Sustainable Arlington

Nature's Best Hope (2019) by Douglas Tallamy.  A wonderful book at any time but especially so in light of the coronavirus pandemic.  Doug Tallamy, Univ. of Del. professor and naturalist, shows clearly and simply what each of us can do to support our native native pollinators and birds in our own back yards and parks.  Let's get started! 

Click "download" to see the beautiful cover of this book.

A manicured lawn might look nice, but messy is better for birds and bugs.

The Audubon Society says:  leave this year's dead flower stalks with their seeds pods.  Winter birds need them.  Let some leaves remain on your garden beds and mulch (mow over) those on your lawn.  Leaf litter is free fertilizer and provides essential cover for tiny insects and invertebrates that wild birds eat.  Build a brush pile to provide cover from pedators and weather. Skip the chemicals.  They cause harm throughout the food web.  Download the article to learn more.

Much-admired author Doug Tallamy shows how everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity and why it matters so much.

... to explore issues surrounding the development of urban agriculture in Cambridge [and] to propose a comprehensive urban agriculture ordinance that will take into account a broad range of urban agricultural activities.

who teaches Compost 101, blogs about compost and other gardening topics, and has been an EcoFest contributor.  The related Facebook page is called Allium Fields. He also knows a lot about energy efficiency.  

Conference, webinars, events and free monthly newletter help you develop landscapes that consider the ecology of a site and create gardens that enhance the surrounding environment for the benefit of humans and all other life in the ecosystem. Newsletter archives contain over 15 years of valuable information. - See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/#sthash.Qn2tXzJl.dpuf

Experienced writer and teacher Sue Reed is a registered landscape architect. Her work focuses specifically on environmentally sound, energy efficient and sustainable landscape design. She has helped hundreds of homeowners create comfortable, livable and beautiful landscapes that save energy.  

Motto:  Every garden matters -- every landscape counts.

Annual free talk series, Evenings With Experts free talk series, good on-line resources, annual native plant sale. 

Landscape For Life shows you how to work with nature in your garden, no matter where you live, whether you garden on a city or suburban lot, a 20–acre farm, or the common area of your condominium.

Interesting look at the percentage of land area by state covered by turf grass, the volume of water and chemicals used to care for lawns (home, municipal and golf courses), social pressure to keep lawns looking their best, and some alternatives.

Invasive plant lists, management recommendations

The latest in sustainable agriculture and organic farming news, events and funding opportunities.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, uses native plants to restore and create healthy, beautiful landscapes. They seek to inspire the conservation and application of native plants through their gardens, campus, research, education and outreach programs. In doing so, they improve water quality, provide habitat for wildlife and enhance human health and happiness. Excellent database.

"The Region's Expert on Native Plants—from the Wild to Your Backyard" 

The Society is based at Garden in the Woods, a renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham, Massachusetts, that attracts visitors from all over the world. From this base, 25 staff members and more than 700 volunteers work throughout New England to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and bank seeds for biological diversity, control invasive species, conduct research, and educate the public. 

• welcomes everyone who cares about food, where it comes from and how it’s grown
• excellent winter and summer conferences

In-depth articles on eco-regeneration, broadscale farming systems, agroforestry, home garden design and community action

“Populations of native pollinators--including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, bats, and hummingbirds-- have plummeted across the United States in recent years,” says Jessica Pederson, director of public programs at New England Wild Flower Society. “The goal of Pollinate New England is to teach and encourage homeowners to plant diverse, systemic pesticide-free native plants that support a wide variety of pollinators throughout their life cycles. We hope that it will become a national model.”  

This website was established by University of Vermont PhD candidate, Annie White, to share information about her ongoing research on improving plant selection for pollinator habitat restoration in the Northeast.

Rain Barrels Intl is the leading resource of Rain Barrels for Rainwater Recycling, Renewable Water Solutions and all things Green & Eco Friendly located in North Carolina and providing Rain Water Barrels in Retail Locations throughout America.

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