It's Time to Think Globally, but Act Locally.

www.climatewiselandscaping.com 

Climate change is real!

We are seeing its effects on the weather with more frequent, stronger and slower-moving hurricanes, more severe droughts, more fires, and rising sea levels. But Sue Reed and I did not debate the reality of climate change or what has caused these rapid changes when we wrote our award-winning book, "Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future." Instead we said, "Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work."

The same thing has happened in the writing of my 7th book with the working title "Living Shorelines for Florida: A Practical Guide for Building Resilience," which will be published in 2025. I and my three coauthors did not debate sea level rise or discuss what the causes might be, but plans for dealing with rising sea levels are included in our various actions and designs for more resilient shorelines.

So what actions can we take and will it make any difference?

While actions we take in our yards and in our communities may seem insignificant, there are many millions of homeowners and communities, and together, we are a powerful force. What follows are some ideas and links to resources for some of the most significant actions. 

Does this seem "Normal"? Fires, snow,
record heat, and a hurricane on Nov. 7th.

Rethink the lawn!

"Lawns" is the first chapter of our Climate-Wise landscaping book, because the easiest and most effective action you can take toward building a more earth-friendly yard is to stop the poisons and synthetic fertilizer applications. This will help to restore a heakthy soil ecosystem so it can absorb more water and reduce the pollution of nearby waterways from stormwater runoff. In addition, there is a climate footprint (environmental costs) for the manufacture and transport of these chemicals, plus the extra mowing due the extra growth caused by those fertilizers. 

The next step in rethinking the lawn is to replace any unused lawn acreage with groups of trees, shrubs, bunches grasses, and wildflowers. Bird and pollinator-friendly gardens full of non-poisoned flowers and berries to provide habitat for the butterflies, the bees, the bats, and the birds. Read my articles on Our Freedom Lawn and Habitat Gardening.

Support native bees by planting more natives in your yard and community.

What is the bird's-eye view of your yard and your community?

Trees have value!

Plant more trees

- Trees cool the air through transpiration.
- Trees produce oxygen through photosynthesis.
- Trees sequester carbon, by absorbing carbon dioxide, (CO2) a long-lasting greenhouse gas, through the process of photosynthesis.
- Trees remove carbon monoxide (CO) and other air pollutants from the air.
- Trees, especially a variety of native trees, provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife.
- Trees reduce soil erosion with their extensive root systems.
- Trees remove pollutants and sediments from stormwater runoff and then slowly release the water back into waterways and underground aquifers.
- Trees reduce stress levels in people.
- More tree cover around schoolyards correlates to higher educational performance levels.
- Trees increase property values.

So, plant a wide variety of native trees in your yard and in your community to build more biodiversity, but even more importantly, keep and maintain mature trees so they can continue to provide habitat for wildlife and ecosystem services for us and the whole planet. We all need to help people living in our neighborhoods and those working in all levels of our government understand how valuable trees are on so many levels. Here is my article, "The Value of Trees," which includes links to other articles and resources on trees.

Speak Up for Nature!

Nature can't speak with words, so it's up to us to do so. We can make a difference when we speak to our neighbors, people in our community, and to our elected representatives, who have the power to carry the positive actions even further.

Speak out and get involved in environmental projects in your community.
This is a screen capture of my Green Resources Page with links to some of my "take action" articles.

Here's a free-to-download 10-minute Power Point presentation that you can give to HOAs, garden groups, municipalities on the importance of native landscapes. It's available on the FNPS website's resources page under gardening with natives. It downloads as a pdf, but there's a link on that to the actual presentation.

Nature is resilient, but we need to support groups
that are restoring and preserving wild areas.

Project Drawdown is helping the world stop climate change – as quickly,
safely, and equitably as possible. https://drawdown.org/

Is Nature reflected in your yard and in your community to support birds and pollinators?

If we all choose to make positive, earth-friendly
actions, we will make a difference.

We can do this!

Green GardeningMatters,
Ginny Stibolt