Plastic-Free Gardening - Book Review
You could do it that way, but then it's just...that's right: not sustainable. (What did you think?). The postcard caught my eye when I first opened the book " Plastic-Free Gardening " from Eugen Ulmer Publishing. And somehow it describes quite well the struggle we feel every day with just about everything. Sure, you can buy pre-packaged sliced salami from the discount store, sure, you can drive to work every day, and sure, you can consume until the doctor comes, but then it's just not sustainable. And I don't know about you, but I think that's important.
Living sustainably - ever easier?
These days, there are alternatives to almost everything, and tips and tricks for sustainable living are offered everywhere. I think that's a good thing. The concept of sustainability should be familiar to everyone by now. Nevertheless, caution is advised: Not everything that says sustainability on the label actually contains sustainability.
When it comes to gardening, however, I still feel like a lot of things aren't particularly sustainable! These black plastic plant pots, for example, or plastic plant sticks, or mini greenhouses come to mind. To name just a few things that immediately spring to mind. There has to be a better way, right?
#makeitsustainable
A new book series has caught my attention in recent weeks. It's called #machsnachhaltig and includes (so far) four books. As I mentioned, I took a closer look at "Plastic-Free Gardening" by Elke Schwarzer because I'm passionate about the topic myself. How do you avoid using plastic when gardening? What can you swap out or replace, and where are there alternatives?
This book contains answers to these questions and much more. The cover promises "150 sustainable alternatives and upcycling ideas," and although I didn't count them, I can tell you that in its crisp 120 pages, you'll find plenty of both obvious (the kind that makes you scratch your head and say, "Why didn't I think of that sooner?") and innovative ideas. I particularly liked one of them, and I'm kindly allowed to share it with you here today. The following is an excerpt from the book "Plastic-Free Gardening," written by author and biologist Elke Schwarzer:
"Potting soil from a bag?
Planting substrate doesn't come in a bag? It would be nice if it worked that way. Potting soil has two problems: First, it comes in a plastic bag, and second, it usually contains peat, which should remain in the species-rich bog. Peat-free substrates are not all equally good, but are always more expensive than peat-containing ones. Some allow plants to flourish, while others consist of so much conifer bark that the vegetables shudder in disgust. A high proportion of wood fiber leads to delayed plant development and increased water requirements. It takes a bit of research to find the best potting soil. Feel free to get involved: The water retention capacity can be improved by adding sheep's wool fertilizer, cellulose strips, and lava granules. The problem of the plastic bag remains. There have been initial attempts to sell pre-dried potting soil in a paper bag, but the idea hasn't yet made it onto the market. And only in large gardens will you be able to make your own substrate entirely from compost and garden soil.
Photo: Elke Schwarzer from "Plastic-Free Gardening"
Compost above all?
If you've always been exemplary in providing your entire garden with compost, consider whether it's really necessary. While it does improve the soil's water retention capacity, in this case, one solution might be to put as much of the garden area on a diet and convert it into a meager bed for drought-loving plants. The rest simply gets less compost and is instead trained to be self-sufficient: Fallen leaves are generously spread on the soil in autumn, which keeps the earthworms happy and provides the hungry plants with the humus they need. In summer, grass clippings are added; they contain a lot of nitrogen and decompose quickly. This leaves more compost for the pots. The nice, loose soil from molehills may regularly accumulate in your garden and can be used to mix potting soil. These are all steps on the path to creating your own soil.
Stretch and refresh potting soil
If you're gardening on a balcony, it's almost impossible to avoid using commercially available soil. It's available loose at your local composting facility or a nearby composting company. If you can't get around using a bag of potting soil, you can still do a few tricks to get the most out of it. Homemade leaf compost is a good additive for expanding the substrate and serves as seeding soil. Dried coffee grounds can also be mixed in. It's not always necessary to completely replace the soil in the pots. For a few years, it's sufficient for permanent residents to top-dress the root area with a load of compost from a worm bin or fresh potting soil. Watering with organic liquid fertilizer or bokashi (a type of small compost in a bucket that produces a nutrient-rich liquid), as well as mixing in horn shavings and meal, also keeps the plants in used substrate healthy. In spring, a little fresh horse manure is buried as deeply as possible in large buckets for heavy feeders . For shallow-rooted plants, large containers can be given a double bottom: expanded clay or upturned clay pots as a base reduce the need for soil. Coconut briquettes, which are allowed to expand in water to full size, are surrounded by comparatively little packaging; however, the raw material has a long transport route.
Recipe for potting soil
Simply mix the following ingredients well together and you will have potting soil without a plastic aftertaste.
- 5 parts garden soil
- 2 parts sieved mature compost
- 1 part sand
We thank Elke Schwarzer for this insight into the book!
Curious?
We're delighted! I highly recommend the book Plastic-Free Gardening. If you're interested in the entire #machsnachhaltig book series, you should enter our competition on Instagram or Facebook . Until the date listed, we're giving away one book set from the #machsnachhaltig series, consisting of the four books Plastic-Free Gardening, Garden Without Watering, More Nature in the Garden, and Saving Bees. Enter now!
