Zero Waste Living - In the Garden

Find waste reduction tips below that you can incorporate in the garden!

Apply compost in your garden

Applying compost to your soil can improve water retention, soil structure, provide vital plant nutrients, and more. If you choose compost that is made from yard trimmings and food scraps, you are going one step further to put the carbon that was diverted from the landfill back into the ground! Palo Alto residents can pick up FREE garden-ready compost at Eleanor Pardee Community Garden.

Make your own compost

Have you ever considered making your own compost from yard trimmings and food scraps? You can reduce even more carbon emissions from transportation of these items by starting a backyard compost bin. We offer free classes to teach you, so sign up today!

Use clay pots

Clay pots better insulate the soil, which means less watering. Using non-plastic items in your garden such as clay pots or metal landscape edging means they can last longer, but also reduce the usage of petroleum-based products. Broken clay pots can be repurposed as landscape art or crushed into small pieces and placed in the bottom layer of soil to improve drainage.

Apply mulch in your landscape

The application of mulch can improve water retention and help prevent soil erosion. Mulch is produced from recycled wood materials like fallen or harvested trees, but they can also be made from recycled clean wood from construction projects! Consider using a recycled construction mulch like this to help close the loop.

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