Winter is rolling in, and in many zones, our once-prolific tomato and cucumber plants are well past their prime. While the summer growing season is over, gardens still benefit from a little TLC before the snow falls. Here’s how to prepare your garden for the winter to prepare for next year’s harvest.
Mulch
The cold-weather cycle of freezing and thawing can cause something called “frost heaving,” whereby buried roots get pushed out of the ground. Providing some kind of groundcover keeps the temperature of your garden soil regulated, and protects it from winds and snow during the winter. It reduces germination of weeds in the spring, which means less weeding for you. You can purchase mulch from a garden center, or use a material you already have on hand, like bark, straw, fall leaves shredded with the lawn mower, pine needles and grass clippings — you’ll remove it in the spring to allow new growth to return. After the first frost, apply about six inches of the groundcover over your beds and around perennials, especially around young perennials facing their first winter.
Dig Up and Store Bulbs
Many bulbs that bloom in the spring can make it through the winter, like crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. But when it’s time to plant these, it’s time to dig out some others. “Tender” bulbs — many of which are tropical plants that bloom in the summer, like cannas, dahlias, elephant ears and gladiolus — won’t survive a freeze. After frost has browned the leaves of the plant, dig up the tubers or roots within a few days. To prevent damage to the bulb — which can let in disease – dig out the entire plant, leaving a large clump of soil around the bulb. Using a fork rather than a shovel can also help prevent damage.
After digging them out, cut off greenery and remove the soil from the bulb, then let them dry out for about a week indoors out of direct sunlight. Pack the bulbs in a cardboard box, wrapped loosely in newspaper, peat moss, sand, coconut coir, sand, vermiculite, or sawdust so they don’t touch. Store in a place that stays somewhere between 40 and 50 degrees, like a basement, root cellar, or unheated garage. It’s a good idea to label them too so you know what you’re planting come spring.
Bundle Up
Not all plants need to be wrapped up in the winter, but some benefit from it, like young evergreen and deciduous trees. At the end of the winter, intermittent freezing and thawing can split the bark of young trees. Wrapping up their trunks with a crepe paper-like wrap at the beginning of the season can prevent them from injury. Mice and other small rodents love to gnaw at the bark of young fruit trees, so wrapping the lower trunk with a tree wrap designed to keep out pests can keep them protected.
Spread Compost
Late fall is the perfect time to use those veggie scraps and yard clippings that have been decomposing in your compost pile. Before the ground freezes, spread about 3-6 inches of compost over your garden. This helps keep the soil warm, and continues to add nutrients to it throughout the winter, leaving you with a rich, fertile base for spring planting. If you’re planning to mulch, spread the compost first, then add a layer of your mulch material on top to prevent the soil from eroding and weeds from creeping in. There’s no need to fertilize, however — compost is a soil conditioner, but fertilizers won’t do much for the soil besides encouraging growth that’ll just get killed in the cold.
Get Plants in Tip-Top Shape
Trees and shrubs will fare much better in the winter if they’re healthy. Make sure they get plenty of water before the first frost, and use organic material to mulch the soil around their base to protect the roots from freezing. However, don’t prune their branches, as this would expose tissue that won’t have time to heal before it’s cold. Trim back any diseased, damaged, or slimy parts of perennials and other plants so they’re healthy, or pull them up entirely if the problem is extensive in order to prevent diseases or pests from overwintering in your yard.
While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to weed as much as you can in the fall, which will limit the amount of weeds that grow back in the spring. Just make sure to throw them in a separate pile from the compost, as most home compost systems don’t get hot enough to kill weed seeds.
Prune Perennials
Many perennials should be cut back in the winter after the first frost or two, but left about 4-6 inches tall. Because energy from the upper parts of the plant sends energy to the roots to store for the cold months, make sure you aren’t cutting back too early — wait until the first frost that kills off the tops of plants. Some perennials are susceptible to rot and disease in the winter — bee balm and phlox are susceptible to powdery mildew, and bearded iris can host iris borer eggs during the winter. In general, most spring- and summer-flowering plants can get cut back and mulched around the base. However, certain perennials like euphorbia and hellebores shouldn’t be cut back, so make sure to check the needs of your specific plants.
