Now, that the weather is warmer, sunnier, and more of us are spending time outdoors (plus grilling has begun!); it is the best time to visit your local food producer and farmer for fresh vegetables and product! Let this Spring be a time to renew one’s intention to consume clean, locally-sourced, organic food, by supporting farmers who grow produce sustainably. 

Start Your Garden: It’s Never Too Late to Grow Something Good

The growing season, rather when planting starts, has been changing for farmers and gardeners everywhere. Climate change has without doubt effected the temperatures of water and land, so has the way seeds come out of dormancy. But it’s never too late to put something in the ground. To begin, buy some seedling-plants from a local farmer, even ask them for advice about what might work for your backyard or patio, and start growing your own food today! 

Another way to get involved this season with local agriculture is to join a CSA. There are many to choose from, and a growing number of options for Organic! Food grown without using pesticides not only supports regenerative agriculture and biodiversity, but also reduces the risk of pollution in our drinking water supplies. 

Check Your Pool For Visible and Non-visible Leaks

According to Water Use It Wisely, it is estimated that “up to 30 percent of all pools have a leak” and because many pools have an automatic pool refiller, these leaks often go unnoticed. Watch and share this video from the Salt River Project in Arizona, which tells about how to check your pool for leaks. 

Individual action fuels collective change, so consider what you can let go of this Spring to simplify your life and reduce your water and carbon footprint.

Save Our Water: Suffolk Country Legislation Regulates Nitrogen Fertilizers

High-nitrogen lawn fertilizers used on Long Island are contributing to our water pollution problems, impacting both our drinking water and our surface waters. To address this problem, New York Assemblyman Steve Englebright and Senator Kemp Hannon have introduced legislation to protect Long Island’s water by restricting the use of water-soluble, high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers. The NYS Assembly has passed the legislation by a wide margin. Now we need to support Senator Hannon to do the same in the NYS Senate. 

Senator Hannon needs to hear from you.  Every phone call, email and letter makes a difference!  

Call his district office at (516) 739-1700 and tell the person who answers that you want to let the Senator know that you support his bill to prohibit the use of high-nitrogen, water-soluble lawn fertilizers on Long Island. (Senate Bill No. 8170).

Check out I Love Long Island for how-to write a letter of support for Senate Bill 8170.

Please Support Our Friends of the Earth this Month