5 Inspiring Ways to Create a Sustainable and Resilient Outdoor Space

image: grow food sustainablyCreating a sustainable and resilient outdoor space is not only good for the environment but also good for your health and well-being. Here are five inspiring ways to create a beautiful outdoor space that is also ecologically sound:

1. Use Eco-Friendly Materials and Plants

Using ecologically friendly materials and plants is an important part of creating a sustainable and resilient outdoor space. Using materials that don’t harm the ecology of your local area is one way you can save money and keep your outdoor space healthy for you to use. Consider using recycled materials and low-maintenance plants native to your zone. Incorporating native plants in and around an outdoor patio will provide even more benefits, like promoting biodiversity and erosion prevention.

2. Apply Principles of Ecological Design and Permaculture Practices

When growing food in your outdoor space, it boosts productivity to apply principles of ecological design and permaculture.  This helps ensure that your food production and garden systems are integrated with the wisdom of the natural environment and avoids contaminating your soil and water. Sustainable residential landscape architecture practices can help build a network of productive and also resilient landscapes. Multifunctional plants can be used to regenerate degraded landscapes and provide critical habitat at home and in neighborhoods. When growing food, gardeners should look for organic and nontoxic products as well as follow the principles of permaculture to ensure the food they grow is healthy and supports beneficial wildlife that reduces maintenance.

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