Happy Earth Day. Here are five ways to incorporate earth-friendly garden practices, many of which also save you some green:

  1. Compost. Not only does it avoid stuffing pricy landfills, it makes a nearly magical mixture to augment your garden soil, all with very little effort other than occasional stirring. Plus, you may no longer feel the need to buy composted manure at the garden center. You can buy all manner of compost bins at local garden centers, or build your own. Just make sure to follow your city's rules for proper siting. Here's a link to build a minimalist one yourself: http://www.motherearthliving.com/wiser-living/make-your-own-compost-bin.aspx
  2. Install a rain barrel. The standard size rain barrel can capture 55 gallons. Connect one to a downspout to maximize the amount it collects. Use the water for your perennials and flowering annuals. Best to avoid using it on herbs and veggies since the water passed over asphalt roof shingles. (If you're buying an old wine barrel, check that it doesn't leak.)
  3. Go native: Native plants are less likely to be resource hogs than some more exotic non-natives, needing less water or fertilizer to thrive. As a bonus, they're zone hardy, so you run into less winter kill. And many help attract birds, bees and other pollinators/bug eaters, so all your plants fare better . The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a guide for using native plants for landscaping and a list of suppliers on its site: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/index.html
  4. Cut back on the spray dope: Start with the least nasty remedy you can find to tackle an insect invasion. Instead of automatically dowsing cabbages with powder as a preventative as my mother's generation often did, I've found a simple daily walk-through, pick-off during the brief cabbage worm season takes care of the problem. Insecticidal soaps will tackle many garden ills, so reserve the heavy artillery for invaders that only respond to sterner stuff. Here's a link to making your own natural pesticide: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-natural-garden-pesticides-169168
  5. Reuse household cast-offs in the garden. Repurpose newsprint as mulch, compost fodder, or seed-starting pots. http://www.motherearthliving.com/in-the-garden/uses-for-shredded-paper.aspx Turn plastic bottles into mini cloches for spring seedlings (http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/49cloche/). Consider whether your would-be castoffs could make good garden art. :

That's just a handful of ideas to get you started. What are your favorite ways to "green up" your garden? While I'm certainly not greener-than-thou, a few simple steps can make you feel better about your place in the world. And even if you're not about saving the Earth, it can help you save on your wallet. So happy Earth Day, and go out and play in the dirt!