Conscious Gardening and Landscaping

Spring is here and everyone is getting anxious to begin working in their gardens and on their lawns. I have been stirring the compost bin and can't wait to increase the size of my organic vegetable garden again this year.

I will be blogging about organic gardening, local community gardens, and feeding the local people in need through increased gardening. There are some great local groups in my community including Plant a Row for the Hungry and Loveland Youth Gardeners. This year the local Rotary Club is announcing a new program to increase the production of the Plant a Row program and get more local organic produce into the homes of local families in need. Check back as these programs are important for your community and they can put your extra produce to good use.

Today I would like to help promote a group who is working on clean air for Colorado. The Ozone Aware group works to create awareness of air pollution and to promote was of reducing the ozone in the air we breathe.

One major cause of ozone in the summer months is the use of gas lawn mowers. The exhaust from your gas lawn mower is increasing air pollution and causing unsafe levels of ozone. The best way to keep the air are safe for all to breathe is to mow your lawn in the evening when the temperature has cooled down. Also, consider xeriscaping your yard to limit the amount of grass. This will lower the amount of water needed to water your grass and decrease the amount of mowing you have to do.

This year The Regional Air Quality Council will be hosting three Mow Down Pollution 2009 Events in Northern Colorado. At this events consumers can trade in their old gas lawn mowers for a new electric mower. There will also be information available on Xeriscaping, Composting, Water Conservation, Earth Friendly Products, and Chemical Free Lawn Products. Check out one of the three events:

Denver Event When: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 8am - 2 pm Where: Garland Park, 1001 South Kearney Street, Denver - just off Cherry Creek Drive North

Commerce City Event When: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 10am - 1pm Where: Civic Center, 7887 East 60th Ave, Commerce City - Next door to Dick's Sporting Goods Park

Boulder County Event (tentative)When: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 12n - 3pm Where: Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Rd. Longmont, CO. - south parking lot

Get more information here.