In Australia, we tend to take many lifestyle benefits for granted. We expect that we have abundant resources available for us to use, and we work and play surrounded by natural beauty. However, environmental issues such as climate change, depleting water resources, and habitat loss will all impact on this in the future.

Change is in the wind, with a growing awareness that the way we do things needs to be different if we want to save any of these lifestyle benefits to pass on to future generations. Unfortunately for most of us, change is difficult to implement – especially when we talk about personal lifestyle changes.

We are good at implementing community change to benefit our future, but when it comes to personal lifestyle changes we all seem to shrug our shoulders and say that the problem is too complex. We then carry on with business as normal – simultaneously patting ourselves on the back for the good work we are doing in other areas!

We must learn to act locally as well as globally.

The easiest way to do this is in the home. Positive changes have already been made with recycling and efficient energy usage in the home. However, in my opinion the Southern Highlands biggest ‘shame file’ relates to the lack of environmental awareness in the home garden.

A traditional Southern Highlands European style garden requires huge inputs of energy and water to sustain and maintain it. Havens for exotic pests and diseases are created, putting further pressure on our local and flora and fauna. They are highly modified landscapes containing mainly exotic plant species providing minimal benefit to our local ecology.

Creating an ecological garden is easy. Habitat gardens are not ugly. When well designed and maintained, they provide personal pleasure and satisfaction both to you and native birds and other species of wildlife. The energy our gardens consume should provide benefit to our local ecology and not undermine its very existence.

The way to convert your old garden, or create a new ecological garden is simple.

The first step is to sit back and ask yourself: “Is my garden water wise? Does my garden provide suitable habitat? Do I use excessive petrochemical insecticides and fuel?” Assess your garden critically. Try not to go into denial.

The second step is to resist your urges, which satisfy personal issues at the expense of sustainability.

Ask “What is more important – how my garden looks or how it contributes to its surroundings?”