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As
gardeners, many of us are already a step ahead when it comes to reusing and
recycling in our landscape and homes. As environmental concerns become more a
part of our everyday lives, there are lots of little things we can each do to
help make the world a little “greener”.
If you
grow your own vegetables then you’re already helping to grow local and cut down
on trips to the grocery store, gas usage, packaging waste and much more. Not to
mention, homegrown veggies always taste better! All of that kitchen and garden
waste can then be recycled into high quality fertilizer for your next crop.
 At North
Haven Gardens, we’re always looking for Eco Friendly gardening products to help
you in your sustainable gardening efforts. A few of my favorite new products
include our handy little Kitchen Composter. I don’t know about you, but when
it’s cold or rainy outside, trekking out to the compost pile is not always the
most appealing activity. However, throwing all the leftover kitchen waste into
the garbage isn’t the best of alternatives. This attractive container holds 9.6 quarts, fits
easily under the kitchen sink or in the refrigerator and has a handle for easy
transport to the compost pile. It comes with a charcoal filter, so you don’t
have to worry about odor. You can put all of your vegetable trimmings,
eggshells, coffee grinds, orange peels and just about anything into your Kitchen
Composter and then make one or two trips a week out to the compost pile.
Perfect!
Another of my favorite things is our
large Composting Tumbler
that makes a fast batch of about 7 cubic feet of compost. It comes on its own
stand and can be spun to mix the compost or rolled on the ground. The tumbler is
made of out 100% recycled plastic and the black color help absorb heat for quick
composting. This tumbler is great if you don’t have space for a large compost
pile, or just want to keep your trimmings contained and out of side. The Tumbler
can be rolled right up to where you want to place your compost and then easily
scooped out. 
A brand
new Eco Friendly product that I’m very excited is our line of Rain Catcher
Barrels. When we do get rain here in Texas, its nice to be able to capture and
reuse some of it. There are two sizes available, 75-Gallon,
and 54- gallon, and they come with a screen to catch debris, are made of green
UV protected polyethylene and have a 4' hose with an on/off thumb valve. The
barrels hook up to your gutter system and then captured water can be used in the
garden or to water potted plants. You can even mix fertilizer into the water for
a quick feed. What a great way to help conserve our precious
water.
Be sure to bookmark our calendar page for eco-friendly and organic programs offered throughout the year.
Leslie
Finical Halleck is a horticulturist and general manager for North Haven Gardens
in Dallas, Texas.
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