastic trash can is typically too thin for the task and will collapse or break once it’s full). You can buy a barrel at most hardware stores, your local garden supply store, or a retailer from GreenPages.org, a directory of our certified Green Business Network members. 

If you want to save resources, find a used barrel (hint: this is also the best option for the planet!). Check with local restaurants, bottling companies, or food manufacturers to see if they have used food-grade barrels. These businesses often receive large shipments of liquids in plastic barrels and have no use for them afterward. These barrels are engineered so the plastic does not break down when it comes into contact with liquid.

Once you have a barrel, these are the tools you’ll need:

• Power drill with hole bit (1/16 inch smaller than faucet insert) and pilot drill bit. (A 3⁄4” faucet measures 1” on outside, so you need a 15/16” hole bit)
• Pliers to tighten washers
• Paper towels (for excess caulk)
• Utility knife or small saber saw to cut lid
• Scissors to cut screening
• Hacksaw to shorten downspout
• Screwdriver for hose clamp

Once you’ve gathered your tools, make a trip to your local hardware store to gather your supplies:

• A 3⁄4” faucet (measures 1” on outside)
• Washers and lock nut for the faucet
• Caulk (clear plumber’s)
• Screening (Buy a roll that is used to repair screen windows. Nylon fabric-like netting is better than the metal type.)
• Hose adapter for your overflow (Many options here, depending on where you want your overflow to go.)
• Washer and lock nut needed for the adapter
• Hosing (short piece) to connect one barrel to another, if you want to have multiple barrels. Hose clamps as needed.
• Bricks or cinder blocks to raise your barrel above the ground (this will improve water pressure).

Now it’s time to put together your barrel. Follow these steps, provided by Clean Virginia Waterways. If you need some extra help, they have photos to accompany each step on their website:

• Drill a hole near bottom of barrel where your faucet will be.
• Caulk around outside of hole.
• Screw faucet in, using a washer.
• Caulk inside, then put on lock nut with washer and tighten with pliers.
• Drill a hole near top for overflow, where water will flow out when your barrel is full.
• Put in a hose adapter for overflow with washers and tighten with pliers.
• Cut out center of lid.
• Cut screen larger than lid (the screen will be placed on top of the lid and will help keep out debris and mosquitoes).
• Level the dirt under the rain barrel, then add some sand.
• Rain barrels need to be higher than ground level—use bricks or cinder blocks to give your barrel some height.
• Measure and cut off part of the downspout.
• Put the barrel in place, securing the screen over it with the lid, and placing it under the downspout.
• Connect the overflow from one barrel to the next, or have overflow hose divert excess rain to a garden or distant area of your choice, away from your home’s foundation.

If you have cold winters, store your rain barrel in the winter. Turn it on its side so it doesn’t collect water that will freeze and crack the barrel. Taking good care of your rain barrel will keep it in good condition for years to come.

It's good for the environment. 

Rain barrels help you conserve water in your Climate Victory Garden. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that lawn and garden watering make up about 40 percent of household water use in summer months, and that a rain barrel will save most homeowners 1,300 gallons of water during that time.

In addition to conserving water, collecting runoff from your roof stops that water from polluting your local watershed. Typically, rainwater will run off of your roof and end up either in a local sewage system or stream. On the journey, the water can pick up pollutants like yard fertilizers, oil and gasoline from street surfaces, animal waste, and more. This polluted storm water runoff will either tax a municipal sewage system or pollute your local watershed. Treatment facilities can easily become overwhelmed and often use energy that has a climate impact.

Learn more about the benefits of using rain barrels in your Climate Victory Garden. 

Check local ordinances

Check with your local officials to ensure that chickens are allowed where you live. Some municipalities have bans on chickens, or limits on how many chickens you can keep on your property. Because of their infamous early-morning cockadoodle-doos, roosters are banned from many cities. If your city isn’t yet chicken-friendly, CommunityChickens.com has articles on how to change local ordinances if you have one in your area.

Build a happy chicken home

You’ll need a chicken coop or a secure hen house that offers the birds a safe place to lay eggs, as well as a “run” where they can roam and peck. Make sure your coop is predator-proof.

Each chicken needs three to four square feet of space in the coop, and another three to four square feet in the run. Because chickens are social animals, we suggest a minimum of six chickens—which would require an 18-sq foot coop and a run of equal size. Experts also recommend having one nesting box inside the coop for every three to four chickens—you can use a pre-fabricated wooden box from a feed store, or utilize any number of things you may have at home, like old milk crates, plastic tubs, dresser drawers, and even a five-gallon bucket placed on its side. 

If you’re a do-it-yourself-er, the internet is rife with ideas and instructions—from coops on wheels that can be moved from place-to-place in your yard to designs to build a coop for under $100. Choose non-toxic and sustainable materials to have the lightest impact on the earth and its climate.

Your local feed store and online companies like backyardchickens.com or The Front Yard Coop also carry ready-built chicken coops.