Leave What You Can
Letting some plants be can help cultivate a diverse backyard ecosystem, even in the winter.
Plants with seed heads — like coneflowers, sunflowers, and thistle — for example, can continue to provide food for birds and insects well past their prime. They might also provide a place for some butterflies to lay their eggs, as butterflies choose plants where their young will be able to feed once they hatch.
Keep Up the Hardier Veggies
Winter weather might mean saying goodbye to tomatoes and cucumbers, but many veggies are frost tolerant, and even taste better when grown in the cold weather. Many greens — including Swiss chard, mustard greens, kale, collard greens, and arugula — may grow through cold temperatures above freezing, but some can last through the winter in a cold frame. Root veggies like radishes, onions, kohlrabi, garlic, celeriac, carrots, and beets can also grow right through cold weather.
The post How to Get Your Garden Winter-Ready appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/home-garden-winter-preparation-tips.html
Wild cougar cubs have been seen in the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the first time in over a century.
Last week state biologists confirmed that the spotted cubs — thought to be between seven and nine weeks old — were living on private property in Ontonagon County, a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.
“It’s pretty exciting, considering this could be the first known cougar reproduction in modern times in the western Great Lakes states,” said wildlife biologist Brian Roell, a DNR large carnivore specialist and leader of the cub verification team, in the press release. “It really shows that we have a unique place in Michigan where someone has a chance to see a wolf, a moose and a cougar in the wild. It’s something that should be celebrated, that we have the habitat to support an elusive animal like this.”
A local resident took photos of the cubs on March 6, which Roell and the team used to verify the cubs’ presence in the area.
Originally native to Michigan, cougars were hunted to extinction in the state around the early 1900s. The last wild cougar who was legally taken was near Newberry in 1906, DNR said on its website.
“There have been many confirmed cougar sightings since 2008, including two illegal harvests in the Upper Peninsula,” the website said. “This situation is not unique to Michigan, but has been occurring in many other mid-western and eastern states, as young males disperse from core range in the western United States.”
Although cougars have been spotted in Michigan in the recent past, it was the first verified sighting of cougar cubs since their populations were decimated, Roell said.
The photographs were of the cubs without their mother, and they have not been seen again since March 6. Extremely dependent on their mothers, cougar cubs often remain with them throughout their first two years.
“Those young cougars are very vulnerable right now,” Roell said. “We don’t know where they are or if they’re even alive. Mother Nature can be very cruel.”
While cougars are Michigan natives, most of those there now seem to be transient, dispersing across the border from Western states.
Roell said there have been 132 reports of adult cougars verified by the DNR, but DNA testing had only confirmed male cougars to date.
Because they are listed as endangered in Michigan, it is illegal to harass or hunt cougars, including attempting to locate their den, Roell said.
Cougar sightings in Michigan can be logged through the Eyes in the Field reporting system, operated by the DNR.
Cougar cubs photographed by a Michigan resident who asked to remain anonymous. Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The post Wild Cougar Cubs Spotted in Western Michigan for the First Time in Over 100 Years appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/wild-cougar-cubs-michigan.html
Last Updated on March 18, 2025
By now you’ve probably seen the cruelty-free label on some of your products. But what exactly does it mean? And how does it correlate to sustainability?
Many beauty items are labeled cruelty-free, such as cosmetics and skincare. But many other items can carry the label, such as shoes, clothing, accessories and cleaning supplies.
The cruelty-free label essentially means no animals were harmed in the making of said product, or ingredient. This is important for a multitude of reasons, one being the inhumane treatment of lab animals. Most animals in laboratories are not legally protected and are subjected to horrifically painful experiments, often without pain killers.
Additionally, animals used for lab testing contribute to pollution and biodiversity loss. Animals, the most common being monkeys, are often taken from their natural habitats and bred in captivity for lab usage. Alongside this, millions of animal bodies and bedding are disposed of each year, creating biological hazardous waste.
Unfortunately, up to 126.9 million non-human vertebrate animals on a global scale are bred, used, and disposed for animal testing. This leads to a slew of ethical and environmental concerns.
This is why it’s vital to look for brands that don’t test on animals whenever possible. There are several ways we can do this, like choosing to go vegan or plant-based, advocating for animal rights, and checking for cruelty-free certified products.
