ArcaMax

Well, we made it through last night's parties, and we have a whole year ahead of us. How are we going to use it to our full advantage? Most people at least think about New Year's Resolutions, even if they don't follow through with them for very long. How did you do with last year's resolutions? Resolutions that involve or help other people are more likely to be kept than ones focusing on yourself.

First, if you are not a gardener or don't have a vegetable garden, flower garden or houseplants, share your copy of the "Greener View Gardening" book, or grab a friend and watch the over 400 videos I have posted on YouTube on the A Greener View channel.

Even if you live in an apartment or in a condo, you can grow plants. You don't need a yard, but if you do, why not plant some native plants that attract birds and butterflies?

Do you know any children? Help them get away from video games and cellphones by helping them get outdoors more. Help them grow their own flowers and vegetables. Teach them about the insects that come to the flowers. This will help them start a lifetime of enjoying nature and gardening.

Teach skills that involve carpentry. Start by teaching how to build and use a compost bin. Build a birdhouse out of a fence board as seen in one of my videos. Later, you can move up to simple chair and table designs, and then by the time summer is over, you can build a trellis or arbor. Again, help kids develop some life skills that don't involve scrolling.

Take a risk and plant a new kind of vegetable you have never eaten before. It may become a family favorite. Plant extra tomatoes and peppers instead of zucchini so that your kids can give away vegetables that people like.

Volunteer at a local community garden, even if it is just pulling weeds. Maybe especially if it is pulling weeds. In my experience, most people will be willing to harvest, and some people will be willing to water once in a while, but few people want to do the weeding. Show kids how beneficial hard work is. Volunteer at a local school to help create or maintain a garden. Plant and maintain a tree at the school or local park.

Try a new gardening method such as a rain garden, vertical garden on a wall, rooftop garden, hydroponic garden, water garden or vertical container garden on a pole. Plant a cut flower garden in the unused side yard so that you can bring flowers indoors for a vase. Kids can sell flowers instead of lemonade, or they can give them to elderly neighbors. And there's another idea: Help an elderly neighbor with maintaining their landscape.

Show kids how to help wildlife by planting a bigger variety of plants that bloom over a longer season. Add water to your landscape, even if it is just a small birdbath.

Plant native plants that use less water. Use drip irrigation that uses less water. Install the proper amount of mulch in all of the flower and vegetable garden beds so they will need less water. Add water-absorbing crystals to flowerpots and hanging baskets so they use less water.

May you be blessed with an awesome gardening- and nature-filled 2025.

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Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@greenerview.com. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2025 Jeff Rugg. Distributed By Creators.