24. November 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

January 12 at 2 P.M. I will offer a Powerpoint presentation and talk about Green (read sustainable) Gardening. For those who think their gardens are green, come and learn and find out what you may be doing wrong, what you may be doing right and what you can change to be a more conscientious gardener and citizen of the earth. Protecting our living landscape through our home gardens is something we can all do with a little effort.

If you have been thinking about making a change, or are wondering how you can be a Green gardener, this is the talk for you.

Questions will be taken during and after the presentation.

Hope to see you there.

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15. November 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

The American lawn, an icon of the American Dream, is one assumed by most to be green, that is the new Green, meaning sustainable. But that is not the case, yet so many do not realize this. Often our gardens, and especially our lawns, are not Green. They are far from it.

My book, which can be ordered now, is written to educate the average homeowner and gardener. Collectively we are major polluters through our landscapes, according to stats published by  researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, among others.

There are wonderful alternatives to the turf grasses used so widely. Learn about these in my new book.

While there are other books about sustainable gardening on the market, most, like many well meaning groups, make organic sustainable gardening more complex than it need be and more importantly, often they overlook aesthetics in their zeal to do the right thing and teach the right way of gardening. I have witnessed many an ugly organic, native, wildlife certified garden. And ugly butterfly gardens as well. This gives Green gardeners a bad rap. Beauty has always been important to gardeners. Gardening is not just about politics, as some seem to have forgotten. Aesthetic consideration is often a reason people live in neighborhoods with homeowners associations. My brand of Green gardening does not throw out the idea of beauty in a garden. It is not smart to throw out the baby with the bath water. Politics, beauty and sustainable gardening in the home landscape are possible, and I plan to demonstrate that in my book.

In my book, I also educate the reader, discussing things that many people don’t realize are happening in the landscape, in order to make a case for Green gardening as a way of life. Consider the use of construction debris mulch in home landscapes. It’s recycled. To most folks, that’s Green, it’s a no-brainer. While recycling is sometimes Green, construction debris mulches, often dyed red or black, are not Green. This mulch is hazardous waste. Studies by local Florida universities have documented unsafe levels of toxins, that cause pulmonary diseases and cancers, in these products. This should not be used in home landscapes, despite government and industry efforts to convince us it is Green recycling, when it is really Green washing.

I believe most people trust that they would be warned if a product is dangerous, but that is not so. Folks need to understand this. These toxins don’t just get into our soil, water and food supply, they get into our bodies, and our children’s and pets’ bodies from our home landscapes.

Green gardening includes, among many other details, consideration for wild creatures too. Birds, butterflies and other desirable wildlife also bear the burden of our collective behavior. Urban sprawl and growing unprecedented acts of nature; floods, droughts, freezes, cyclones and erosion of habitat, are also reasons for gardeners to act.

My book is a call to action. Our collective actions can improve our health, the health of our environment, and the conservation and preservation of our living landscape.

My book is a short, concise, easy to read hand book, that provides the reader with the basic tenets of Green gardening, what to do, and what not to do. It provides easy gardening and maintenance, alternative practices and products, that anyone can understand and begin to use for positive change.  It keeps in mind the beauty that a garden should be. And my book will also answer the question why. It will provide brief explanations of what the problem is and why it is so important to change our ways. Helping people make the connection and understand how important it is that we collectively, change our gardening ways, may help with changing peoples’ perspectives and habits. That is the goal.

Most chapters are small, as the book’s aim is to be an easy to read, simple handbook. So a chapter may be as small as a paragraph for simple, easy to understand tenets, or as long as 15 pages, when a greater explanation is necessary to understanding the purpose of the tenet.

I believe the book is an important book to write and read.

I am uniquely qualified to write this book.

I have been gardening for over two decades. I have learned from having my hands in the soil and creating my own glorious gardens over the years. I have read voraciously about gardening and kept up with Environmental news. I began doing things the way others do, when I first began gardening, and learned with time, there is a better way. I also have a small landscape design business locally.

After getting my BA in English, I went to work as a writer for The Grower where I fell in love with horticulture while interviewing many folks who worked in the industry, from University researchers to local growers and garden curators. I have worked as a freelance writer for numerous newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News. I have written a gardening column, as well as my website and blog, and have taught in the Broward County School system. I have taught gardening classes in South Florida and Texas, through local community colleges, schools, libraries, gardens and garden clubs. I often speak to garden clubs and HOAs when invited.

I have donated and planted butterfly gardens for students at schools and churches.

I hope you will join me in the transition to a sustainable way of gardening for our health and our future, and read this book.

Email now to reserve your copy, thepinkshovel@gmail.com

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14. November 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

This is a great time of year to grow potted herbs. Consider potting up a Bay Laurel tree or Allspice tree as a center piece in a seasonal herb garden. The trees are long lived and can be grown as shrubs or trees. They make great center pieces to the perennial and annual herbs that can be downplanted around them.

Put two matching pots on either side of the front door to greet guests this holiday season, or place them on the patio or the backyard garden close to the door, so you can easily access them for cooking.

An Allspice tree, potted up with thyme, rosemary and sage are a great combination. Or if you are planning an Italian feast, consider potting up a Bay Laurel tree with basil, oregano, and garlic. Or how about planting Mojito Mint, Chocolate Mint, and Peppermint under a Bay or Allspice Tree.

After the holidays are over, you can plant your long lived Allspice or Bay Laurel Tree in the garden or keep them small and keep them as potted specimens.

These long living potted herb gardens make great gifts for gardeners and cooks. With the trees growing as center pieces, you change out your annual herbs periodically, depending on the season and your cooking needs.

Let me know if I can help you with getting the trees or creating your potted herbs gardens.

Email me at thepinkshovel@gmail.com to order a potted herb tree garden.

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14. November 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

I’m delighted I’ve been invited to present a Powerpoint presentation about Green Gardening at a luncheon of the Lighthouse Point Garden Club at  the Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club, 2701 NE 42nd Street, Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064, (phone) 954-942-7244, Thursday December 15, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

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4. November 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

My first garden book is scheduled to come out soon. Order yours now to be one of the first to own and read this book. Email:  thepinkshovel@gmail.com. Enjoy the read.

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