Here’s what you need to know about animal testing and why opting for brands that avoid this matters.
is cruelty-free same as vegan?
No, cruelty-free is not the same as vegan. Cruelty-free means the product was developed without any tests on animals, whereas vegan means the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients.
Ideally, a product will be both vegan and cruelty-free. However, just because it is vegan does not automatically make it cruelty-free, and vice versa.
So, for example, a plant-based lipstick derived from vegan ingredients can still be considered “not cruelty-free” if it was tested on animals.
RELATED: The Best Vegan Shoes: 8 Brands Making Cruelty-Free Footwear
what is the legal definition of cruelty-free?
There is no legal definition of cruelty-free. The term can be used by any brand – so keep that in mind while shopping around for products. However, to ensure legitimacy, it’s best to look for certifications, like Leaping Bunny Certification. This ensures third party testing was involved.
In order to get Leaping Bunny certified, brands must:
- Adhere to a fixed cut-off date, an unalterable date after which neither the brand nor any of its suppliers and/or manufacturers may conduct, commission or be party to animal tests.
- Set up a Supplier Monitoring System to ensure all their suppliers and manufacturers comply with Leaping Bunny criteria.
- Be open to independent audits to ensure their Supplier Monitoring System adheres to the Leaping Bunny Standard.
- Renew their commitment to the Leaping Bunny Program annually.
is cruelty-free a good thing?
Yes, cruelty-free is a good thing, because it prevents unnecessary suffering and promotes more ethical testing of products.
In terms of its environmental impact, animal testing is resource-intensive, requiring substantial amounts of water, food, and shelter for the animals. The facilities housing lab animals consume energy up to ten times more than offices on a square meter basis.
There’s also the issue of chemical waste. A wide range of chemicals are used throughout animal testing for sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization. Toxic substances like irritants, neurotoxins and carcinogens are frequently used for extended periods of time in large amounts. These toxins can contaminate soil and water if not disposed of correctly.
When animal bodies are eventually discarded after use, they are often incinerated on-site, which contributes to air pollution. Incineration is extremely harmful to human health, causing chronic illness and developmental delays in nearby populations. Between 11 to 44 percent of U.S. laboratory workers experience allergic reactions to laboratory animals. Between 4 to 22 percent suffer from occupational asthma.
By supporting cruelty-free brands, you are ensuring no animal was harmed for the sake of your product. You’re also helping more ethical, humane, and sustainable alternatives become the norm.
what are cruelty-free products?
Cruelty-free products are any product that isn’t tested on animals in each and every phase of the production.
I’ve compiled a list of brands that don’t test on animals. I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some key features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.
1. pacifica
- Natural skincare, haircare + cosmetics
- Bio sourced ingredients
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Partner with the ACLU and the Gentle Barn
2. plaine products
- Natural, plant-based haircare and skincare
- Rosemary mint vanilla, citrus lavender, and unscented options
- Refillable + comes plastic-free aluminum bottles
- Vegan, cruelty-free, women owned, carbon neutral
- 100% plastic-free shipping
3. ecoroots
- All-natural skincare and haircare products
- Various scents available
- Vegan + cruelty-free
- Silicone Free, Phthalate-free & Paraben Free
- Plastic-free shipping
4. brixy
- Natural shampoo, conditioner + body wash bars
- 3 scents available: citrus, mint eucalyptus and coconut vanilla
- Vegan + cruelty-free
- Free from palm oil, sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, synthetic scents + colorants
5. ethique
- Natural body + haircare products
- Various scents + types available
- Vegan + cruelty-free
- Plastic free + home compostable packaging
6. good time
- Natural hair + body bars
- No parabens, sulphates, or preservatives
- Vegan + cruelty-free
- Carbon neutral shipping
- 50% of profits to clean water initiatives
7. patch
- Compostable bamboo bandages
- Come packaged in recycled cardboard
- Organic content
- Vegan + cruelty-free
8. megafood
- Sustainable vitamins and supplements
- USDA Certified Organic
- Committed to regenerative agriculture
- Fair employment practices
- Lobbying to ban glyphosate
- Vegan, gluten-free + cruelty-free
9. blueland
- Sustainable cleaning + personal care products
- Refillable + compostable refill packets
- Hypoallergenic
- Leaping bunny certified
- B corp
10. nae shoes
- Women, men + unisex footwear
- Vegan + cruelty-free
- Made from sustainable materials like Pinatex, apple skin, cork, organic cotton, etc.