Pick your chicks

There are many breeds available for your flock. Different breeds have different personalities and different rates of egg-laying—and you can combine breeds in one flock for variety. Mother Earth News has a “Pickin’ Chicken” app to help you choose, or use MyPetChicken.com’s Breed Selector Tool to find the breed of chicken right for you.

If you want to raise your chickens from chicks, you’ll need heat and special feed; chicks can be found at local feed stores and farms. You may also be able to find older chickens locally. Consider looking at local shelters and farm sanctuaries first.

Care for them daily

Taking proper care of your chickens will ensure that they stay healthy and will help you get the most eggs out of your flock. Each chicken requires about ¼ cup of feed per day, as well as a supply of fresh, clean water. Chickens can survive both hot and cold weather and will be fine outside with temperatures as low as 15 degrees, but their laying patterns will change with the seasons.

Be sure to be vigilant about cleaning your chicken coop every two weeks and cleaning your hands and shoes after handling chickens and their eggs. The old bedding material and manure collected from the coop and run make excellent organic fertilizer to add to compost and garden beds (once aged).

Keeping chickens is one of the optional Climate Victory Gardening practices because of the animals' climate-savvy fertilization techniques (manure) and their ability of divert organic wastes from the landfill where it would otherwise generate potent greenhouse gases.

Most hens start laying eggs at about six months old and will lay with the greatest frequency for that first year—around four to seven eggs each week, though it may vary with the seasons. The number of eggs she’ll produce will reduce by about ten percent each subsequent year, and most backyard hens can live from eight to ten years.

Learn more about The Many Benefits of Backyard Chickens. 

When choosing the right mulching material, consider what’s affordable, available, and appropriate for the task at hand. Are you mulching for weeds, warmth, aesthetic value, or water retention? Different mulches have different jobs throughout the garden.

Most mulches help your garden become a Climate Victory Garden because they protect life in the soil, encouraging the carbon capture that makes gardening part of the climate solution.

We encourage using organic mulches that persistently work to improve the health of the soil, that is, materials that are broken down by soil microbes to increase organic matter. Consider avoiding synthetic mulches like landscape fabric, because they do nothing for soil health and create more waste for the landfill.

Straw or hay 

• Benefits: Best used to insulate perennials during the winter months.  
• Drawbacks: Cheap hay is filled with weed seeds that can take over your garden.
• Bottom line: Buy the same quality of hay or straw that is used for feed and weeds shouldn’t be a problem.

Grass

• Benefits: Great for adding nutrients, particularly phosphorus, to the soil.
• Drawbacks: It can get “hot” enough to kill your plants when left in clumps more than one inch thick.
• Bottom line: Use thin layers of grass to add nutrients and avoid suffocating your plants.

Coco fiber

• Benefits: Lightweight and easy to handle. It's also a great source of phosphorus.
• Drawbacks: Expensive and the high nutrient content makes it toxic to pets.
• Bottom line: Use it in the greenhouse for seedlings. The expense and potential hazard outweigh its benefit in the garden.

Leaves

• Benefits: You can find nearly an endless supply in the fall. Ask your friends to save them too!
• Drawbacks: Whole, dry leaves can mat together and prevent water from reaching the soil.
• Bottom line: Leaves make amazing mulch if they are shredded by a mower or left to dry out and crumbled.

Gravel or pebbles 

• Benefits: Perfect for plants that need drainage. Rocks also absorb heat during the day and release it during the night, which protects cold-sensitive plants.
• Drawbacks: Pebbles can be messy and make it hard to dig.
• Bottom line: Save the pebbles for your succulent garden or planters.

Wood chips or bark

• Benefits: Easy to get from your local utility company. They also slowly decompose so you won't have to replace as often.
• Drawbacks: High carbon content can steal nutrients from the soil surface. Mulches like wood chips, straw, and sawdust are high in carbon and low in nitrogen. When soil microbes eat the mulch, they pull all of the available nitrogen from the soil surface in order to break down the woody materials. This creates a localized nutrient deficiency around plant roots. Offset this by mixing in a high nitrogen fertilizer, such as blood meal or fish meal, when applying woody mulches.
• Bottom line: Save the bark for pathways and areas that see a lot of foot traffic.

Newspaper or cardboard

• Benefits: Abundant in today’s age of Amazon packages arriving almost daily. A great alternative to weed fabric.
• Drawbacks: Some inks and glues contain toxic chemicals.
• Bottom line: Most inks are soy based so they are safe for the garden. Avoid using glossy paper or boxes coated in colored inks.

Sawdust

• Benefits: Very inexpensive because it is a waste product.
• Drawbacks: Very acidic and messy.
• Bottom line: Only use sawdust around your acid-loving perennials, like blueberries.

Excerpt from article originally published on Stone Pier Press, written by Acadia Tucker, a regenerative farmer, climate activist, and author.

