Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

Download these apps to help you understand your climate

Rebecca Wolken
By

As gardeners, we tend to be more in tune with the planet than our non-gardening friends might be. This sometimes happens unintentionally as we start to pay attention to frost dates, harsh weather, and pollinators. Often, a side effect of gardening is finding a parallel passion for saving the planet and doing our part to be kinder and more thoughtful about the way we live.

With these apps, you’ll not only be able to better understand the planet you live on, but you’ll become a better gardener as you begin to see the bigger picture that even a small kitchen garden can have on the climate.

when to seed start

Gardenate

It can be challenging as a gardener to keep up with which plants should be planted when and if those dates change according to your specific zone. Instead of keeping messy and unorganized papers and notebooks filled with notes, download the Gardenate app to plan, track, and learn about your garden and what it needs during each stage and season. All you have to do is enter your plant hardiness zone, and the app will change all the dates and suggestions based on where you’re located. The app will let you know when it’s best to seed start your tomatoes and when you should transplant those into the ground. The app will also send calendar reminders to help you remember to check in on your plants and when to start harvesting.

Related

You can track plant wish lists, planting times, notes, photos, and use any of the 90 vegetables already in the database, or you can add your own. Use this app to keep track of your garden right from your phone.

Earth Now

With the media deciding what is and isn’t important for us to know, it can sometimes be hard to figure out what’s actually going on with our planet and its ever-changing climate. That’s why it’s so important for organizations like Jet Propulsion Laboratory to produce high quality and fact-only information as they have with the Earth Now app. On this app, you can visually see what’s going on in the world. For example, the smoke from the wildfires in Siberia is visible from space, or you can follow tropical storms. While social media is raving about the latest meme, you’ll be tracking, up-to-date, and knowledgeable about this planet and what other humans on it might be going through. It’s a great way to stay informed and to keep yourself in perspective. And the best part is—it’s free.

Using the app, you can also check Earth’s “vital signs” such as air temperatures, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, sea level, and water vapor. These types of filters can be an excellent way for a gardener to prepare their garden for a heatwave or for a storm that might knock over unsupported plants.

scary climate change

swrm

Instead of just sitting on your couch, watching Earth Now, and wondering how we can ever cure the hurt we’ve caused to the planet, you can download the swrm app. This app helps you keep track of your carbon footprint and even gives you tips and tricks on lowering it. While many climate change apps are designed to fill your screen with scary facts and overwhelming destruction, this app will allow you to take action and feel better about doing your part.

To use it, you’ll create an account and use the scanner to check each item you purchase to see its carbon footprint. You’ll also be able to track your travel. There are options for bus, train, plane, and car, and all you have to do is add the date and the length of time you traveled. The other option is for household devices. Add into the app how much time you spend on the computer, iPad, smartphone, or microwave, and you’ll get an estimation of how much bigger that makes your carbon footprint.

At first, when you see your impact on the climate, it might feel overwhelming; however, now that you know where you’re at, you can start to lower your footprint and change the way you live in meaningful ways. swrm has even included a feature where you can earn awards for reducing your footprint. You can even challenge friends and family and make changing the world a part of your life and theirs. All of this is branded with adorable honeybee icons and graphics to make the user experience fun and enjoyable.

It might all feel overwhelming and hopeless sometimes, but having a way to educate yourself and take action can make you feel better about yourself and the situation at hand. There’s no denying that something needs to change if we want to stop harming the planet, but it doesn’t start with the global governments; it begins with you.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Are mulched leaves good for grass? Here’s how to mulch a lawn full of leaves this fall
Simple ways to mulch your leaves this autumn season
Cayla Leonard
By Cayla Leonard
October 23, 2022
Leaf mulcher

Leaves can be a lot of fun to crunch underfoot or pile up and jump into, but they can also be annoying for gardeners to deal with. But they can do a lot for you and garden, though, even making an excellent fertilizer! If you've ever wondered if mulched leaves are good for grass and if there are ways to make your leaves decompose faster, this article is for you.

Best ways to mulch leaves from the garden
Mulching leaves is a straightforward process, and you have two main options for how to go about it. You can collect leaves when they’re dry and create leaf litter, or collect them when wet and turn them into leaf mold.

Read more
These food waste apps will help you save money – and the planet
Try these apps to help reduce food waste and save the environment
Rebecca Wolken
By Rebecca Wolken
October 12, 2022
Volunteer with box, of food for the poor

According to RTS.com, 40% of the food supply in the U.S. is wasted. Imagine taking everything you eat and throwing 40% of it into the trash. That is a colossal amount of waste! It's even more devastating to consider when there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who struggle to bring enough food home to feed their families. While these numbers may feel overwhelming, there are now apps aimed at reducing the amount of waste and redistributing it to those in need. Download them today and start making a difference right now.

The best food waste apps 
There are several food waste apps out there now, and not all do the same thing. Some are on the consumer end and offer reduced prices on overstocked food items. This means buying items that will soon be out of date or food that restaurants would throw out. Others focus on getting food to those in need, whether that's through monetary or food donations. These apps are a fantastic way for almost anyone to make a difference. 

Read more
Do you live in climate zone 9b? Here’s a helpful guide on what’s best to plant
The best plants to grow in zone 9b and when to grow them
Stacey Nguyen
By Stacey Nguyen
September 30, 2022
Person harvesting summer crops

From show-stopping roses to hardy agave, zone 9b is home to plants of all stripes, thanks to its warm, sunny conditions. It’s also an ideal environment for a wide range of fruits and veggies, whether you’re partial to hot peppers or sweet cherries. Its hot summers can be challenging, but it’s generally a productive and lush area for thriving plant life. Here’s your zone 9b planting guide so you can nourish a fruitful, beautiful garden in one of the country's warmest areas.

What is a climate zone?
With climate zones on the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the United States Department of Agriculture divides the country into 13 regions based on average annual minimum temperature ranges. The temperature ranges go from coldest to hottest as we move from zone 1 to 13. Zone 9b, as you may have already guessed, falls on the warmer parts of the map.

Read more