Last week we had the pleasure of hosting our very first Roots Down Roadshow at Refuge Coffee in Clarkston. We discussed some of the problems with modern landscaping and how each and everyone of us can be part of the solution. We also did a fun and engaging activity called a "Zone of Influence" brainstorm where attendees broke into groups and thought of some ways they could take action immediately in the 5 Zones of Influence: Yourself, Your Home, Your Neighborhood, Your City, Your County.
Here are some the amazing responses we got:
Yourself
Limit plastic use
Get educated about PUL's
Eat good, fresh food
Recycle
Use the words and clearly explain the problem to others
Find the stories you can tell
Buy and use electric landscaping equipment
Attend educational opportunities
Your Home
Don't use a gas mower
Plant blueberry bushes
Hang bat and bird boxes
Avoid spraying herbicides and pesticides when possible
Overseed a "Lazy Lawn," where you don't have to mow as often
Grow something useful
Make paths in your yard
Guerilla gardening
Install rain barrels
Take some time to pay attention to water flows
Plant more trees
Plant edible landscapes
Start composting or worm farming
Your Neighborhood
Talk to your neighbors and explain to them the changes you're making in your yard
Pick up trash on walks
Guerilla gardening
Ask your neighbors what they're growing
Start up a plant exchange
Start a native plant sale
Feature a natural landscape
Start a garden club
Start a group gardening project
Your City and County
Advocate for PUL's in schools
Talk to your local government officials
Volunteer at local spaces to show support for this work
Avoid unnecessary development
Require impact studies for all new development
Tax relief for low water flow appliances and yards
Vote for useful people
Use natural flood management
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