“Right now, Minneapolis and cities across our country are on fire, and our people are hurting—the violence against Black bodies felt in the ongoing mass disobedience, all while we grapple with a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting, infecting, and killing us.” —Black Lives Matter

Green America condemns the killing of George Floyd who is one of so many Black people killed by the police. Recent, terrible events—the pervasiveness of brutality and killing by police of Black and Brown Americans, and the disproportionate suffering and death by COVID-19 in communities of color—are manifestations of hundreds of years of white-privilege policy-making and decision-making at every level of society.

To create a world where all people are valued equally, we need systemic change. The police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others as well as the COVID-19 pandemic’s unjust toll on people of color require that our society forges a better way forward.

Our statement on the COVID-19 crisis and call for action recognizes that the long-term well-being of our nation depends on the well-being of all of us. We need to transform our systems because these recent examples of injustice are not anomalies, they are the norm for many people.

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, protests have broken out nationwide. The government at all levels has focused on violently suppressing, and escalating, protests in American cities without addressing the systemic racism that is the cause of the protests. As Martin Luther King Jr. made clear, we cannot have true justice as long as we value “a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.”

This is a time to listen, learn from, and follow Black leaders and organizations like those listed below; to raise our voices to demand justice and condemn injustice; and to amplify the voices of those so often ignored. White people can and must use their privileges to radically change and end the systems that continue to oppress people of color.

Take Action Now for George Floyd and Black Communities:

1. Join community events (physically distancing) and social change organizations. Activist groups, civic associations, houses of worship, and others are increasingly mobilizing for safe communities and against police killings. Examples include Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, Anti Police-Terror Project, Campaign Zero, The Bail Project, Communities Against Police Brutality, Know Your Rights Camp, Black Visions Collective Public activism at the local level is essential to getting police forces to address systemic racism.
2. Join events (physically distancing) and organizations focused on the health disparities and other inequalities faced by communities of color on a regular basis and especially during COVID-19, such as Black Lives Matter; Poor People’s Campaign; Movement for Black Lives, Free Them All for Public Health; NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Real Justice PAC; Fair Fight.
3. Donate to the organizations above and to those like them in your community.
4. Vote for leaders dedicated to social, racial, and environmental justice.

Green America will not be passive. We will work in partnership with diverse social justice organizations and leaders to build an economy that helps solve deep social and environmental problems and to oppose the economic practices that hurt vulnerable communities. Green America invites the public to join us as we:

• Call on national leaders and join allies to demand protection of all communities during the pandemic, especially people of color, low income communities, undocumented people, and prison populations;
• Tackle the climate crisis that disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities;
• Use financial tools to fight for economic inclusion, fair pay, community development, workers’ rights, and human rights;
• Support policies that protect workers nationally and international from abuse;
• Promote safe food and agricultural practices that foster human health and a livable world, including protecting the people who harvest our produce, and the slaughterhouse, warehouse and grocery store workers who bear the brunt of racism and exploitation.

Green America’s vision calls for a world where all people have enough, where all communities are healthy and safe, and where the abundance of the Earth is preserved for all the generations to come. For us, “green” always means both social and environmental justice. Green America will continue to work for the day when this vision is a reality for all people.

“It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting [racism] out; It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets.” —Michelle Obama

by Louise Boyle, June 2, 2020

Environmental activists are voicing support for protesters who have taken to the streets in outrage over the police killing of George Floyd, while acknowledging the green movement's own need to tackle ongoing racial inequality.

A number of leading green groups have issued statements recognising that systemic racism is deeply intertwined with the climate crisis, and pointing to disparities between the current response to demonstrators and how other movements have been treated.

“It’s not lost on me that last year’s Climate Strikes received overwhelmingly positive coverage, while this weekend we’ve seen more concern over how people protest than the movement’s goals,” said May Boeve, executive director of climate non-profit, 350.org, which has asked supporters to donate to bail-out funds for those arrested at demonstrations.

Mr Floyd, 46, died on 25 May after a police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinned a knee to his neck for almost nine minutes. Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, and while the three other officers involved have been fired, they are yet to face charges.

For seven days, thousands of people have taken part in largely peaceful protests across at least 140 US cities. Some demonstrations have been marred by pockets of violence and looting. In places, peaceful protesters were seen rushing to form human chains in front of stores to stop the destruction.

President Donald Trump upped the ante by threatening to deploy the military to “dominate the streets” of America and federal forces followed his lead, aggressively clearing a Washington DC park of protesters with tear gas so he could walk to a church and pose with a Bible on Monday evening.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Demonstrators have been met by waves of heavily-armed law enforcement in riot gear who have unleashed rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets. Hundreds of people have been arrested while both protesters and police have been injured in clashes.

Some have pointed to the differences in the police response to those protesting police violence this past week — where demonstrations have included many people of colour — and the approach to recent anti-coronavirus lockdown protests consisting largely of white men, some bearing assault weapons.

