Brighter Planet Grant Competition
8 Simple Steps for Combating Climate Change with an Ecological Garden
Backyard Agrarian was in a grant competition through Brighter Planet this winter (2010). We came in a close second to an incredible green building project in the devastated 9th Ward in New Orleans. We received an enormous amount of support and positive feedback and plan to continue our work devising ecological and carbon capture gardens in home and office landscapes. Here was our proposal:
As I flew by plane recently (yes it was spewing massive amounts of GHGs) into Indianapolis, Indiana, I noticed a vast network of houses and sterile, mostly grass yards, framed by impermeable streets and sidewalks. My heart sinks every time I have this view of our created landscape. But I remain hopeful because I know this is reversible. I know there are simple permaculture and nature friendly practices that every single homeowner in America is perfectly capable of implementing!
Backyard Agrarian will create and print a booklet called 8 Simple Steps for Combating Climate Change with an Ecological Garden. It will teach homeowners exactly how to improve the environment, the planet, grow great food and create thriving ecosystems right in their own backyards.
Through proper design, composting, mulching, swales and beneficial and perennial plantings, our yards can sequester huge amounts of carbon, clean water and create cool zones to decrease the urban heat island effect which contributes to climate change. Instead though, we have created ecologically dead zones in our home and commercial yard-scapes. Our yards increase climate change, destroy soil and water quality and add to our poor health and disaffection for nature, but it doesn't have to be this way! Rather, we can and should be creating yards that boast thriving and diverse plant and wildlife habitats, lush soils with massive water storage capabilities, and delicious and nutritious edibles for ourselves.
By implementing simple and totally accessible permaculture techniques, our yards can quickly become happy little warriors in the fight against climate change. Not only will ecological gardens reduce GHG emissions, sequester carbon, and cool our planet, they will make us happy, they will teach our children about proper ecosystems and feed is healthy food that will help us thrive on this beautiful, precious planet.
The guide will be available in print version and for free to all on www.BackyardAgrarian.com
Backyard Agrarian will create and print a booklet called 8 Simple Steps for Combating Climate Change with an Ecological Garden. It will teach homeowners exactly how to improve the environment, the planet, grow great food and create thriving ecosystems right in their own backyards.
Through proper design, composting, mulching, swales and beneficial and perennial plantings, our yards can sequester huge amounts of carbon, clean water and create cool zones to decrease the urban heat island effect which contributes to climate change. Instead though, we have created ecologically dead zones in our home and commercial yard-scapes. Our yards increase climate change, destroy soil and water quality and add to our poor health and disaffection for nature, but it doesn't have to be this way! Rather, we can and should be creating yards that boast thriving and diverse plant and wildlife habitats, lush soils with massive water storage capabilities, and delicious and nutritious edibles for ourselves.
By implementing simple and totally accessible permaculture techniques, our yards can quickly become happy little warriors in the fight against climate change. Not only will ecological gardens reduce GHG emissions, sequester carbon, and cool our planet, they will make us happy, they will teach our children about proper ecosystems and feed is healthy food that will help us thrive on this beautiful, precious planet.
The guide will be available in print version and for free to all on www.BackyardAgrarian.com