The Garden Activist

Making a Difference in the World


Growing tomatoes and tending a flower garden may seem like just a hobby. But as gardeners, we are also a powerful force for change.

As we dig, plant, weed and harvest, we are producing food for our family and friends; creating backyard refuges for butterflies, birds and insects; beautifying our neighborhoods; recycling yard waste into compost; conserving water; and reducing soil erosion.

If you have any questions or comments about any of these articles, or ideas for more topics, please e-mail: info@gardeners.com

Backyard Biodiversity
Humane Solutions to Conflicts with Backyard Wildlife: Tips from the US Humane Society
Three Ways You Can Help Songbirds Survive
Pollinators in Peril
Slowing the Spread of Invasive Plants


Organic Gardening
Seeds Link One Woman to Her Past
Nitrogen's Dark Side
Putting a Dent in Pesticide Use
Compost Builds More Than Just Great Gardens
EPA Bans Nation's Top Insecticide
National Organic Standards Update
8 Steps to a Water-Wise Garden
A New Approach to Pest Control
A Scientist Reveals The Magic of Compost Tea
Our Debt to Local, Organic Farmers


Community Action
Water-Smart Gardening in Costa Rica
Classroom Composting: Using a worm composter as a teaching tool.
Growing Cleaner Water: Using Plants to Purify Wastewater
Sharing the Harvest: Gleaning Programs Help Feed Hungry Neighbors
America's Urban Gardeners Build Community
Rooftop Gardens Reduce Smog, Improve Water Quality and More!
Gardening and Globalization
Crusading for a Better World, One Gardener at a Time
Good Wood: Help Protect the World's Forests
Local is Best, and Delicious
Cuba's Urban Farms
Cuba's Second Revolution
Improving the World--One Garden at a Time
City Residents Fight for Their Garden
Share Your Harvest
Turning Kids on to Gardening
Bringing Farmers and Customers Closer
Tips for Urban Gardeners


Gardening in Drought
Water-Smart Gardening in Costa Rica
Keep Plants Green with Gray Water


Biotechnology
What's the Problem with GMOs?
A Potato or a Pesticide?