Georgetown Law professor, Paul Butler, told Vox: “Unarmed people, many of whom are people of colour, protest police brutality and are met with police brutality — flash grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets. But when armed, mainly white protesters storm the Michigan state capitol, the police just let them be.”

Thanu ​Yakupitiyage, associate director of US Communications for 350.org, said: "The New York Climate Strikes were incredibly diverse but the reality is that often times when there's a lot of white folks involved as well, something is considered legitimate, and when it's black folks who are leading the charge it's not considered legitimate."

She said their organisation was focused on ensuring "that all of our organising around climate has a racial justice lens" and that those involved in the Climate Strikes were standing in solidarity with Black Lives.

Calls have come from across the climate community for activists to support the Movement for Black Lives.

“We recognize that as a predominantly white organization, we have an obligation to be fully and visibly committed to the fight against systemic racism,” Jenny Powers, an Natural Resources Defense Council spokeswoman, told the Washington Post. The non-profit has asked supporters to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and others providing legal and financial aid to protesters.

Ben Wyskida, CEO of social change agency Fenton, sent an email to supporters, conveying "disgust" at Mr Floyd's killing and anger at the divergent responses to protesters.

He wrote: "We are outraged at the contrast between white 'reopen' protesters being treated with deference and Black protesters being tear-gassed. And we are driven to action shaken by the protests and uprisings of the last several days, and the extreme reactions of police departments nationwide."

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, wrote: "For too long conservation and environmental movements have not spoken up to address the long-standing challenges that non-white communities face. Environmental organizations should work to bring down the barriers that affect Black, people of colour, and Indigenous communities. EDF will provide support and solutions to achieve environmental justice and equity.”

Friends of the Earth echoed the Black Lives movement's call to defund the police and condemned Mr Floyd's murder, along with recent killings of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery, "and the continued state-sanctioned violence against Black people in the United States". Greenpeace also released a statement saying that "the environmental community must not stay silent in the face of systemic injustice."

Minority and poor communities disproportionately bear the brunt of pollution and climate change. Some 68 per cent of black people live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant despite being 13 per cent of the population, according to GreenAmerica.org, compared to 56 per cent of white people, making them more likely to feel the health impacts of pollution including breathing issues and heart conditions. More than a third of Latinos, who make up 17 per cent of the US population, also live within a 30-mile radius.

Indigenous communities in the US and Canada have staged protests and are fighting court battles against oil pipeline construction, which they say is hazardous to the natural resources of their ancestral lands.

The environmental movement has a dark history marred by explicit racist views, with some early conservationists pushing theories of white supremacy, the use of eugenics and sterilisation programmes.

Julian Brave Noisecat, Vice President of Policy & Strategy of Data for Progress, told The Independent in April that "the environmental movement in its history has, for the most part, been a movement led by and for middle-class, white people".

In environmental organisations, people of colour remain vastly underrepresented. Green 2.0, an advocacy group that tracks racial and ethnic diversity in the field, found in a recent study that although there were some positive signs of diversity, there was still a long way to go.

“There is no climate justice without a racial analysis,” said 350.org North America director Tamara Toles O’Laughlin.

"Decades of environmental justice activism has shown that communities facing racist violence and over-policing are also overrun by fossil fuel extraction, pollution, and every manner of related health disparities. The truth is that the status quo is killing us and so we have no reason to support ‘business as usual’.

"Our fight for climate justice must necessarily include challenging the systems of racism that protect profits for the wealthy few and destroys Black Lives. In our demands to invest in climate action and a Green New Deal, we are also calling for divestment from systems of white supremacy in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives.”

The number of black and Latino organisations which focus on environmental justice is growing.

“When we say ‘I can’t breathe’ — whether it is an officer with a knee on our neck or the pollution which continues to take away our breath — that’s why we march and that’s why we work so hard to change these dynamics,” Mustafa Santiago Ali, vice president of environmental justice at the National Wildlife Foundation, told Grist.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pest populations can explode even if you keep your soil healthy and maintain a balanced garden ecosystem. Pest management is a natural part of growing plants and occasionally gardeners need to rely on external control measures like pesticides.

Organic gardeners shy away from using pesticides for some very good reasons. Sprays, particularly if they are not organic, can kill beneficial bugs and insects, like the bees that pollinate your raspberries or the insects that cycle nutrients through your soil. Pesticides also find their way into the food chain because plants absorb chemicals through roots and leaves.

Fortunately you can mitigate the risk of using pesticides by relying on ones certified for organic use, which tend to be derived from plants and naturally-occurring bacteria. Use these as a last resort, as they do have an impact on your local biodiversity as well as a climate footprint associated with their production and transportation to your home or local garden store.

Note: Certified organic or not, you want to keep pesticides in their original containers, out of reach of pets and children and in a dark and dry place that never drops below 40 degrees or gets hotter than 100 degrees. Be mindful of supporting pollinators.