- Pre-loved program allows you to send back your shoes to be recycled or resold
So, which of these sustainable brands free of animal testing would you like to try? Let me know in the comments!
The post What Does Cruelty-Free Mean? +10 Ethical Brands appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
A lawsuit filed by a Peruvian farmer against major German energy company RWE began on Monday.
The claim, which argues that global heating fueled by the firm’s greenhouse gas emissions poses a risk to the farmer’s home, could set a new precedent for climate litigation, reported The Associated Press.
“We have waited 10 years for this day, this decisive day,” said Saúl Luciano Lliuya, as supporters cheered outside the courthouse. “I’m very excited; I hope that everything goes well.”
The lawsuit, filed in the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, western Germany, makes the case that RWE’s historical emissions have contributed to the global warming that has accelerated glacial melt near Lliuya’s hometown of Huaraz. This has caused Lake Palcacocha to rise to dangerous levels, raising the risk of disastrous flooding in the community.
Standing in front of photographs of glaciers shaped like mountains, Lliuya said that the lakes, glaciers and mountains “give us water, give us life,” as Euronews reported.
“[T]he glaciers are melting, are disappearing bit by bit. Some lakes, lakes like Palcacocha – it’s a risk to me, to more than 50,000 people who live in the zone at risk,” Lliuya said.
RWE does not operate in Peru and denied legal responsibility, saying there are many contributors to the global problem of climate change.
Lliuya first challenged RWE following a Carbon Majors Study from 2013 that said the company was responsible for 0.5 percent of post-industrialization climate change.
Huaraz is asking the energy company to pay roughly 0.5 percent of how much it will cost — an estimated $18,562 — to protect Huaraz from imminent flood risk and the overflow from the nearby lake.
“What I am asking is for the company to take responsibility for part of the construction costs, such as a dike in this case,” Lliuya told reporters in early March, as reported by Euronews.
Lliuya originally filed a lawsuit against RWE that was dismissed by an Essen court. An appeal to a higher court in 2017 led to the current hearing.
Roda Verheyen, lead lawyer in the case, said she was “calm but hopeful,” The Associated Press reported.
“[T]here is no time to be lost, because the glaciers are melting every day,” Verheyen said.
RWE said it has complied with government greenhouse gas emissions guidelines and has a target of being carbon-neutral by 2040. However, its historical contribution to global heating has brought attention to corporate responsibility for climate change in addition to cross-border legal accountability.
RWE “is still one of the biggest emitters of CO2 in all of Europe,” Verheyen said. “This is only a very first step — a trampoline for further cases of this kind.”
According to nonprofit research group Zero Carbon Analytics, there are more than 40 ongoing climate damage cases worldwide.
Flood risk from Lake Palcacocha is a real concern for the residents of Huaraz, reported NPR. A 1970 earthquake in the valley triggered a deadly landslide that took the lives of approximately 25,000 people.
In addition to the risk of flash flooding, avalanches and landslides, glacial melt is also interfering with the availability of drinking water for many communities. As ice sheets melt away, local streams have become toxic and discolored from recently exposed rocks containing heavy metals.
The region’s seasons are also affected, hindering agriculture.
“It is scary, the risk from climate change. For example, it has been raining. Even the rivers that pass through the city have risen,” Lliuya told NPR. “There is a lot of fear and the lake’s levels have risen. People are very worried.”
The case is being litigated near the head offices of RWE in Hamm and is expected to last several weeks.
“We want Saúl and the people of Huaraz to live in safety. No one should live in fear of losing their home due to the climate crisis. Polluters have to step up and pay the true price of their business model,” said Francesca Mascha Klein, a Germanwatch lawyer who is working with Lliuya on the case, as NPR reported.
The post Farmer in Peru Takes Major Germany Energy Firm to Court Over Emissions appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/peru-farmer-germany-climate-lawsuit.html
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