| Environmental Columns
Enjoy the summer ecologically
This August, while we are enjoying the heat, everyone is using their space to the best of their ability! Our garden landscape changes as the seasons change, and the use we make of it also changes. Is it possible to enjoy your yard in an ecological way? Here are some tips for having fun while making green choices!
Recycle your food scraps by installing a household compost bin in your yard. This way, you will reduce the impacts associated with the transport of organic matter, and will have a nutrient-rich product for your flowerbeds and your garden.
Here are some tips for optimal composting:
- Choose a site that has neither too much sun, nor too much shade.
- Turn over the soil where you will install the compost bin
- Put a few branches at the bottom of the compost bin to allow air circulation and drainage
- Alternate between wet food scraps and dry scraps, such as dead leaves, newspaper or wood chips
- Aerate your compost twice a month by turning it with a pitchfork or shovel to speed up decomposition and to limit odours
Some materials do not go in the household compost bin:
Refused Materials | Alternative |
Dairy products | Collection of Organic Waste |
Meat | Collection of Organic Waste |
Fatty liquids | Collection of Organic Waste |
Sick plants | Collection of Organic Waste |
Animal droppings | Collection of Household Waste |
Ashes | Collection of Household Waste |
Materials contaminated with pesticides or hazardous products | Collection of household hazardous waste |
Rather than using chemicals to keep pest insects away, here is a list of plants that can be added to your garden:
Insect and animal pests | Natural repellents |
Ants | Common Tansy, balm, basil, savory |
Slugs | Pennyroyal, savory |
Flies | Melissa, savory |
Aphids | Absinthe, savory |
Moles | Castor-oil plant, savory |
Rodents | Euphorbia, savory, peppermint |
Mosquitoes | Pelargonium, basil, savory |
Wasps | Lavender, savory |
Mosquitoes | Basil, lemongrass, savory |
REDUCE YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION
To reduce your water consumption in the summer, get a rain barrel. You can use this water for watering your flowerbeds and your land, or for cleaning your car.
As you will understand, natural is preferable to artificial, and this applies to our lawns! For example, we use huge amounts of water to irrigate our lawns and sometimes even chemicals to maintain that beautiful green colour. However, this polluting of the water table from runoff can be prevented by strengthening the plant cover of our lawns. Indeed, a cover made of thyme, clover, various creeping or succulent plants not only improves the quality of your soil, but also saves maintenance time while attracting pollinators.
Together, let’s rise up to the environmental challenges while enjoying the good weather.
Sources:
https://www.manomano.fr/conseil/les-11-plantes-anti-nuisibles-pour-le-jardin-et-la-maison-5967
https://www.equiterre.org/fr/ressources/geste-le-compostage-simple-et-naturel#article-block-131708
https://www.recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/citoyens/matieres-organiques/compostage-domestique