Here are some pesticides that are certified for organic use:

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a great preventive control measure. It comes from the bark and leaves of the Neem tree, a common evergreen grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Azadirachtin, the active ingredient in Neem oil, makes insects grow slowly and eat less. It also makes them lose interest in laying eggs so there are fewer of them to begin with. Neem is particularly effective against fast growing beetles, small caterpillars, and aphids. 

Use Neem on plants as soon as you see the first adult bug, and spray weekly. Keep your bees safe by covering treated plants with a row cover. Don’t expect Neem to instantly rid your garden of pests. It works over time by limiting the reproduction and growth of bad bugs. If you want to speed up the process, you can also hand-pluck adult bugs from plants. 

Preparation: Most Neem products come as a concentrate that needs to be mixed with warm water before spraying it onto your plants. Follow the label instructions to know the proportions to use. Apply the mixture weekly to the tops and underside of leaves. Avoid spraying in direct sun, since it will burn oil-covered leaves, much in the way baby oil causes skin to burn.

Storage: Concentrated Neem can be kept for up to two years.

Insecticidal soaps

Insecticidal soaps are an effective way to control soft-bodied insects if no beneficial bugs are around to do the job for you. The fatty acids in insecticidal soaps break down the protective cuticles of soft-bodied pests like aphids and caterpillars, which become dehydrated and die.

Soap sprays only kill insects that are sprayed directly so be sure to thoroughly wet both sides of leaves and avoid spraying beneficial insects, like bees and spiders. Repeat applications every five to seven days, as new pests hatch and form colonies. Keep a premixed spray bottles on hand so you can spray pests as soon as you see them.

Preparation: Make your own soap spray by mixing one tablespoon of dishwashing soap per quart of water. You can also buy an insecticidal soap concentrate. Follow label directions for diluting it because using too much can harm plant leaves. If you have hard water at home, use bottled water to make sprays, because the minerals in hard water reduce the effectiveness of insecticidal soap.

Mix only as much concentrate as you need for the day and keep spray bottles out of the sun, which will degrade the quality of your spray and make it less effective. Any unused sprays that haven't been used in a week can be diluted with more water and poured out in the garden far from any storm drains. 

Storage: Soap concentrates can last for up to five years.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

DE is made from the pulverized fossils of tiny sea creatures and looks like broken glass if you peer at it under a microscope. It kills insects by slicing up their protective outer layer and causes fatal dehydration when they walk through the dusty white powder. You can dust the leaves of your plants to kill leaf-eating bugs or create a barrier of white powder at the base of your plants to stop slugs.  

DE is great for killing slugs, newly hatched Japanese beetles, and wireworms. It works best in dry conditions because rain makes the powder congeal in clumps and lose some of its sharp edges. If it rains, reapply once your plants have dried.

Storage: Make sure to store your DE in an airtight container to keep it dry. Properly stored DE can last indefinitely.

Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)

Bt is a naturally-occurring bacteria that ruptures the internal organs of leaf-eating insects like caterpillars. It only works on the bugs that eat treated leaves. It has no impact on pests that are directly sprayed so bees and other pollinators are left alone.  

Direct sunlight degrades Bt after a few hours, so apply Bt late in the day when the sun is low. It will work to kill pests during their nightly feeding. You can use Bt every 10 days to control caterpillars and other leaf-eating insects until they're no longer a problem. 

Store: Powdered Bt products can last for five years, while liquid Bt products last only about two years.

Spinosad

Spinosad is another naturally occurring bacteria, Saccharopolyspora spinosa, which produces a deadly neurotoxin that makes infected insects excited to the point of utter exhaustion. After eating it, insects immediately stop feeding and die within a few days. Spinosad works to control all types of caterpillars and some beetles that eat a lot of leaf tissue.

Apply spinosad to dry leaves as soon as you notice leaf-eating pests in the garden. Thoroughly wet both sides of leaves. Much like Bt, spinosad breaks down in direct sun, so late afternoon applications are the most effective.

Spinosad is somewhat absorbed by plant leaves so one treatment can last up to 10 days. Within the first 24 hours of spraying be careful not to let treated leaves come in contact with beneficial insects, like bees. You can protect your good bugs by draping treated plants in row covers, or fabric, for a day.

Storage: Spinosad products last about three years.

Plantskydd

Plantskydd works against rabbits, voles, moose, chipmunks, squirrels, nutria, beaver, groundhogs, and deer. It can last up to six months, even over the winter season. According to company literature, it repels these pests by "emitting an odor that browsing animals associate with predator activity, stimulating a fear-based response that will have garden feeders looking for somewhere else to dine." 

Article originally published on Stone Pier Press, written by Acadia Tucker, a regenerative farmer, climate activist, and author.

Mulch is any material, synthetic or organic, spread over the ground as a covering. Mulch can be leaves, wood chips, newspaper, pebbles, or even plastic and polyester fabrics—basically, anything that stays in place and protects the soil (more on the types of mulch). The protective layer it provides keeps the soil cool and moist in the summer and insulates tender perennials in the winter.

