As we end one year and begin the next, we often think about self-improvement projects. Scientists who have studied how well people keep New Year's resolutions find that we do better if we involve other people. We can go beyond the telling a friend that we are going make some changes, and move into real volunteering where strangers are affected.

Many gardeners have heard of the Plant a Row for the Hungry program of the Garden Writers Association. Since 1995, over 20 million pounds of produce providing over 80 million meals have been donated by American gardeners. As you look at your garden catalogs this winter, why not resolve to plant an extra row of vegetables to give to your local food pantry or church.

Resolve to try at least one new variety of tomato or other vegetable that you haven't grown before. You may be surprised at how much the family likes the new vegetables and you will be prepared for some year in the future when the old standard tomato variety that you have always grown in the past is no longer available.

Another fun resolution to keep is learning more about gardening. Resolve to take a gardening class with your local extension office, which is part of your state University. All year long they offer local classes on many gardening subjects. Another aspect of the learning process is to go and see what others are doing. If you can't plan your vacation around a garden show, at least visit arboretums and gardens near your destination.

We seem to be living in a stressful time, and next year will have a presidential election, making listening to the news even more stressful. Many people find gardening and working in the yard to be great stress relievers. You do all that landscape work and how often do you get to stop to literally smell the roses? Resolve, right now in the winter, to enjoy your garden more by eating outside more often, strolling through the yard to smell the flowers without pulling any weeds and having at least one party with family and friends over to enjoy the garden too.

One of the ways to make garden changes a fun project is to resolve to keep a photographic journal of your garden. Use your cell phone camera or other digital camera to take pictures of the areas that need changing. You can print the pictures at your leisure and add notes to a note card about what you plan to do in the garden that goes with the picture in an album. Planning ahead will make all of your gardening tasks easier. The next time you are at the garden center, pull up the pictures on your phone or pull out the mini album and have the attendant help you in choosing new plants for that spot.

The following gardening resolutions will help you save money and protect your local ecosystem from unnecessary poisons.

Resolve to mow your grass at a higher height. The longer leaves will support a bigger root system. The lawn will need less water and less weed killer.

I resolve to take the mulch off my tree trunks. The mulch is killing the tree and wasting my money. I will spread the mulch in the flowerbeds to prevent weeds and to lower the amount of water needed.

I resolve to stop wasting my time pruning my trees and shrubs into unnatural looking squares and balls. Naturally shaped shrubs are less likely to need chemical fertilizers and pesticides to maintain their health.

I resolve to find out what disease or insect is affecting my plant before I pollute my yard with poisons that are used for treating something else. Saying it can't hurt isn't really true.

Email questions to Jeff Rugg at [email protected]. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Jason Chang