Written by: Richelle Stephens, Colorado Master Gardener Apprentice
The issue of climate change remains intensely debated among world leaders and our skeptical next-door neighbors alike. Regardless of each person’s stance on the subject, the facts are quite revealing:
Since 1880, the earth’s surface temperature has risen by about two degrees Fahrenheit. The surface temperature is not the same as the daily weather we can tangibly feel. Weather changes every day, which is normal. However, changing surface temperature takes incredible amounts of energy, which is why the two-degree change is notable.
The rising surface temperature has been accelerating twice as fast since 1981, and the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred on or after 2010. All of this has already had far-reaching effects in the Global South. Farmers there have been battling worsening droughts in some years, floods in others, and devastating pests, for decades now. Even more grimly, these farmers and other climate refugees are migrating for better opportunities and are especially vulnerable to human trafficking and modern slavery.
The Global South isn’t the only part of our planet that’s feeling the effects of rising surface temperatures. The Global North is now also starting to face the consequences.
In our own backyard, the Colorado River system has been ravaged by decades of worsening drought conditions. This river is a critical source of drinkable water for around 40 million people in the US and Mexico. Unfortunately, scientists say a recent wet winter is not enough to reverse years of drought status unless substantial conservation efforts are established, and quickly.
Climate change affects many aspects of our lives, including our backyard gardens. Shifting temperature and precipitation averages means shifts to the growing season. These shifts mean some plants may begin to bloom too early, and if water restrictions resulting from shrinking rivers are in our collective future, then that may limit what backyard gardeners can grow and for how long.
So what can you do to ensure a healthy and productive garden amid increasing climate uncertainty? Start by reducing your water consumption. You can do this by adding mulch to your garden reduces the amount of water which evaporates from the soil thus reducing the number of times you need to water your plants. Mulch will also supply your plants with nutrients and lessen your reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Consider taking up composting, if you haven’t already done so. Not only is compost a nutrient-rich amendment to your soil, but it reduces your household’s contribution of trash (and, subsequently, harmful methane emissions) to landfills.
Prioritize native plants. These plants are naturally adapted to your region’s soil and water requirements, which reduces the amount of water they need.. Native plants are also better pollinators and food sources for wildlife. Certain bluestems, prairie clovers, and buffalo grasses are native to this region, as are prickly pear cacti, soapweed, and others.
If you have the space, plant more trees! They can capture of carbon dioxide and provide energy-reducing shade in the hotter months.
Reach out to your local CSU extension office or Master Gardener for more tips on implementing climate-friendly solutions to your backyard garden.
Works Cited
Benefits of Mulch, https://www.ccwater.com/DocumentCenter/View/678/Benefits-of-Mulch-PDF. Accessed 4 June 2023.
Home – Colorado Native Plant Society, https://conps.org/. Accessed 4 June 2023.
“Composting At Home | US EPA.” Environmental Protection Agency, 22 November 2022, https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home. Accessed 4 June 2023.
“Gardening for Climate Change.” National Wildlife Federation, https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats/Climate-Change/Greenhouse-Gases/Gardening-for-Climate-Change. Accessed 4 June 2023.
Jacobo, Julia. “Here’s what will happen if Colorado River system doesn’t recover from ‘historic drought.’” ABC News, 19 April 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/US/happen-colorado-river-system-recover-historic-drought/story?id=98475953. Accessed 4 June 2023.
“Key Findings | United Nations.” the United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings. Accessed 4 June 2023.
Lindsey, Rebecca, and LuAnn Dahlman. “Climate Change: Global Temperature | NOAA Climate.gov.” Climate.gov, 18 January 2023, https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature. Accessed 4 June 2023.
“6 Claims Made by Climate Change Skeptics—and How to Respond.” Rainforest Alliance, 1 November 2021, https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/everyday-actions/6-claims-made-by-climate-change-skeptics-and-how-to-respond/. Accessed 4 June 2023.