“Disposable” is a plastic-age term, a calling card for a time when bags are doubled and tossed away twenty minutes later. Times have changed, but perhaps it’s time to regress a little.

The green of summer feels great. All the plants are in full go, and fresh veggies are coming out of the garden. Berries are stocked at the you-pick-‘em farms, and butterflies and bees are flittering. It might be a little hot, but it seems like all the world is right. Then, on a hike like any other, a leg brushes up against some poison ivy, and things go askew.

Of course, our gardens could be different. They could be their own small ecosystems, with special attention to biodiversity, fertility, and habitat, as well as food production. One important step to creating these types of gardens is realizing garden health is not based on how much is produced per square foot. Including extra features in the garden is what creates a healthy environment.

As we, as conscious consumers, transition into greener ways of living, it’s a good idea to consider how we might accomplish our chores without sucking up electricity. While we are at it, we might just find out some jobs are easier (and certainly cheaper) to accomplish without relying on machines. Sometimes elbow grease is still the best answer.