Mulch is a champion at smothering weeds, which saves time and energy for us hardworking gardeners. In the spring, spread two to four inches of mulch on garden beds to prevent new weeds from growing near vegetables and perennials. For really overgrown areas, use damp cardboard as a barrier and cover it with a generous layer of mulch, which is usually enough to knock out even the worst weeds.

Our favorite mulching superpower is its ability to support a healthy ecosystem under your feet, which benefits your crops and the planet. Natural mulches are high in carbon, which soil organisms like microbes and fungi need to survive. These organisms feed on the mulch, breaking it down, capturing carbon, and releasing essential nutrients that plants absorb as they grow.

Plants also pull carbon out of the air to form sugars used to fuel cellular activity. Any excess sugar is released through roots to support soil organisms in exchange for access to nutrients. The alliance between plants and soil organisms locks carbon underground as humus, the dark soil that every gardener lusts over, thus lowering the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

Mulch can be applied anytime of the year, but you’ll see the greatest benefits if you do it in mid-spring or fall.

The benefits of spring mulch 

Mulching in the spring prevents weeds from growing, adds nutrients, and helps your soil retain moisture.

Garden expert Acadia Tucker’s go-to spring mulch is a 50/50 mix of shredded leaves and grass clippings because she always has a lot of yard waste. Shoveling leaves and grass onto your plant beds feeds the soil with nutrients well into the fall without having to turn over the compost pile. If you don’t have a steady supply of yard waste, consider asking your friends and family to save theirs.

Another option is to find some hay to use—old, slightly decomposed hay makes for a great spring mulch in the absence of yard waste. If all else fails, you can always buy mulch online or at your local home and garden store.

The benefits of fall mulch

Laying down a protective layer of straw before winter can prevent the pounding rain and winds from washing away fertile topsoil. Straw has the added bonus of insulating plants from the freezing cold. Mulching in the fall is like tucking in your plants to keep them safe against winter rain, sleet, and snow.

In the fall, spread a layer of wood chips over your garden paths. Coarse materials like wood chips act as a cushion to protect the soil from being packed down by winter storms. You don’t want compacted, poorly aerated soil because it’s unable to absorb rainwater, hold nutrients, and support healthy microbial activity and root development.

Weed before mulching

Before spreading your first layer of mulch, take the time to thoroughly weed your garden beds. Mulch is effective at discouraging weed growth, but it can’t do much to kill weeds that are already well established. This task might seem daunting but think of it this way—after a few seasons of mulching, there won't be any more weeds to pull.

You can also lay down a black plastic tarp over the ground you want to clear, and secure it with stakes. The dark plastic warms the soil so intensely that it kills living weeds and weed seeds on the soil surface. This method also allows you to avoid disturbing the soil. Before you lay down the plastic, which you can buy from any online farm or garden store, rake compost into the first inch of soil. If you have plants growing in the bed, simply put the compost on top of the plants. If it’s the late fall, winter, or early spring you'll need to wait six to 10 weeks before removing the plastic. If it's warm outside, late spring through early fall, two to six weeks should be enough time to suffocate the weeds.

A third option is to use so-called lasagna gardening or mulching, where you layer cardboard, seaweed, leaves, grass, and repeat. We prefer this option because it not only kills weeds but builds soil. 

Prep the soil before mulching

Mix compost into the first few inches of your soil to add nutrients and encourage your plants to grow strong and healthy. Then soak the ground. After the first good soak, the soil stays damp longer, sharply reducing the amount of water you’ll need for the rest of the summer. In arid climates, mulching in the spring is the single best thing you can do for your plants.

Another good reason to soak your soil is because organic mulches absorb a lot of water and end up stealing it from plants if there’s not enough to go around. 

Spread the mulch

Load a wheelbarrow or garden cart with your favorite mulch (learn how to choose your mulch here). Scoop mounds of it onto your garden bed every few feet. Use a rake to smooth out the piles. What you want is an even layer of mulch, two to four inches thick. Don’t overdo it! Spreading too much mulch makes it hard for rain to hydrate the soil.

You also don’t want to mulch too closely to the root crowns and stems of your plants, or you may produce rot. Aim for a distance of two inches. For larger perennials and trees, keep mulch at least eight inches from their base. In the spring, push mulch away from the base of perennials to prevent decay and give plants a head start into the new growing season.

One problem with mulch: It can attract pests. Rodents love its insulating powers and burrow into it to stay cozy during cold snaps. Mulch also hides slugs and snails that gnaw on vulnerable leaves in the coolness of night. If you have trouble with pests, avoid putting thick layers of mulch down in the fall.

Consider spreading a layer of coarse wood chips over garden paths each fall; the coarse material acts as a cushion to protect the soil from being packed down.

