Want to improve your carbon footprint, but don’t want to radically change how you live? We feel you — while many of us wish to have a positive impact on the planet, the truth is that a lot of eco-friendly advice can feel a little overwhelming, especially when it involves fundamentally changing the infrastructure of your property.
That’s why it can make sense to start with your backyard, which is the easiest part of the property to make eco-friendly. In fact, it can be so easy that, in many cases, it’s about what you don’t do that has the biggest impact.
We’ve put together a list of some low-effort ways to boost your backyard’s eco credentials; take them all on board, and you’ll have gone a long way towards nudging your carbon footprint in the right direction.
Focus On Local Plants
Exotic plants can look great, sure, but they also require much more work to look after — and they’re usually of no interest to local wildlife, which much prefers the plants that evolved to exist in the same local area.
By focusing on plants native to your area, you’ll be making your job of looking after your backyard much more straightforward; you’ll be looking after local birds and insects, and you’ll even have the satisfaction of looking out into a backyard space that looks like it truly belongs as part of the broader landscape. This page can help you to find which plants are native to your area.
Switch to Battery-Powered Tools
Still using tools that are powered by fossil fuels? Not only are they noisy, but they also produce a lot more emissions than many people realize. One study found that using a gas mower for one hour produced the same amount of emissions as driving a car for 100 miles. While car manufacturers have been subject to extensive emissions-based regulations, gas equipment manufacturers have not.
The solution isn’t to go back to doing everything manually. The solution is to buy battery-powered equipment. The best battery powered lawn mower will perform just as well — if not better — than the best gas-powered lawn mower yet produce zero emissions, which makes it much better for the environment. It also works silently, which means you can use it on a Sunday morning without worrying that you’re disturbing your neighbors.
Start Composting
Composting offers a wide range of benefits, and it’s also much easier to start doing than many people realize.
Let’s start with the benefits. The first is that it stops organic waste from ending up in the landfill, where it produces methane. The second is that it allows you to create your own fertilizer that you can use in your backyard, which means no more store-bought fertilizer.
As for how, it’s simple enough: get yourself a bin, gradually add your organic waste (backyard debris, food scraps), and occasionally turn it over. Within a few months, you’ll have perfectly usable compost, and you’ll have the satisfaction of engaging with a super earth-friendly practice. It’s a win-win situation.
Start Growing Vegetables
Did you know that more people than ever in the US are growing their own vegetables at home? As with composting, this is a home project that’s much easier to get started than many people realize.
There are a bunch of beginner-friendly vegetables, such as leafy greens, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes, that can easily be grown at home with a little bit of know-how. In the process, you’ll be reducing your reliance on store-bought food — which often travels a long way before it makes it to your table — and find that your vegetables are even tastier than what you could buy anyway.
Also, we have to mention the ‘satisfaction’ aspect again. Of all the meals you serve your family, none will give you as much pride as the ones that include ingredients that have come from your own backyard. Trust us on that!
Stay Away From Pesticides
Pesticides are excellent at killing unwanted weeds, insects, and fungi.
But it’s important to remember that pesticides don’t know the difference between an unwanted weed and a pollinator that’s vital for the ecosystem. They’ll harm whatever comes into their path. There’s been a big shift from the use of pesticides in recent years, and with good reason. The negative impact they have on the environment far outweighs the small advantages they bring.
If you’re really having a problem with a pest, then it’s best to speak to a specialist. They’ll know how to treat the issue while also keeping the wider environment — and those that live in it — safe.
Keep It a Little Bit Wild
Looking to reduce the amount of time you spend tending to your backyard? We have the perfect solution: let a little chunk of it grow wild.
While you may want to keep the bulk of your backyard trim and proper, assigning a small corner to be ‘wild’ can have a hugely positive impact on your backyard’s green credentials, since it’ll provide exactly the kind of home that birds, bees, and beetles look for.
Plus, there’ll be benefits for you, too. Not only does not mowing a portion of your land save you time, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of seeing more wildlife in your backyard — and that has been shown to lower stress and even ignite a sense of awe, which can be difficult to come by these days.
Solar Power
Looking for a really low-effort way to boost your lifestyle at home while also boosting your eco-friendly credentials? Then take a look at adding solar lights to your backyard. They’re great because they don’t require anything other than power from the sun — which they should get from sitting outside all day — and they can provide a pleasant ambiance in your backyard, allowing you to sit out well after the sun has set. They also require zero wiring and have no ongoing costs, which makes them one of the better investments that eco-minded homeowners can make for their backyard spaces.
