Environmental Sustainability
Plastic Pot Problems
The use of plastics in all aspects of life has created a large and negative impact on our world. As gardeners, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve our environment.
What can we as gardeners do to help minimize the use of plastic pots in our gardening efforts?
The Amherst Garden Club’s Environmental Sustainability committee is dedicated to learning about and sharing sustainable gardening practices. Below is their list of recommended resources.
Plant Selection and Design
Native Plants
- Keystone Native Plants: Eastern Temperate Forests – Ecoregion 8 (National Wildlife Federation)
- Native Plants Preferred by Imperiled Bee and Butterfly Species in New England
- New England/New Hampshire Native Plant Spreadsheet (developed by the AGC in 2023)
- National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder
- Grow Native Massachusetts
- Native Plant Trust
- Town of Pepperell MA Native Plant Guide
- Handout from “Go Natives!” presentation by Sheila Steele, March 2022
- Planting for Pollinators: Establishing a Wildflower Meadow from Seed (UNH Fact Sheet)
- Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Search Tool
- Pictures of Native Plant Seedlings and Spring Emergence
- NH State Forest Native Seedling Sale and Ordering Information
- Grow Native Massachusetts Native Plant Sale
- Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Garden Shop
- Handout from “Go Natives!” presentation by Sheila Steele, March 2022
- Native Plant Nurseries List from Wild Seed Project
Invasive Plants and Animals
- UNH Extension Invasive Species page
- New Hampshire Guide to Upland Invasive Species (pdf)
- Jumping Worms Fact Sheet from Cornell University
Ecological Landscaping
- Bird Academy’s Guide to Planning Your Naturescape (from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
- Wild Seed Project — The goal of Wild Seed Project is to build awareness of the vital importance of native plants and to provide people with the tools to restore biodiversity in their own communities. Though Maine-based, the site contains a wealth of information applicable to New England more generally.
Organic Material Waste Management
Yard and Garden Cleanup
- Spring Garden Cleanup to Benefit Pollinators and Soil (a Perennials+ presentation 4/20/23 by Kathie Breen)
- Living Christmas Trees: A Long-Lasting Alternative to Cut Trees for the Holidays
- LeaveLeavesAlone.org – “Why to” and “How to” use fall leaves to enrich your lawn and landscape.
Composting
- Composting Overview Poster
- Composting Tips by Becky Stoughton
- How to Build a DIY Three-Bin Compost System – 2 page instructional handout
- Composting for the Home Gardener – 5-page handout from UNH Extension
- Composting and Food Waste Diversion in Amherst – Recording of 1-hour presentation through the Amherst Town Library about the Amherst Transfer station food diversion program as well as composting at home and in the garden. Tuesday, February 28, 2023
- Amherst Transfer Station Food Diversion Initiative Flyer (Items accepted and not accepted)
- Compost Tea – 1 page summary
Indoor Composting
- Composting Indoors: Get Worms Working for You – 1 page summary
- The Lomi composting appliance (or competitors coming on the market) may be of interest and there are many reviews available by searching onine.
- The Basics of Bokashi Composting (a 7/12/22 blog post by The Spruce)
- The Compost by My Couch: How (and Why) I Started an Odorless Bin at Home (Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, Updated May 8, 2020)
Soil Health and Nutrient Management
Cover Crops
Coming soon…Soil Testing
- Soil Testing Soil Testing (Video) Sue Makowiecki, Nov. 2020)
- UNH Cooperative Extension Soil Testing Services Information
Water Management and Conservation
Rain Gardens
Pollinator Protection
Integrated Pest Management
- Using Natural and Low-Risk Pesticides in the Garden (UNH Extension Video, 45 min.)
- Weeding Without Glysophosate Leads to Weeding Without Worry (Sue Stefanec, Nov 2019)
- Planting for Pollinators: Establishing a Wildflower Meadow from Seed (UNH Extension)
Lawn Care & Alternatives to Lawns
- Kill Your Lawn… and Replace It with Something Better! from Mark Richardson, Horticulture Director, Tower Hill Botanic Garden
- Establishing a Wildflower Meadow from Seed (Fact Sheet) from UNH Extension
- So You Want Less Lawn? Native Plant Trust Webinar, Feb 12, 2025, 5-6 pm
- Roll Back Your Turf: How to Reduce Your Lawn and Choose Native Plants that Work by Jane Roy Brown and Alexis Doshas
- Lawns into Meadows: Growing a Regenerative Landscape by Owen Wormser
- Low Input Lawn Care: 14 ways you can protect the environment from UNH Extension
- Organic Turf FAQs from UNH Extension
- Green Grass & Clear Water (Fact Sheet) from UNH Extension
- Manual for Turfgrass Maintenance with Reduced Environmental Impacts from NH Seacoast Stormwater Coalition
Equipment and Materials
Tool Selection
Garden Plastic Waste
- Kicking the Plastic Pot Habit – The American Gardener, July/August 2023
- Plastic Pot Problems and How to Help
General/Miscellaneous
- Seed Saving Tips by Mary Ann Kuhnert [linked document TBD]
- The Great Tree Migration (Link to visual article in Emergence Magazine)
- National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Certification Information and Checklist
- Pollinator Garden Certification through UNH/UMaine Extension
- Get on the Map! of Homegrown National Park (Non-profit co-founded by Doug Tallamy and Michelle Alfandari to encourage planting of native plants)