Ideas for Living Green in Macon County, Illinois

Life shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. If anything, modern conveniences let us pack more activity into each day, usually in the form of multitasking.

If we’re not careful, this frenzied, multitasking mindset can infringe on our gardens, the very place we are supposed to find peace and connect with nature. Gardening author Felder Rushing has coined a new phrase to encourage a more relaxed approach to gardening, called “slow gardening”.

“Slow gardening isn’t lazy or passive gardening—it actually involves doing more stuff, carefully selected to be productive without senseless, repetitive chores,” advises Rushing. Slow gardening invites us to appreciate the rhythm of the seasons, choose plants most appropriate for local conditions, and to sit back and actually ENJOY our gardens. A rule of thumb for slow gardening is to think in terms of gardening for the “long haul” and finding ways to “take it easy” in your garden.

How can you make your garden less like work and more like a break from the treadmill of modern life? Consider how you plant and maintain your garden. Rather than cramming as much activity as possible into a brief weekend, why not spread your gardening out, doing a little each day? Imagine enjoying your garden, rather than reducing it to another item checked off your to-do list.

Another key concept of slow gardening is “right plant, right place.” Choose pest- and disease-resistant plants adapted to local climate and soils. Plant more native plants, or try planting new varieties bred to require little maintenance. Growing plants adapted to local conditions results in less use of pesticides, and may lead to more birds and butterflies visiting your garden.

Slow gardening also encourages us to plant food crops in our gardens. This doesn’t necessarily mean creating a large vegetable garden. Peppers or tomatoes planted in a sunny flower garden, some herbs outside the kitchen door, or a pot of lettuce on the patio all count.

The Macon County Conservation District and the University of Illinois Extension Office invite you to slow down for an hour and reconnect with nature in a series of three gardening classes, beginning Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the Festival of Spring.

Jennifer Schultz Nelson, Ph.D.
University of Illinois Extension
Horticulture Educator

See this story and more in the latest issue of the Prairie Islander, Macon County Conservation District's quarterly newsletter.

Festival of Spring
Sat., Apr. 24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Enjoy a full day of activities for the whole family including music, food, a tropical bird show, wagon rides, canoe rodeo, hikes and more. Call for a complete brochure (217) 423-7708. Visit the Festival of Spring page for more information!

Gardening & Nature: Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Sat., Apr. 24, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Discover how to design a simple garden to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Seeds and plants will be provided. This class is co-sponsored by the Macon County Conservation District and the U of I Extension Office. Reservations required by April 19, call (217) 423-7708. Fee $10.

Build a Bee Nest
Sun., May 2, 2 p.m.
Did you know that bees are very important to the pollination of many vegetables and fruits? Learn about native solitary bees and how to attract them to your garden as we build a simple bee nest. Fee $5. Reservations required.

Gardening & Nature: Vegetables
Sat., May 15, 2 p.m.
Learn how to design and manage a vegetable garden including organic pest and weed control. This class is co-sponsored by the Macon County Conservation District and the U of I Extension Office. Reservations required by May 17, call (217) 423-7708. Fee $10.

Build a Bat House
Sun., May 23, 2 p.m.
Bring along a hammer and build a summer house for our mosquito eating friends. Youth younger than 12 years old will need parental assistance. Fee $10/ bat house. Reservations required.

Find more Macon County Conservation District events for the entire family on our Events page.

Incorporate some of our Green Tips into your daily life to care for the earth and reduce your impact on the earth's resources.