Posts Tagged ‘trends’

A nice idea out of Burlington, Vermont: the Chitten­den Solid Waste District is sponsoring an essay contest about growing flowers or vegetables can win you free garden supplies and volunteer garden help. The purpose is to promote sustainability and reduce pollution.  A well­ maintained vegetable garden can yield about a half-pound of produce per square foot per growing season, accord­ing to the CSWD. Replacing lawn space with garden space reduces the demand for water and lawnmower fuel, the district said. The contest ends on April 12.

I didn’t know there were “hot trends” in urban gardening, but apparently I was wrong.  Taking a cue from the fashion industry, the Christian Science Monitor‘s Suzi McCoy compiled a list of “what’s in and out for 2010.”  Many of these “changes” evoke the traditional values discussed in my previous post. Main Street is in, Wall Street is out. Here, McCoy argues for self-reliance and “going local.”  It makes sense.  Who needs Wal-Mart to ship you your tomatoes from Mexico when you can get trade them for some kale with Mr. Smith down the street?  As McCoy says, “We’re connecting to the soil and each other.” Edible Gardens are in. I’ve certainly noticed this change.  Even people who grew nothing but golf-course-perfect grass are now inquiring about how to grow fruits and veggies.  Imagine if everyone took just one bit of their lawn to plant something edible? Slow gardening is