Hello! I only recently discovered solarpunk and i wanted to ask you, how can I be more solarpunk? I live in a small town, have a dog, a pond where endangered toad and salamander species live and a big garden (where i already have flowers, regular trees and some fruit trees). Sadly I dont have solar panels yet but i’m planning. I know you dont know me, but from what I said do you have any other suggestions what i could do? I get it if you dont want to/cant answer, but thank you either way!

solarpunk-aesthetic:

Hello anon ☀️

I’m going to write an FAQ page for general advice, and I’ll post it up when I’m done. That should help you. But for more specific advice…

First off, protect that pond at all costs. Amphibians, particularly salamanders, need all the help we can give. You could even consider (carefully!) expanding their habitat – perhaps by building a second nearby pond.

Having a big garden is excellent. If I had a big garden, there are 4 main things I’d consider:

• A pocket of woodland
  Grow a bunch of trees and shrubby forest plants. Ideally trees which you can harvest for one thing or another. Birch and maple, for instance, can be tapped for sap, and there are probably several kinds of fruit and nut trees that grow in your area. Having your own supply of walnuts or chestnuts would be nice.
• A wildflower meadow
  In a world obsessed with having a lawn, I don’t think we have enough fields full of flowers. Your local bee population will thank you!
• An orchard
  Choose your favourite fruit trees and bushes and grow some saplings. In most cases, you can save the seeds from store bought fruit and grow those. All those blossoms will also help the bees.
• A vegetable garden
  Save aside a patch of garden near your house and grow veggies. Include a couple of raised planting beds, or a greenhouse if you like (I’d build a dome greenhouse, myself). Or perhaps visit your local scrap heap to find materials to build pallet collar gardens or pipe gardens. You can even start this off by growing kitchen scraps.

Maybe mix and match these, if you want? Or do something else altogether. And remember, your garden is part of your home, not separate from it. Construct a gazebo to enjoy your wildflower meadow. Put a little reading nook on the edge of your orchard. Keep a table in the middle of your woodland pocket.

Oh, and one note on growing trees? Plan carefully. After a few years, moving them will become a difficult task. Try not to plant them too near to your house where the roots may damage foundations, and leave enough space between them so they can grow properly.

Beyond that, it sounds like you already have the right idea. Good luck, anon. And have fun!