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Learn! Explore! Take Action!

Celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social health.

May, American Wetlands Month is also a great opportunity to discover and teach others about the important role that wetlands play in our environment and the significant benefits they provide - improved water quality, increased water storage and supply, reduced flood and storm surge risk, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife.

In organizing its activities this year, EPA is placing special emphasis on encouraging Americans to:

1. Learn about wetlands. This is a great time to better understand what a wetland is, where wetlands can be found, and the importance of wetlands. Activities may include reading and studying about wetland areas, drawing maps or illustrations of wetlands, and identifying native species found in wetlands. Information on wetlands and the important benefits they provide is available on this website, through EPA's wetland fact sheet series, or by visiting the websites of our partners.
2. Explore a wetland near you. Unless you live in the most extreme climate zones, there is a good chance a scenic wetland exists nearby for you to visit and explore during American Wetlands Month and throughout the year. To find a wetland near you, consult your local parks department, state natural resource agency, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/refuges). If you live in the Washington, DC area, a guide has been created to highlight wetlands and wildlife sanctuaries.
3. Take action to protect and restore wetlands. Support and promote wetlands informing community members about wetlands' vital roles, "adopting" a wetland, joining a local watershed group, or participating in a wetland monitoring, restoration, or cleanup project. There are many other actions Americans can take to help conserve wetlands.To learn more about what you can do to help protect and restore these valuable natural resources in your state or local area, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/#you.

Developing Your Gardening System

What does an experienced organic gardener read to learn the nuts and bolts...rather, the soil and plants... of starting their gardening avocation?

Lorra, an ardent fan of Doug Green's blog, left the following comment on a very thought provoking blog essay about how Doug takes "the high road" in providing information and a positive approach to gardening for his readers.

In the early 1970s when Life presented me, a farmer’s daughter, with the opportunity to have a large garden I was delighted. With my Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening by Rodale Press, and Ruth Stout’s The No Work Garden Book away I went. My husband had grown up in one of the largest greenhouse gardening areas in the USA Midwest. There was no end to our disagreements on how to do it. Or rather, how I should do it. I scrounge leaves from the whole neighborhood (already bagged). Use them for mulch at home and in the park garden I am building – even tho, by some standards, “they look dirty”. Put no chemicals on Mother Earth, have bird houses, talk to Earl the Squirrel, and even allow the local opossum and/or raccoon to reside under the deck – as long as it doesn’t trod on my lemon lily.  (Douggreensgarden.com)

It's possible to learn bits and pieces about biodynamic gardening, organic farming and permaculture from blogs, but there is nothing like a comprehensive encyclopedic approach if you want to implement a whole SYSTEM such as gardening or landscaping as an avocation / or vocation.

What is your favorite sourcebook or system for putting all the participants in your little bit of Eden together?

Your comments are very welcome and they will help develop this resource center into a positive source  of information about landscaping solutions that are practical, environmentally nurturing and FUN!

Going green is seen as a fad by some...a recent development...and something for corporations and communities to deal with.  But conservation is at the heart of the green movement -- and conscientious folks have been at it for a very long time.  The following note is an excellent look at the heart of green . . .

...I bet it isn't easy being Green. I do not care to enumerate
the sacrifices I've made over the last 40 years in order to
meet my own standards for living as environmentally soundly as I can
manage. These are personal decisions made to mesh with my own value
system, which includes viewing other parts of the Earth and its
inhabitants as being equal to myself. The most I feel I can ask of others
is to become conscious of what they are choosing for themselves.
Frequently, awareness initiates change.

Our collegues have made us aware of the issues regarding hydrogels and
their soy alternatives, so I leave you with Maya Angelou's famous "When
you know better, you do better."

Regards,
Lois
LOIS de Vries' Garden Views
Thoughts on Gardening and Environmental Issues

Visit http://loisdevries.blogspot.com