Greener Pot Heads
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
I have great respect for anyone who can plant and grow things, professionally or otherwise. As much as I live (quite literally) to hike, bike and hang outdoors, I’m not so great with a shovel and hoe (they still use hoes, don’t they?). However, when we industrialized the garden biz, we got a little carried away. There are as many gadgets and gizmos for garden-lovers as there are plants.
Take those plastic pots that your new plantings come in - about 300 million pounds of them end up in landfills. It seems reuse or a compostable version would be in order. Volunteers in St. Louis, MO took charge of the pot problem in their area with the Botanical Garden recycling program. Over the last decade, they have collected more then 300 tons of plastics from nurseries and landscapers which have then been made into a wood-like product that has many uses.
Plans for new collection centers and drop-off sites are in progress, a stimulus for similar programs around the country. For more information, visit mobot.org.
While you’re thinking greener gardening, remember to think Permaculture - go native, go natural, lawn-free and eliminate the need for wasteful irrigation.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
CowPots anyone? Pots made from Nutrient-Rich, Recycled Cow Manure
http://www.neseed.com/CowPots_made_from_Cow_Manure_p/63100.htm
April 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
really good, smart thoughts. best way to avoid these pots is to plant with seeds. if you can’t wait or forget to plant those little buggers in february so they have time to germinate by spring (as i often can’t) then let folks know they can take these pots back to most nurseries that grow their own stuff, like niche gardens (www.nichegardens.com) in chapel hill. when i lived in CA, we took them back at yerba buena nursery (www.yerbabuenanursery.com) in the santa cruz mountains near woodside CA. also, local farmers will often take them to help germinate their seedlings in. aimlessfarm.com will do so. the three “r’s” work. agree with you though that these things need to be taken out of commission entirely. they are kind of a scourge.