Sustainability

Sustainability in your garden during the Season of Creation 

The recently published interim report of the second Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was published. Its key message is that:

“Australia’s natural environment and iconic places are in an overall state of decline and are under increasing threat.”

Pope Francis calls us to care for our common home and to discover the “nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions.” Students will continue to drive Sustainability and Climate Change action at St. Joseph’s College in Term 4 (see also Justice Matters article in this newsletter). 

Here are eight things we can do in the meantime and while being more at home to take care of our common home through our little daily actions, especially during the Season of Creation, that will make our gardens more sustainable and help combat critical biodiversity loss:

1. Go wild: If you have a garden, allow a small area to grow ‘wild’, or leave a patch of fallen leaves. Insects, birds and small mammals will benefit from the cover and native plants.
2. Help birds: Put up a bird feeder, or nest box. Some birds will come to a feeder on a balcony, so you don’t even need a garden. If you have a garden, why not add a bird bath too?
3. Make a home: Put a bat box or similar in your garden. If you have less room, install a bug hotel for insects. If your garden or property is large enough, keep bees.
4. Keep it native: Try and include more native plant species, particularly those that attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects to your garden. If you don’t have a garden, do you have space for a window box, or hanging basket?
5. Drive change: If you have a driveway, or are considering building one, why not make it a green driveway?
6. Ditch the chemicals: If you really must use pesticides or herbicides, swap chemical treatments for organic ones. Many gardeners spray instead with a washing-up liquid solution.
7. Create a water hole: If you have space in your garden, adding a small pond will attract vast numbers of creatures. If you have less space, sinking an old washing-up bowl is a great alternative. Just make sure it is childproof.
8. Log it: If you can, leave a small pile of logs. Many creatures, like stag beetles, are dependent on rotting wood, but it is often removed.                                     (adapted from www.lbhf.gov.uk)

Little things make a big difference.

Ruth Phillips 

Sustainability Leader

PS: The image shows a male Blue Banded Bee asleep on a stem. Blue Banded Bees are amongst our most beautiful Australian native bees. They are about 11 mm long and have bands of metallic blue fur across their black abdomens. You might just have a few of these beauties in your garden.