We live on Cape Cod because we enjoy being near the water. Our marine and freshwater resources are essential for a healthy ecosystem, our quality of life, recreation and the local economy. Yet these resources are being threatened by overuse of fertilizers, stormwater runoff, wastewater and climate change.
It is incumbent on all of us who own or care for property to be good stewards of the land and adapt our behaviors to this unique part of the world.
Below are additional resources to assist you in becoming a better steward of your Cape Cod land. Together, we can change perceptions about what makes a yard “beautiful” and protect our Cape Cod environment.
Native Plants
- http://NativePlantTrust.org
- http://apcc.org/resources/fact-sheets/
- http://GrowNativeMass.org
- http://ecolandscaping.org
- https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/200/Conservation
Pollinator Pathways
Landscape Choices for a Changing Climate (APCC)
Soil Testing
Make Your Own Compost
Compost from Your Watershed
The Town of Orleans offers free compost to Orleans sticker holders at the Transfer Station at 56 Lots Hollow Road, Orleans, MA.
Rain Barrels
Town of Orleans Fertilizer Bylaw and Home Rule Petition
- https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/1118/Reports-and-Documents
- https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/3337/93-Ch-103-Fertilizer-Nitorgen-and-Phosophorus-Control-Bylaw?bidId=
Town of Orleans Wetlands Bylaw and Regulations