Article originally published on Stone Pier Press, written by Acadia Tucker, a regenerative farmer, climate activist, and author.

Green businesses are getting creative amid the coronavirus pandemic to keep their stores open. We find their tenacity and commitment to the green economy inspiring in these challenging times. Here are three Green Business Network members that give us hope—and we hope that you will support them, too, if you are able. Supporting sustainable business is a great way to vote with your dollars.  

TS Designs

Buying from a small business makes a huge difference—that is very much so for t-shirt company TS Designs. The business pivoted from their usual production to making upcycled masks from shirts. Their production increased from 250 a week to 250 a day and was able to create three new jobs, as well as give current employees more hours. They are now offering youth size masks and masks with custom branding.

Learn more about TS Designs.

Traditional Medicinals

Traditional Medicinals has been in operation for over forty years, delivering plant-powered wellness in the form of herbal teas. A leader and pioneer in wellness tea in the US and Canada, Traditional Medicinals creates high-quality tea formulas utilizing the knowledge of trained herbalists and rigorously testing organic, medicinal-grade plants. 

“Demand is up for our seasonal and immune teas, but we have to work carefully to keep staffing and supply secure,” says Ben Couch. The company has moved its workforce remote except for the factory. "With one of our major suppliers, we've offered support for more vehicles to organize wild collection or seasonal work so people can safely continue their work."

Their biggest concern is India, a major sourcing country, where interruptions may have impacts into 2020. 

"In India, we've been pushing more sanitation trainings and masks in the communities, and we organized a maskmaking project with our partner in India to get masks for TM [Traditional Medicinals] employees made in the social development program community," Couch says.

You can support Traditional Medicinals by purchasing from their website.

Syracuse Cultural Workers

Syracuse Cultural Workers is a publisher committed to social justice, peace, sustainability, multiculturalism, feminism. They believe art is a critical component of activism. They have published and distributed various materials from calendars, posters, and T-shirts to books, music, and DVDs. 

In the wake of the pandemic, Syracuse Cultural Workers has highlighted 50 books that are “great reads for pandemic times.” These select readings are half off and running out fast.

Learn more about Syracuse Cultural Workers and shop more titles on their website.

Does your business have a creative story?

Green America is continuing to publicize the creative and crucial changes that green businesses are making, including advocacy for small green businesses. If you are a business owner, please sign the American Sustainable Business Council petition to Congress to provide meaningful support to small businesses with respect to healthcare, disaster relief, and expanded unemployment benefits at greenamerica.org/savesmallbusiness.

Previously: 4 Green Businesses Getting Creative During COVID-19

There's a thin line between fertilizing and over-fertilizing. Too few nutrients and your tomatoes and corn never really take off. Too many, and your artichoke and broccoli can suffer. We suggest using organic fertilizers to boost plant growth by feeding the soil. We also encourage you to test your soil every few years so you can know what nutrients your soil needs. 

Organic fertilizers are most effective when used strategically rather than just dumped on a plant. You need to time it right, determine the optimal amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and bear in mind that perennials don't need as many nutrients as annuals.

Time your fertilizer use

Spring: Perennials benefit from a side dressing of nutrients in the spring just before new spring growth begins to push through the soil. In the early spring, add a nitrogen heavy fertilizer to really help your plants take off. You don’t need much or you’ll get leggy plants that flop over.

Mid-season: Sometimes plants need a little extra help when they start producing flowers and fruits. So much energy goes into ripening food that plants get stressed and weak plants emit distress signals that attract pests. Give your flowering perennials a boost in phosphorus to prevent stress and help fruits ripen faster.

Fall: Be careful not to add too many nutrients just before the winter rains set in or they’ll likely wash away. Excess nutrients drain into waterways, promoting harmful algal blooms that suck the oxygen out of water and kill aquatic life. If you do fertilize in the fall, ditch the nitrogen and phosphorus and focus on potassium-based fertilizers.

Know your numbers

If you walk down the aisle of a gardening center, you'll likely be faced with a sea of numbers like 10-10-10 or 20-0-5. So, what do they mean?

The three numbers on fertilizer bags represent the concentration of minerals in the mix: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The higher the number, the higher the amount. A mixture of 20-0-5 has four times more nitrogen than potassium, for example, and no phosphorus to speak of. Keep the numbers straight by remembering the key phrase, “up, down, and all around.”

• Up: The first number refers to the amount of available nitrogen or the plant-boosting "up" factor. If you want to quickly add lush growth above ground, go for a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Be careful not to add too much or you could have vigorous growth at the expense of below-ground root development. 
• Down: The middle number signals the concentration of phosphorus. A fertilizer with more phosphorus will maximize fruit and flower production, giving you nicer rose blooms and tastier cucumbers. Switch from nitrogen-rich fertilizer to a high-phosphorus fertilizer like bone meal once the first flowers appear on my plants. This encourages my fruits and veggies to ripen faster, which is particularly important if you live where the growing season is short.
• All around: The last number indicates the amount of potassium in the mix. Adding a potassium-rich fertilizer can help your plants fight disease, pests, and stresses from cold, heat, and wind. Consider using a potassium-rich fertilizer like greensand when you tuck your plants in for the winter to help them survive the cold.

