A garden in a city or suburb is more than just a show piece. It buffers us
from a harsh climate. It soothes our concrete-assaulted eyes. It shelters
birds, butterflies and small animals. It absorbs rain water. It supplies
fruits, vegetables and herbs.All that seems logical, but many gardens are far
from green. Householders buy tractor-loads of nutrient-poor soil to dump in the
compound. We overwater plants. We remove and discard precious topsoil along
with weeds. We often pave over the area because we can’t tolerate what we
consider “garbage”, which is simply the leaves, flowers and branches that
naturally fall off a living organism.
