Category: Outdoors

Recycled or bamboo toilet paper

10/9/2026

Look for toilet paper made from recycled content or bamboo. Though the U.S. marketplace shows signs of shifting, it still depends heavily on critical forests.

Most of the widely available toilet paper brands rely on wood pulp from centuries-old trees chopped down in places like the boreal forest of Canada. Good news is that consumers have contributed to measurable progress. Look for products made from recycled content or bamboo and check your favorite brand on this scorecard.

Read more from NRDC.

Volunteer to support nature

9/4/2026

Be a nature ally: volunteer for organizations that protect wildlife or for work party events to clean up or replant local areas.

Use your power as a volunteer to support organizations that protect the environment. Much of the work done by these organizations depends on volunteers. National organizations such as the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Audubon Society hold events or need people to provide both indoor and outdoor help. Some activities can even be done from home. Tasks range from pulling weeds and planting trees, leading a walk, or maintaining trails to participating in education, writing letters or attending meetings to support particular issues, political advocacy and lobbying, or social media. Volunteer to support the political campaign of candidates who support the environment. There are plenty of local opportunities right here in Swarthmore: help clean up the environment by attending Free the Trees events, clean up events at Little Crum Creek park, and planting native plants in the native plant garden in Umoja park. Events are announced in the Swarthmorean or contact the Swarthmore EAC for more information. In nearby areas, the Community Canopy Project based in Montgomery County needs volunteers to help plant native plants and remove invasives in various locations in the Delaware Valley.

Photo: Planting in Umoja Park, Swarthmore by Shirley Dodson

Plant an oak tree

8/21/2026

If you can do one thing for wildlife in your yard, plant an oak tree.

Of all our native tree species, oaks offer the greatest support for birds and other wildlife. Planting an oak is a great first step toward making your yard more wildlife friendly. Oaks are host to the growing caterpillars of 519 different species of butterflies and moths, which is by far the greatest number supported by any other tree in our area. There are 16 different oak species to choose from, so you can find one that is appropriate for the particular conditions in your yard. Oak trees are slow growing but do reach a large size, so plant it away from your house and give it space to grow. There are a couple of species that do not grow as tall, including the dwarf Chinquapin oak. To give your new tree the best start, it is best to plant it in the fall. Protect the new tree with a fence until it grows tall enough to escape deer browsing, then add protection for the bark protection from male deer using it to rub their antlers. Water your tree for two years to help it get established. Most of all, tolerate the chewing by insects – the caterpillars eating the leaves will be bird food! The tree won’t be harmed, and leaves are renewed each year. Then enjoy the beauty of the tree throughout the seasons and the birds that visit it!

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Protect your skin with sunscreen

7/10/2026

Viral TikTok tanning trends, including “base tans,” “sun contouring,” and “sun tattoos,” are misguided and dangerous.
Some recent TikTok trends are discouraging people from using sunscreen. Here are five viral sunscreen trends, the myths behind them, and how to stay safe from their potentially harmful effects.

Read more from Environmental Working Group.

Organic food protects birds

6/19/2026

Purchasing organically produced food supports agricultural practices that protect birds.

Birds spend a lot of time in and around agricultural fields. Pesticides and herbicides that are applied to crops can be ingested by birds both directly through berries and seeds that they eat and indirectly by consuming prey such as fish, mammals, and insects that bioaccumulate toxins. Pesticides kill not only the target pests but a broad range of insects that birds rely on for food, especially for their young. Growers that use organic practices are not putting these toxins into the environment that could harm birds or accumulate in the insects and fish that they eat. It also preserves biodiversity and insect food base for birds. A study in Finland found a correlation between organic livestock farming practices and bird abundance. Use your purchasing power to support organic farming practices. Be organic in your own garden as well!

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Yard care resources on the EAC website

4/17/2026

Check out the resources on the restructured web page of the Swarthmore Environmental Advisory Council. There you can find information about EAC initiatives related to zero waste, energy transition, and supporting a sustainable environment. Under the heading of Sustainable Environment is a set of FAQs about sustainable yards and yard care. This document is full of tips about how to make your yard more beneficial to wildlife, how to switch to electric power for yard care, bird-friendly practices, beneficial plants, and non-toxic mosquito control. Check out these tips as you start working in your yard this season.

Clean your bird feeders

2/20/2026

Keep bird feeders clean to prevent the spread of disease among birds.

Keeping a filled bird feeder helps our avian neighbors find enough food in our human-transformed suburban habitat. However, it is important to keep those feeders clean to prevent spreading diseases among the birds. Plastic and metal feeders are easier than wood to keep thoroughly clean.

Photo by Sean O'Donnell

Potted holiday tree to reuse or plant

12/12/2025

This holiday, get a live tree that can either be planted after the holidays or used as a houseplant for the rest of the year.

Earth911.com lists a number of options as alternatives to either a plastic, artificial tree or chopping down a live tree. One option is to buy a live potted tree. If you would like to keep your tree as an indoor plant and use it again each year, some good options are Norfolk Island pines, dwarf Alberta spruces, or small junipers. If you have space to plant a new tree, there are a number of PA native pines, spruces, firs, and cedars to choose among.

Buy Bird friendly Habitat certified coffee

10/31/2025

When buying your morning java, select coffee that is certified as Bird Friendly Habitat Coffee to promote coffee growing practices that support birds.