Using organic fertilizers

To use these organic fertilizers, simply mix them into the top three inches of your soil before planting and once more midway through the growing season. Do the same for established plants, except add a little to your plant base in the spring.

Any of the following can be used as a stand-alone soil conditioner. You can use two or three different types of organic fertilizers that have particularly high concentrations in nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium throughout the season to address different concerns. If you'd like to keep it simple and rely on one all-purpose blend, go with homemade compost or purchase a pre-made organic mix from your local garden center.  

Good all-purpose fertilizers

• Homemade compost: Store-bought fertilizers are expensive, but compost can be free. In fact, if you have to pay to get your trash hauled away, composting can save you money by reducing the amount of waste you throw out. Composting is also great for the climate because it doesn't require resource-intensive production methods and diverts strong greenhouse gases that come with the decomposition of organic wastes in landfills. See this composting guide for tips on how to create fertilizer from food, yard waste, and more.
• Mycorrhizal Inoculant (0-0-0): Mycorrhiza (My-cor-rye-zay) is a group of fungi that forms valuable relationships with plants roots. A network of mycelium or long white strings akin to fungal roots attaches to plant roots and enormously increases plants ability to absorb nutrients and water. This isn’t a true fertilizer because it has no nutritional content, but it helps plants to get more out of the soil and helps life in the soil capture carbon. Mix it into compost and mulch piles so that when you spread them in the spring, you inoculate the whole garden.
• Fish Emulsion (5-2-2): Fish emulsion is a liquid fertilizer made from byproducts of the fishing industry. Use this well balanced and fast acting fertilizer all season long on heavy feeders. It does have a very fishy smell, but a few drops of lavender oil can help mask the odor.

Jumpstarting spring growth

• Manure compost: Manure from herbivores and poultry is a great source of nitrogen and organic matter and generally packs more punch than homemade compost. Get it from a nearby farm or buy ready-made composted manure from your local garden store. Manure should be composted for at least three months to kill weed seeds and diseases before adding it to a garden. If that's not possible, you can minimize the risk of weeds by using manure from chickens instead of from horses or cows whose digestive tracts don't eliminate viable weed seeds. If you have your own chickens, simply compost the manure with their bedding material like wood shavings or sawdust. The combination of green manure with brown bed material produces the perfect ratio of nitrogen to carbon for composting. 
• Blood Meal (13-0-0): This dry powder made from cows' blood is a fast-acting source of nitrogen. Use it in soils with a serious lack of nitrogen to jumpstart spring growth. You can add too much, making your soil acidic, so always test your soil. If you’re looking to boost nitrogen mid-season, use plant-based alternatives like alfalfa meal (3-1-2) because it is gentle and supplies other beneficial nutrients that help feed soil microbes that support our crops and capture carbon.

Maximizing production

• Bone Meal (3-15-0): Bone meal is made from ground up animal bones and is widely used to replenish phosphorus and calcium. You can mix bone meal with composted manure for a potent all-around fertilizer for spring. In the fall when you plant flower bulbs and garlic, add bone meal to the bottom of the holes to help promote fall root growth before the winter freeze.
• Greensand (0-0-3): Greensand is a very popular fertilizer collected from the ocean floor or ancient seabeds. This dry powder is a great source of iron, potassium, magnesium, and dozens or other trace minerals. Greensand is great for breaking up clay soils and adding water retention to sandy soils. It’s very gentle so you can’t add too much. You can even use it around seedlings and sensitive plants.
• Guano (12-12-2.5): Guano is made from the droppings of seabirds and bats. It is usually harvested from coastal cliffs and dry caves where the droppings can sit and decompose. Not only does guano add nutrients, but it is full of microbes that help to deter parasitic soil creatures like nematodes. This organic fertilizer has been collected for hundreds of years and you can buy it as an odorless powder.

Fighting pests and climate stress

• Kelp meal (1-0-2): Kelp meal is made from dried ocean seaweed and is full of nutrients, especially potassium. You can buy a bag of it or get permission to collect it from your local beach. Kelp is an exceptionally renewable source of potassium, growing up to three feet per day in ideal ocean climates. You can use kelp meal to treat tired soils that have been intensely cultivated and spray it on plants to help them deal with heat stress in the summer and fight against pests.
• Mulch: Organic mulches like leaves, wood chips, sawdust, and even newspaper add nutrients to your soil while stamping out weeds and protecting your soil from sun, wind, and erosion. Mulch materials are generally carbon rich, so consider sprinkle some alfalfa or blood meal onto the soil before layering on mulch.

Article originally published on Stone Pier Press, written by Acadia Tucker, a regenerative farmer, climate activist, and author.