Garden for climate: Fighting climate change in your own back yard

For anyone paying attention to the California drought, you've noticed that climate change has altered the way that Californians garden. For example, homeowners now replace grass with drought-tolerant plants to reduce the frequency with which they water their gardens.

However, thinking critically about gardening in a changing climate is not limited to west coast gardeners. From unpredictable growing seasons to the spread of invasive species and pests, gardeners nationwide are experiencing the effects of climate change.

Gardeners are on the front lines of climate change and they’re taking action this May as part of the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) “Garden for Wildlife” month. As NWF’s state affiliate, we’re happy to share the following smart and simple gardening tips to help you fight climate change and protect wildlife in your own backyard:

• Plant trees to absorb C02
• Replace invasive plants with native species
• Reduce water consumption in your garden 
• Increase household energy efficiency and reduce use of gasoline-powered tools
• Compost kitchen and garden waste
• Recognize your yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation

If you’re a resident of central Pennsylvania, there's a terrific event on the horizon that will bring these tips to life. On May 30, Ed Perry of the National Wildlife Federation is hosting an event titled, “Climate Solutions: Action to Reduce Energy Consumption and Help Pollinators and Wildlife.” Participants will learn how to make their homes more energy efficient and how to provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Following a presentation by a great slate of speakers, local homeowners will open their homes and gardens to participants to see these solutions in action!

What’s another tool for curbing carbon pollution and protecting wildlife and habitat? Urge Congress to protect gardens, communities, and wildlife by supporting the EPA Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. Contact me at PennFuture to learn how you can get involved.


Katie Bartolotta is southeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Philadelphia. She tweets @KatieBartolotta.

Weather extremes everywhere. Even in my back yard. Whither my daffodils!

"All politics is local," as famously stated by then-Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill.

I'll paraphrase Tip in a way I hope he wouldn't mind: Extreme weather is (now) local. I live in suburban Philadelphia, an area where we have occasional bits of extreme weather but, by no means, an anticipated hot spot for climate change.

That said, I just read Joe Romm's article in ClimateProgress about a new study that connects California's terrible drought with our recent frigid winter in the east -- and anthropogenic climate change. This is written by serious, reputable scientists, and endorsed by Pennsylvania's own climate scientist, Dr. Michael Mann.

Now to my own little bit of extreme weather: Tuesday afternoon, it was 67 degrees in my backyard and raining hard. It's April, so rain is expected. However, within eight short hours, we had frozen precipitation (sleet and snow) falling. It was 31 degrees when I got up yesterday morning, and my daffodils have taken a huge hit. A 36-degree drop in temperature in less than a day is not unheard of and doesn't, in and of itself, prove anthropogenic climate disruption.

But, for much of the country including Pennsylvania, this has been the winter to end all winters and it just won't end. Snow on Tax Day? Ridiculous.

And yes, I do realize I'm being whiny and narrowly focused to complain about my daffodils.

Much more seriously, I also realize that people around the world are dying due to climate disruptions. (And thanks to the excellent premiere episode of "Years of Living Dangerously" this past Sunday, I now see that the drought in Syria -- likely a result of climate change -- has played a huge role in the disastrous revolution in that country with so many thousands of lives lost to violence.)

Climate disruption is now smacking us in the face, every day, in so many ways -- from international headlines to the broken daffodils by my front door.

Memo to Washington and Harrisburg: It's time to wake up, smell the (mangled) flowers, and act.

Joy Bergey is PennFuture's federal policy director and is based in suburban Philadelphia.

The American climate

News you can use

Time to act
Alarmed, doubtful, or dismissive? These are a few of the "six Americas" that comprise the public and their views on climate change. There is hope, according to the authors of a report. A full 90 percent of those polled say the United States should act -- even if it has economic costs. From The Center for American Progress

The science of extreme weather and climate
This week's destructive tornadoes have again brought into the limelight the questions about extreme weather and climate. This column takes an extended look at the scientific literature. From Think Progress

Crape myrtles creep north
Gardeners around Pennsylvania are experiencing our warming climate firsthand -- in earlier-blooming perennials, shrubs and fruits. Not a problem, some say? Learn what has also happened to native hardwood trees at Longwood Gardens and the resulting pests, weeds and disease. From PennLive

All streets are not created equal
How many trees are in your neighborhood? These statistics tell us where the worst urban heat islands are -- and why this is part of the larger discussion of inequality and climate change. From The Atlantic Cities

Fun stuff

Sunny options
It's the unofficial start of summer - and outdoors time is high on all our agendas. How about forgoing the fuel to boil your water and charge your cell -- with these solar-powered alternatives. Every little bit adds up. From Good and Treehugger