I seriously doubt that we here at Munchkin Place can save the world single-handed. However, we have been, and continue, working towards acquiring the knowledge needed for sustainability, putting it into practice as we go.
The “Little Things” we all do to save a few dollars in energy costs are in place. More insulation in the attic, the thermostat has been set a few degrees lower, new windows installed and the twisted little light bulbs now light our way.
We may live in a small town in the country, but we use the facilities of towns and cities around us. That means using our van/pickup/wagon. If we are emitting carbons into the air, then we need to remove our share. We have been transplanting trees and shrubs on our property for the past 20 years, and two years back began a renewed effort.
When selecting trees and shrubs for our gardens and landscaping we do our homework, frequently selecting a native or native cultivar. When looking for color for our eyes we also select for the birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Perennials, herbs and vines provide feasts for our eyes as well as for butterfly larva. Grasses provide protection over the winter for moths and preying mantis eggs. Over the years we have become a certified back yard habitat.
We are cautious with insecticides, herbicides, and fungal sprays, preferring not to use them. When your environment is in balance there is not much of a need for chemicals.
Raingarden concepts have created quite a buzz in the last few years. You will be hearing even more about them in coming years. Essentially the concept is each home owner becomes accountable for the rain that falls upon roofs of homes, garages, sheds and driveways and where that water goes. If into a sewer for treatment there will be a tax. Rain gardens delay, or catch and hold rainwater, for plants to use before it can end up in a sewer.
We hope to have our raingardens designed and in place in late fall of 2007. The plants will take a while to establish and mature, but we can show you the basic principles of how to create an attractive rain garden to share runoff from the roofs and driveway by spring of 2008. There will probably be a bit of tweaking as we attend symposiums and read more on the subject.
We may sell hundreds of living plants, but it is not as easy as one would think to grow green in the nursery. Energy used generating light and heat for growing your plants to transplanting size is the main cost of a nursery. With the rapidly rising cost of petroleum based energy many of the first decisions in growing green are made for you. Reduce energy use or loose profit margins and go out of business.
Greenhouse design harks back to a time before petroleum based heating and lighting became readily available. The foundation and first four feet of the walls are insulated poured concrete sunk into the side of a hill. Design also allows for a permanent structure that can easily be converted to other uses when the nursery no longer exists. Rather than construct multiple buildings we have consolidated growing plants, order processing and shipping with a small office into one structure. We are discussing the possibility of solar panel heating for the greenhouse in addition to gains by the direct capturing of light through the poly roof.
We are working toward converting from petroleum based fertilizers and “cides” to organic materials. All plants going into the nursery inventory will have the root systems inoculated with micorrhizal fungi. Plants from wholesalers will first be flushed of any possible “cides”. Premium seaweed and compost will be fertilizers used in growing on in sterile container mediums. Our goal is to send you the healthiest root system we can grow that will settle into your garden with vigor.
Pesticides, fungicides and herbicides will be gradually excluded from use as organic and petroleum based are not compatible. Petroleum based “cides” kill off the organic.
Native plants for shade gardens have always been of keen interest to us and we hope to hone that focus by working closely with a propagator and intensifying our research. The more we learn the more we realize we have only scratched the surface on what could be available “if only”. We also realize we can no longer do it all without help. The beginning of that assistance is partnering with an individual knowledgeable and talented in propagation.