Homeowners can awaken their neighborhood to the need to act in the current environmental emergency by using organic gardening techniques and taking simple steps at home. Planting eco-friendly native plants and fruit trees instead of a lawn in the front yard and using a drip irrigation system, saves water and attracts pollinators. Refraining from the use of pesticides and herbicides protects wildlife and ecosystems and reduces harmful pollutants that wash into our waterways. Using environmental responsible equipment and tools that cut down on harmful emissions and noise pollution. 

Just by watering early in the morning, instead of the heat of the day, nationally we could be saving billions of gallons of water each year. Families can learn to restore their backyards, invigorating the soil and existing native plants by designing an area to hold the water in the soil, grouping plant communities together, and creating a harmonious relationship with the natural environment. Homeowners can harvest the water from the roof and collect it in rain barrels or tanks. Mulching the landscape beds around the house will reduce water runoff, loss of soil, and erosion by as much as 80%.

Homeowners can plant fruit trees, berry bushes, and grape vines in the landscape around their house instead of grass. Watered with drip systems and using organic gardening methods, even a small yard can harvest abundant succulent fruits. Raised bed veggie gardens filled with rich organic soil produces plenty of fresh organic herbs and veggies for the entire family at little cost. Perennial veggies, like artichokes, collard trees, and asparagus, can be planted among native plants for an attractive front yard landscape.  Eating fresh, local, seasonal, organic fruits and veggies saves time and money at the doctors office and on prescriptions. 

Rather than use synthetic fertilizers, homeowners can create their own compost for the healthiest, richest soil. Using their compost to feed their plants will keep yard and kitchen scraps out of the landfill. Planting fruit trees and shade trees can reduce heating and cooling needs and their carbon emissions by as much as 40%. Organic gardening improves the soil, air, and water in the garden, as it uplifts the spirit, renews the mind, and recharges the body of the gardener.