HOUSTON – “I’m not a gardener, but I would like to be better at it” Lauren Barnish jokes.
And since a lot of us can relate to Lauren, we thought we’d ask the expert -- Brent Moon at Houston Botanic Garden -- for a little gardening help on this Earth Day.
What’s a good tree to grow in Houston?
Apple crisp trees are a really good option to grow in Houston because they have very low chill requirements.
What about composting?
If you’re using compost one of the things you want to do is use the right things for your compost pile: leafy greens, things that break down easily.
What foods should we avoid when composting?
Avoid meat and fatty foods like butter. Avoid anything hard to break down, which is not good for composting.
What are the benefits to Mother Nature and to us if we grow our own food?
The benefit to Mother Nature is that growing your own food reduces emissions because you’re not trucking for long distances.
The benefit to us is that the quicker you eat food, which can be pretty quick if you’re getting it from the garden, the more nutrients you’ll get.
And if you’re on the fence about gardening, I’ll leave you with advice from a little boy named Ethen.
“It’s kind of like, if you try, you will get it eventually.”