By Carolyn Ulstad, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council
The days are getting warmer, the sun is setting later, and the tulips are starting to emerge from their long, cold sleep. Springtime is right around the corner, and I really couldn’t be any more ready for it.
We decided early on that we wanted to manage our property in an Earth-friendly manner that would benefit our air, water, and soil. The practices I’m going to share with you are very simple and can be applied to any home or business.
Mowing: Annually in the U.S., it’s estimated that 5 percent of our air pollution comes from mowing, with Americans using around 580 million gallons of gas to cut grass. After moving, we purchased a human-powered reel-style mower. I feel good knowing that I’m not polluting the air or bothering the neighbors with the noise, and I get a decent workout! Electric mowers are good alternatives and have come a long way in terms of quality. If you do own a gas mower, keep the blades sharp and oil fresh. The more efficiently it runs, the less it will pollute.
Herbicide: Using herbicides can potentially cause unintended harm to other plants or animals. There are a number of natural alternatives that can be explored, but hand pulling weeds is particularly satisfying!
Native plants: Native plants typically require less water and maintenance because they are adapted to the local climate. Their deep roots help to store water underground, diverting and cleaning stormwater and recharging aquifers. They also provide critical habitat and food for native insects.
And finally, would you rather leave the work to the professionals? Then check out the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council’s lawn care company program at www.the-macc.org, under the Watershed/Urban Water Quality/Lawn Care pulldowns, to see which area companies have agreed to follow practices that protect Lake Macatawa’s water quality.
Carolyn Ulstad is the program assistant at the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council where she works to help the community address transportation and water quality issues. Carolyn is a life-long resident of Holland and member of the Holland Sustainability Committee.
Environmental Awareness/Action: Environmental education and integrating environmental practices into our planning will change negative outcomes of the past and improve our future.
Living Sustainably is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives. It is presented by the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, a joint project of Hope College, the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. Go to www.hope.edu/sustainability-institute for more information.