Consumer's Guide to Sustainable Technologies

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Landscaping

Table Of Contents

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what impact the plants in your garden have on the environment? Could your lawn care practices actually be harming the Earth? If you are concerned about maintaining your lawn and protecting the environment at the same time, then you have come to the right place. This section of the CGST page provides helpful, practical information on lawn care and planting.

A few facts about organic-based landscaping and gardening:

  1. It's earth-friendly!
  2. Safer for our children and our pets.
  3. Creates lawns and gardens that are more attractive to birds and useful insects.
  4. Costs less in the long run than the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

These are only a sample of the many reasons to choose organic landscaping over chemical based landscaping. To find out more about environmentally friendly methods visit the web sites listed below. You'll be glad you did. These sites offer great tips and ideas to create attractive, Earth-friendly lawns and gardens.

Questions? Please see our page of Frequently Asked Questions about Landscaping.

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Primary Links

Inharmony

URL: http://www.inharmony.com/earth.htm
Inharmony, a for-profit group out of Washington State, offers practical advice for growing a green and thriving lawn without the use of harmful pesticides. This organic landscaping company provides tips on everything from mowing your grass to watering your lawn in an environmentally friendly way!

Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology

URL: http://crest.org/environment/gotwh/general/lawns/html/plan.html
This non-profit site recommends using native plants when planting in your garden. Native plants require less maintenance. That means less watering, fertilizing, etc...

United States Department of Agriculture

URL: http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/Backyard.html
This page, Backyard Conservation, was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA includes a tip sheet on topics covering subjects such as composting, water conservation, and building a backyard pond.

Environmental Protection Agency

URL: http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends the use of native plants. Plants native to a particular geographical area tend to do much better than other types of plants.

6 Steps to Natural Lawn Care

URL:http://www.kuow.org/Weekday/Organic/lawncare.htm#top.
Advice on how to achieve an attractive lawn without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Includes tips on fertilizing, watering, mowing, and improving old lawns.

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For More Information

Inharmony

URL: http://www.inharmony.com/features/soil.htm
Inharmony sells lawncare products such as "Living Earth" which is a safe, non-toxic, water soluble fertilizer. These environmentally friendly products are a great alternative to commercially available chemical based fertilizers. In the long run, fertilizers with chemicals in them can do harm to your lawn.

Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology

URL: http://crest.org/environment/gotwh/general/trees/index.html
Headquarters
1612 K St., NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006 USA
Phone: (202) 293-2898
West Coast office:
1624 Franklin St., #1000, Oakland, CA 94612 USA
Phone: (510)588-5600
This page offers guidance for selecting and maintaining trees. Trees clean the air and beautify our surroundings. Another fact to keep in mind is that "properly placed trees lower energy costs in the home. In the community at large, this combined lower energy use from individual homes transfers into a lower expense in meeting the energy needs of future consumers."

Organic Gardening

URL: http://www.organicgardening.com
Organic Gardening provides information on growing organic fruits and vegetables. They have a Monthly Garden Report you can subscribe to and receive helpful hints for nurturing organic foods in your part of the country.

The Chemical-free Lawn

URL: http://www.perc.flora.org/pubs/offDrugs/ch3.html
A comprehensive guide to how to select, monitor, water, mow, feed, aerate, and generally maintain your lawn without chemical fertilizer and pesticides.

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Organizations

Inharmony

URL: http://www.inharmony.com
P.O. Box 755, Woodinville, WA 98072 USA
(425) 486-2180
fax: (425) 486-2185
toll-free: (888) 472-7748
An organically based landscaping service.

Environmental Protection Agency

URL: http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/19-yard.htm
2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: (734) 214-4333
EPA tips on reducing pollution from the equipment we use in our yards.

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