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.

Welcome back, Climate Digest fans.

We're back talking climate news that's good, bad -- and even entertaining. Like our other e-publications, A Climate for Change has joined the blogosphere - and we want to know what you think. You've sent us emails and questions which we always appreciate -- now you can talk back in the climate conversation.

Have you used the latest NWF report on warming and wildlife for reference for a class or community group? Or maybe you're an angler/hunter who notices the changes in our wild natives of the Pennsylvania woods. Tell us about it -- and we'll share your Pa. stories of the climate crisis when we advocate at the State Capitol and on Capitol Hill like we did this past month.

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You can still find all the past issues you need right on our Climate for Change email archive. We love to find the unusual from around the web, because we all need inspiration. The slide show on sustainable Hobbit houses in this 2012 issue got a lot of clicks. Since most Hobbits don't use the internet, we'll leave it to you, our human readers to tell us what you think -- and what we can all do together to confront the crisis of our age.

Happy May to readers new and old -- and welcome to the climate conversation here at PennFuture.