Gardeners are a meditative lot. They spend time planting and
plotting, hoeing and
humming, thinning and thinking. What can one gardener do to make
this world a better
place?

More than you might think, said Wayne McLaurin, a horticulturist
with the University
of Georgia Extension Service.

“We as a community of gardeners have one of the greatest
opportunities to address
many of the problems of modern life,” McLaurin said. “We can
make a significant
difference in our lives. Collectively, gardeners could have an
impact on many of the
nation’s problems.”

McLaurin said it’s never too late to make some resolutions.

Fight inflation. Under the best conditions, a well-
planned garden (30 by 50 feet) can
yield up to $500 in produce. And you don’t owe any taxes.
Gardening is an
inexpensive pastime the entire family can share. A topnotch
landscape an add 10
percent to the value of your property. And it’s an investment
that keeps growing.

Improve your family’s nutrition. The garden is not only
an inflation fighter, it’s a
source of highly nutritional foods that taste fresher and better
when you grow them
yourself. What tastes better than a home-grown tomato?

Conserve energy. With proper landscaping, you can reduce
your air-conditioning bill
in the summer and heating bill in the winter. Learn about the
use of trees and shrubs to
modify your environment while beautifying it.

Reduce pollution. Plants take in carbon dioxide and give
off oxygen — something we
can’t live without. Your landscape can reduce air and water
pollution. But be careful
that you don’t become a chemical polluter. Many homeowners use
more chemicals per
square foot than farmers use. Look for alternatives.

Protect the environment. The biggest source of stream
problems is soil erosion. The
cover of plants prevents erosion. Plan your landscape with food
and shelter for
wildlife. You will be richly rewarded. Don’t take more from the
environment than you
can return to it. If you heat with wood, plant at least as many
trees as you cut down. If
you can’t plant them on your property, then volunteer to plant
them at schools, parks
or other public places.

Conserve water. The average sprinkler will use 300
gallons of water per hour. Clear,
pure water is a product of a complex system. Don’t waste it.
Never simply run cold
water down the drain, waiting for hot water. Save it for your
house plants. Consider
trickle irrigation for all your plant growing areas.

Improve our educational system. Kids learn from more
sources than just their
teachers. Give a child a plant, and teach him or her how to care
for it. Or make a
larger commitment: sponsor a 4-H garden project or school garden
program.

Improve your community. Make your neighborhood more
attractive by working with
others. Start with a good-looking, well-kept landscape. One of
the quickest ways to add
value to your home is through landscape improvement. If you have
no space, plant a
geranium or zinnia in a window box.

Improve your health. Gardening is great preventive
medicine. It doesn’t just provide
physical activity. It also relieves many of the stresses and
tensions of modern life. Take
time to enjoy your garden.

Show you care. Share your horticultural skills and
products with a friend. Then for a
greater challenge, share them with someone in a nursing home,
halfway home or
hospital or a disadvantaged neighbor.