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Featured Article: Green Thumb

Speaking of aesthetics, what could be lovelier than a homegrown garden? Clear a sunny patch in your yard for an organic vegetable garden and give new meaning to the term “eating locally.” Make your garden truly green by saying no to chemical pesticides. If your garden is besieged, homemade pesticides like garlic spray are safe and effective.

To ensure that the seeds you use haven’t been harvested from chemically treated plants, stick to outfits that sell organic and heirloom seeds. Some to try include Seeds of Change (www.seedsofchange.com); The Natural Gardening Company (www.naturalgardening.com) and Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org). Can’t find the perfect plot at home? Contact the American Community Gardening Association (www.communitygarden.org) to find a leasable plot in a shared neighborhood garden.

Planting trees can help offset greenhouse gas emissions caused in part by human activity. Spreading greenery can help achieve these ends; in one year, an average tree inhales 26 lbs. of harmful carbon dioxide. This same tree can produce as much life-giving oxygen in one season as 10 people inhale in a year.

Plant wisely and your new trees will provide personal as well as global benefits. Choose maples, oaks, elms and other shade trees that will absorb carbon dioxide and cool off your house, slashing the amount of energy used (and money spent) on air conditioning. These graceful, leafy trees also score high on aesthetics, making your yard a more inviting, peaceful place to be.