Earlier this week, the abundant sunshine in my kitchen reminded me to check on my seedling trays (I decided to save costs by growing my own food...well, some of it). So, I moseyed over and squealed with delight. My little seedlings have sprouted! Woot!
Growing your own produce is a great way to go green 
(and save a little green, too). Getting some of your food from your backyard — or a pot on your balcony for that matter — means less food needs to be trucked from an outside location to your grocery store.
Just the other day I got some great tips on green gardening from the Sioux Falls Green Project , a project geared at educating the community on how to build a greener future. Here are a couple of the basics I learned:
- Grow native plants. By growing plants that are already accustomed to the area, they'll need less fertilizer and water. Check with your local Cooperative Extension office for resources on what plants are native to the region.
- Use compost instead of buying fertilizers full of chemicals and pesticides. There are tons of spendy contraptions to help you compost, but it doesn't have to cost anything. Even just a pile of grass clippings, dead leaves and kitchen scraps will turn into compost. Or if you can't make your own compost, see if your city offers free compost (Sioux Falls does).
- Water your plants with rainwater run-off. I am super intrigued by the idea of using a rain barrel. This is a great way to save on your water bill. Some of my favorite bloggers recently made their own rain barrel. (Come to think of it, they've also been composting! )
- If you don't have a backyard or a balcony for a garden, see if there is any space available in a community garden.
As I dive into greener gardening, I'll be sure to keep you updated. Once my green garden is flourishing, perhaps I'll have to add a statue of the Marble Faun (props to those of you who got that Grey Gardens reference!).
Barbi, you are to cute