Going green, sustainability or just green are three ways to describe current gardening or lifestyle trends. In fact, they are so common that almost everyone has his own personal definition.

When the subject comes up I'm almost tempted to ditch my ethical hat and don my political one. That's not a shot at politicians, but many would agree that they have the ability to determine our positions on issues and then recite them to us in a convincing way.

Recently I stumbled across seven criteria for a sustainable landscape. They come from a 1995 publication issued by the National Park Service. I think they are so good that what follows will almost be plagiarism.

First: contribute to and not distract from local plant communities and their biodiversity.

Second: provide habitat and food for local and migratory wildlife species.

Third: grow without significant inputs of fertilizers and pesticides.

Fourth: be well adapted to the local climate, particularly in terms of temperature and precipitation.

Fifth: be tolerant and resilient to routine and periodic environmental extremes and disturbances (drought, temperature extremes, wind, flooding and pests).

Sixth: provide ecosystems beneficial to people and the environment.

Seventh: create beauty and comfort to inspire and inform the community about their locale and the ecological processes that define and sustain that environment.

What the above suggests to me is that we seek moderation in our use of fertilizers, water and pesticides while working toward the day when they are not necessary. Avoid invasive plants. Give natives a favored spot when selecting plants.

The last one is my favorite. To me it suggests that we replace the rhetoric with education and action.

Just yesterday I encountered an individual gazing toward the top of a small tree. He had just caught a glimpse of a wonderful new little yellow bird. If that was the first goldfinch he ever saw he needs to spend a lot more time outside, studying and enjoying the natural world.

We all do. Maybe then a consensus would arise on green issues.