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8. Implement soil conservation, not contaminating the soil with toxic chemicals, but growing plants,
or adding materials to the soil that can nourish or remediate soils, and protect soil-living organisms.
9. Use of certain plants that provide unique benefits, saving plants and reducing the need for
less green alternatives such as: legumes that are nitrogen-fixing; plants that are air-cleaners like
Peace lilies; indicator plants that can help point out soil and water deficiencies; plants
that remove toxic elements from the soil like poplar species; companion plants that
provide some kind of benefit to adjacent plants; pest repellent species like marigolds and
growing plants that are necessary for the survival of other endangered species.
10. Employ the Reuse, Reduce, Recycle concept in the garden, and utilize longer
lasting pots/re-using plastic bought ones/ buying items made from sustainable resources i.e.
peat-free, recycled hose pipe etc.
11. Practice the principles of Permaculture that mimic the natural environment
12. Use good soil practices like Masanobu Fukuoka’s ‘no dig’ policy and prevent soil
erosion by utilizing ground covers or permeable paving.
13. Are some plants better than others at sucking up carbon dioxide? Apparently so -
hardwood trees (Leadwood - Combretum imberbe for one).
14. Practice wildlife gardening - leave overgrown areas for birds, fallen logs for insects etc.
15. Use biodegradable products/ Organic products .. and made locally where possible
16. Use solar powered tools like solar pumps for the pond, solar lighting.

A few signs to show that you’re in an eco-friendly garden? High biodiversity. Lichen growth
on rocks or trees that indicates low levels of pollution. A resident frog population, and
happy bees. As an eco-friendly gardener you’ll have a front row seat to your own nature
channel, one where (hopefully) there are minimal extinction events. by S.C
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