World Environment Day 5th June
World Environment day. The Theme for 2023 : Solutions to plastic pollution
Here are the shocking statistics on plastic.
Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide every year.
Firstly, we all know that plastic pollution is a complex issue, and affects all land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. It threatens human and ecosystem health, negatively impacts important economic activities, and contributes to climate change.
By 2015, 60% of all plastic ever produced had turned into waste. And yearly, up to 14 million tonnes of plastic debris goes into the oceans.
World Environment Day 2023 is hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands and the theme focuses on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.
It is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters. Also, the steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution are the consequence of this action.
Here is the link for more details https://www.unep.org/events/un-day/world-environment-day-2023
The reason I have used an image of one of my tomatoes
If we grow our own tomatoes, we do not need any plastic packaging which is wrapped around them at the supermarket. It all helps. In addition, a home-grown tomato is super tasty and can be picked and eaten straight away. Fabulously fresh, cost effective, no pesticides and no plastic!
In the same way, any vegetables or fruit you grow means no plastic packaging is used.
One of my recent posts about growing vegetables including tomatoes is The Chief Gardener’s beautiful vegetables
And here is another one on fruit. The Chief Gardener grows a tasty fruit feast
How we can help
People’s actions on plastic pollution matters not just on World Environment Day. As gardeners, we can help every day.
Plastic pots take over four hundred years to break down. What a shocking statistic that is! But, of course, we all have them.
So, continue to reuse your plastic pots, and trays until they reach the end of their useful life. This will keep them out of the waste system for as long as possible.
Of course, taking good care of existing plastic is a good way to ensure we do not have to keep buying it.
Besides this, we can also use alternatives such as terracotta, and natural fibres such as coir for pots and containers.
Furthermore, we can also make small pots for seedlings out of newspaper, and toilet rolls. I use toilet rolls for my sweet peas, sown in November. They grow away merrily in my greenhouse over the winter, ready to be transplanted into the garden in early summer.
Additionally, I use coir pots for seeds such as zinnias. Zinnias absolutely hate root disturbance, so the coir pot is idea. The plants are sown in the pots and grown on in the greenhouse.
Lastly, they can be transplanted into the ground, complete with their coir pot, in May when last frosts are over.
World Environment Day and Plant labels
Another idea is to swap plastic labels for wooden ones. The photo above shows some that I use.
Additionally, if you have a household keen on lollipops, save the lollipop sticks to use. Cost effective and a waste product put to good use in the greenhouse and garden. Another one for World Environment Day and every day in our gardens.
The essential watering can
Another idea for World Environment Day and beyond.
My new watering cans are now metal. An easy way to reduce plastic. The ones I use are a vintage style, from Kent & Stowe. They have a removable rose head and the head allows for differing pouring patterns which is useful.
As they are made from galvanised steel, they are rust-resistant. A 4.5 litre capacity (1 gallon) can makes them ideal for plants requiring more water or for greenhouse watering, to avoid having to refill too often.
Here is the link for these watering cans. https://amzn.to/3qgIxsT
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A few other ideas for you
- Comfrey plants make fabulous fertiliser. Using these plants to make your own plant food means you’re not buying plastic bottles. In addition, the comfrey flower is rich in pollen and nectar.
- For any mulching around plants, use thick layers of cardboard and newspaper. Never mulch with plastic sheeting. I used thick layers of cardboard this year on an area I wanted to use as a flower border. The grass and weeds soon died back, leaving me with less to dig out before planting with flowers I had sown for the pollinators.
- Tie plants with natural twine rather than the plastic string that was common in the past. I think that the green twine looks natural and blends in well with plants. We do not want to see the equipment when we stake or tie in our plants, so this is ideal.
- Try to make as much home grown compost as you can. Consequently, you will not need to purchase so much peat free compost, which comes in plastic bags.
- Trellis can be wooden as opposed to plastic. See a link to some wooden trellis which I like. A nice dark brown finish, reviewed as robust and solidly made. https://amzn.to/3OVH5qd
Some final thoughts on World Environment Day
We will be joining millions of people around the world, all making a difference on World Environment Day and beyond.
So, following the examples above, and any other ideas you come up with yourselves, will help our planet and reduce the plastic.
Of course, the climate crisis is on everyone’s mind, quite rightly so, but worrying can really affect our mental health.
Subsequently, It is important to focus on what we can do, together, to help our planet and reduce the need for plastic of course.
In addition, besides focusing on this, we must all take time to relax and look at what we achieve as gardeners.
For example, a previous post on 30 Days Wild will give you some ideas on how to relax and enjoy nature. Wild things for gardeners, bee beautiful
It is a well known fact that participating in gardening activities reduced the severity of depressed mood and anxiety, reduced stress, and enhances our overall quality of life.
In other words, coupled with how we, as gardeners, look after the bees and butterflies, grow our own food, and grow beautiful flowers, we are helping our world and also our wellbeing.
And a thank you
So, give yourselves a pat on the back and celebrate what you can and do achieve in your gardens, your courtyards, or your balconies.
Ultimately, we can continue to enjoy gardening, whilst knowing that we are helping to reduce the plastic, whilst boosting our wellbeing.
Together, we can make a difference. So, always look for the positives.
Thank you for everything you do to help.
I would love to know what other ideas you have to reduce the use of plastic, so do let me know.
Following on from my comments above on relaxing and enjoying nature, here are my four posts on my 30 Days Wild. I had a fabulous 30 days. Hope you enjoy them.
30 Days Wild. First week challenge
30 Days Wild, week two of the challenge
The fantastic wildness of magic week 3
Wild 30 days. The beautiful finale
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