To quench the international thirst for coffee, plantations have sprung up throughout tropical areas, replacing habitat used by both resident and migratory birds. Americans alone drink 1/3 of the world’s coffee. The issue has been made worse by the development of sun-loving varieties being grown on large plantations that have already replaced 40% of the shade-grown varieties. However, by employing sustainable practices, these shade-loving tropical plants can be grown in such a way to recreate necessary bird habitat. Look for coffee that is certified as Smithsonian Bird Friendly® coffee: it is sustainably grown in shade created by a canopy of at least 60% native plants.

Learn more from The Willistown Conservation Trust.

Lawn Alternatives to Traditional Grass: A Low-Maintenance, Pollinator-Friendly Option

10/3/2025

For homeowners seeking a sustainable alternative to traditional turfgrass, there are modern, eco-friendly lawn blends that provide a lush green appearance while supporting pollinators and reducing maintenance.

By Rhonda Hilt

One of the most promising alternatives combines low-growing fine fescues with non-flowering microclover or traditional flowering clover. These turf alternatives are drought-tolerant, resilient to foot traffic, and adapt to partially shaded areas.

Fine fescues, like creeping red, hard, or chewings fescue, grow slowly, require little or no mowing, and don’t require added fertilizers. Microclover is a smaller-leaved variety of white clover that doesn’t produce flowers, and blends well with fescue. The clover fixes nitrogen naturally, reducing or completely eliminating the need for fertilizers, and stays green even during dry spells. Unlike traditional flower-producing clover, microclover has a uniform growth habit and integrates well with grass.

Fescue (grass) - clover (microclover or traditional white clover) combinations are easy to maintain, easy on the planet, require little or no irrigation after establishment, and are durable.

Getting Started

Fine fescue, micro-/white clover mixes are readily available from reputable seed companies as well as local hardware stores. The following online companies offer quality seed blends and knowledgeable customer support.

Sourcing Seed
Hancock Seed Company - Microlawn Seed Mix
One Green World - EcoLawn Mix
Michigan Wildflower Farm - Bee-Happy Turf Mix
American Meadows - No Mow Lawn and Microclover Seed Mix and No Mow Flowering and Lawn Seed Mix
Swarthmore Hardware - Pennington Smart Seed Clover Grass Mix Part Sun Part Shade Grass Seed Mix.

Establishment and Care

Soil preparation: Remove weeds, rototill, and rake the soil smooth.
Seeding rate: Most blends require 5-10 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet.
Planting time: Ideally in the early fall or spring when nights stay below 65°F.
Watering: Keep the surface moist until seedlings emerge (1-2 weeks), then reduce watering.
Mowing: For low-mow, cut to 4”, no-mow lawns can simply bloom and self-manage.
Let blooms stay: Allow clover to flower at least once a year to nourish pollinators.

Local Programs & Assistance

The following are excellent local resources and installation support in the Philadelphia area for converting traditional lawns to eco-friendly lawns.

Pennsylvania DCNR Lawn-to-Habitat Program - A statewide initiative offering free technical assistance, resources, and funding to convert lawns into pollinator meadows or low-input turf.

Journeywork (Greater Philadelphia) - Community-based organization offering Pollinator Palooza sessions, personal yard consultations & installation, and budget-friendly design and installation.

Local Nursery & Landscape Partners

Penn State Extension - Delaware County Master Gardeners - Provides plant recommendations and sells pollinator-friendly perennials each spring at local plant sales.

Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA) - Connects homeowners to reputable member nurseries and landscapers who specialize in native plants and sustainable lawn alternatives.

Recap On Starting Your Eco-Friendly Lawn:

Site preparation - measure your space, note light requirements, soil texture, drainage, and areas with high foot traffic.
Test your soil - ideal range is 6.0-7.0.
Prepare your soil - Loosen the soil to a depth of 3”-4” using a broad fork or tiller.
Add compost - top dress prepared soil 1-2” and lightly incorporate. Compost aids in retaining moisture and stabilizing nutrients.
Seeding - Select the appropriate seed mix for your space, taking into account your site preparation information. Time your seeding for early fall or spring (soil temperatures 50-65°F). Lightly rake or roll to ensure good contact between the seed and soil. Mulch with straw if runoff is an issue.
Water & care - keep the surface moist for 7-14 days (water lightly daily), and maintain watering until a dense stand is achieved. Then, reduce watering. Clover’s deep rot and fescue drought tolerance take over.
Mowing - Mow high ( 3”-4”) or skip mowing entirely. A thick stand of plants will outcompete most weeds, with occasional hand weeding as necessary.
Enhancements for pollinators & biodiversity - let clover bloom at least once per season. Avoid pesticides and herbicides - they harm pollinators.
Most important - START SMALL, by converting areas gradually to stay manageable. Refresh seed annually in areas where plants are thin, and tweak your mowing and watering as needed.

Replacing conventional turfgrass with a low-maintenance alternative is both ecological and practical. A blend of fine fescue and microclover or white clover offers a sustainable solution for partial shade, moderate foot traffic, and drought-prone conditions. These sustainable seed mixes require less mowing and water compared to traditional lawns, and support pollinators, especially bees, with their seasonal blooms.

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