The Seven Tenets of

Sustainable GardeningPeter Sinanian

January 6, 2015

WHY DO WE GARDEN

“I think that if ever a mortal heard the

voice of God it would be in a garden at

the cool of the day.”

~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace

Ecosystem Services

Purified Water – from osmosis

Oxygen – from photosynthesis

Food – from pollinators

Sustainable Gardening

Respect nature’s principles

Conserve natural resources

Don’t harm natural systems

Solve problemsGive research-based information

Serve the community

MASTER GARDENERS

Lessons For Today

Work with nature, not against it

Be an agent of change

Lead by example

The Seven Tenets

1. Obey Your Sense of Place

2. Nourish The Soil

3. Strike A Balance

4. Manage Water Wisely

5. Encourage Diversity

6. Practice Prevention

7. Share The Utility You Create

Place

Soil

Climate

Materials

Water

Plants

Culture

Less Work Lower Cost

Authentic Sustainable

FACT: Worms

turn over 25

tons of soil per

acre per year.

FACT: Soil on a forest

floor loses only 2% of its

nutrients annually; heavily

fertilized agricultural land

loses 25-60%.

Soil Is The Foundation

Vertebrates

Insects

Plants

SoilFungi Bacteria

Amoebae

Worms

Beetles

Mites

Scientists know,

although still cannot fully

explain, that soil

organisms help protect

plants from disease and

transfer certain essential

nutrients

Humus Is Your Friend

O- Copper

Potassium

Ammonium (N)

Magnesium

Zinc

Calcium

Manganese

Runoff

Rain Harvesting

Good Bugs

Bad Bugs

Imbalance Example

in·ert iˈnərt/ Adjective

1.lacking vigor.

2.chemically inactive.

1

2

3

Design

Capture

Store

Contouring

Obey Micro-climates

Be Water Wise

Capture & Store

Mulch

Humus!

“Ride the tracks laid down by nature.”

–Toby Hemenway

Diversity

Soil

Multi-function

WildlifePlants

Insects

Stable Healthy

Balanced Sustainable

Multi-Function Stacking

Mulch

Habitat

Compost

Nectar

Nitrogen

No fuss

Shade * Food * Habitat

Windbreak * Water Purifier

* Soil Builder Compost *

Oxygen Pump * Mulch

6. Practice Prevention

Sustainable Gardens Are…

EdibleLow(er)

Maintenance

Happy Places

Lower(er) Cost

Functional

“People are turning to their

gardens not to consume

but to actively create, not

to escape from reality but

to observe it closely. In

doing this they experience

the connectedness of

creation and the

profoundest sources of

being.”

-- Carol Williams

Bringing a Garden to Life, 1998

Conclusion In closing, I ask you to go read, educate yourselves,

and invest the time

Be good stewards of the environment

Experience personal expression, life affirmation,

accomplishment, and spirituality

Create beauty and peace for others

Renew your efforts – gardening is forgiving: If you

mess up, you can always fix the problem

References New Mexico State University publications

Down To Earth, By Albuquerque Master Gardeners – Focused on ABQ and its many microclimates

City of Albuquerque – How To Guide To Xeriscaping

Gaia’s Garden, Toby Hemenway

Natural Capitalism, Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins, & Paul Hawkin

The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture (Culture of the Land), Albert Howard

The New American Landscape: Leading Voices on the Future of Sustainable Gardening, Thomas Christopher, Rick Darke, Douglas W. Tallamy

Attracting Beneficial Bugs To Your Garden, Jessica Walliser

New Mexico Gardener’s Guide, Judith Phillips

Biophilia, Edward O. Wilson