The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail has provided several tips to make the winter season more sustainable for the Chesapeake Bay watershed: .

—Do not rake fallen leaves and branches. As temperatures drop, the leaves provide shelter;

—Choose native plants that feed wildlife. Many shrubs and trees provide food for animals throughout the winter;

—Wrap presents in sustainable packaging. Try using recycled or reusable packaging. Shipping boxes or cereal boxes are handy to repurposer;

—Shop locally to avoid the cost and pollution associated with shipping items over long distances. ;

—Take care with salt on walkways. Sodium chloride, or rock salt, is great at melting ice on driveways. However, it is toxic to plants and wildlife when it ends up in soil and waterways.

—Leave the pruning until late winter. Birds will feast on the seeds that linger on shrubs and grasses throughout the winter.
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