Last week we reported that our very own Jim Mumford was recognized as an Eco Entrepreneur by the San Diego Daily Transcript, but what we didn't tell you is that he was also named One of San Diego's Top Influentials for 2012.
The San Diego Daily Transcript reports that over 300 nominations were received and they selected 50 finalists for this honor, including Jim. Among this list are Irene Stillings from the California Center for Sustainable Energy, Don Rosenberg of Qualcomm, and Chris Cramer of Karl Strauss Brewing to name a few. Jim is honored to be in such great company and to have been selected. Congratulations Jim!
Click Here to see the full list of Influentials.
We are excited and honored to report our very own Jim Mumford has been recognized as an Eco Entrepreneur by the San Diego Daily Transcript. This is honor was given for his sustainability work in the community. The article shares Jim's journey into Green Roofs and Living Walls and highlights some of our favorite projects. It is thrilling to see how sustainable buildings and especially living walls and green roofs are becoming part of the built environment.
Click Here to read the full story.
Next time you fly into Chicag
o O’Hare be sure to look out the window. And when you do, instead of seeing a span of gray and white rooftops you will see an amazing array of greens, browns, and oranges covering over 230,000 square feet of rooftops (with an additional 126,000 square feet in the works).
The O’Hare and Midway Airport encourages the installation of vegetated roofs in an effort to reduce the urban heat island effect, conserve energy, and reduce stormwater runoff and noise. Today, 12 green roofs can be seen from the air with sizes ranging from small roofs of 917 square feet to the largest roof to date of 174,442 square feet located on the ORD FedEx Main Sort Building.
The FedEx green roof is approximately the same size as 3 football fields, is the second largest contiguous vegetated roof at any airport in the world (behind Frankfort Germany) and is and the largest vegetated roof on a free standing building in the greater Chicago area. In addition, the FedEx Main Sort Building is LEED gold-certified.
To learn more about O’Hare’s green roofs and other sustainability projects, download their 2011 Sustainability Report.
To learn more about the FedEx green roof, check out a news story from earlier this year from Chicago News 7.
We love to decorate our homes and offices with the beautiful and vibrant Poinsettia plant each December. But, did you know that today’s popular holiday plants trace their roots back to San Diego? Encinitas actually.
Native to Central America, especially southern Mexico, the Poinsettia plant with its bright red flowers was used to make dye for clothing and its white sap to treat fevers.
Had it not been for Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851), the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, we would not enjoy the beauty of this plant during the holiday season. He first brought the Poinsettia (named after him) to the United States in the early 1900’s. It was originally considered that these early plants could only be grown in hothouses but that was until Albert Ecke, was captivated by this plant.
He and his son Paul began growing Poinsettias as part of their orchard and dairy farm business during the off-season in Hollywood. When Los Angeles continued to grow they needed to find a new place to grow their poinsettias and they moved to Encinitas in 1923. The Encinitas Ranch’s main business from 1923 to the 1960’s was producing field grown poinsettia plants and then shipped to greenhouse growers across the country. As the demand for poinsettias continued to grow so did the Ecke business. In the early 60’s they began shifting to a greenhouse culture. Today the Ecke Ranch is recognized as the largest poinsettia stock production facility in the world.
So next time you are hypnotized by those beautiful holiday Poinsettias, you can thank the Ecke family of San Diego for helping making this plant a holiday icon.
You can read more about the history of the Poinsettia on the Paul Ecke Poinsettias website.
For tips on how to care for your Poinsettia visit Poinsettia Care.
If you are in need of Poinsettias, we have beautiful selection available.
To order call (858) 576-9300
We recently completed a living wall at ActivCare at Bressi Ranch a senior living community in Carlsbad, CA that serves the needs of those with memory loss. The facility is a beautiful location and we were delighted to have the opportunity to create a living wall for the property and for the residents to enjoy.
As you know we love plants so when we can share cool and innovative ways people are using them we have to tell you about it.
 |
SUCCULENT PURSES BY ARIANE FALKNER Looking for a way to take your garden with you? This beautiful and unique purse designed by Ariane Falkner lets you do just that. These handmade purses use dried moss and a variety of succulents.
|
|
 |
 |
PLANTED TABLE = DOUBLE GREEN
This one is a keeper for sure. Designed by Emily Wettstein, this table is beautifully designed and made of reclaimed walnut wood and steel. It also features a removable planter in the center for growing your favorite herbs or other greenery.
Learn More |
We love that we have the opportunity to create amazing rooftop spaces that are not only beautiful but are also good for the environment and even better, good for us. That’s why when we learn about new projects like the Rooftop Playground and Park in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district we have to share it with you. It is projects like this that truly inspire us.
This project was designed by Danish Company Julien de Smedt (JDS) Architects to provide a space for children play away from the crowded courtyards and parks in Nørrebro. It and features a playground with a shock-absorbing surface, a wooden deck and suspension bridge, and a giant roof terrace that includes rolling hills and curved steps. It is a great example of how innovation and design come together to create beautiful and functional spaces.
Check out the pictures on the JDS website.
October is an exciting time at the San Diego Architectural Foundation as they prepare to host their annual fundraising event, Orchids & Onions 2011 Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction, honoring outstanding architecture, planning, and urban design projects throughout San Diego.
This is an amazing and inspiring event for anyone working or interested in design and architecture or anyone who is looking to spend an evening with some of San Diego’s finest architects, interior designers, and landscape architects.
This year’s event includes nominations for projects including the Fletcher Cove Community Center Remodel overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Solana Beach by Stephen Dalton Architects and El Take It Easy a farm to table Mexican Restaurant in North Park by OBR Architecture.
Some of our projects are also nominated for awards this year including the living wall and atrium at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in downtown San Diego and the Sharp Memorial Hospital Green Roof.
We are looking forward to a wonderful evening and hope you can join us to celebrate so many amazing architectural and design projects in our community. Who knows we might even come home with an award. Either way it is sure to be an event you won’t want to miss.
The event is scheduled October 27, 2011 with a Pre-Party & Silent Auction upstairs at Westfield Horton Plaza Event Space and the Awards Ceremony at the historic Balboa Theater.
For Tickets | Learn more about the San Diego Architectural Foundation
We wanted to extend a big thank you to everyone who attended our Open House and Plant Sale last Friday and Saturday. We enjoyed sharing our work with you and hope you learned a little bit more about Green Roofs and Living Walls and were able to score some great deals on plants.
The following are some photos from the event.
Thanks again!
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has achieved 10,000 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Commercial Buildings according to a recent article on GreenBiz.com. According to the article LEED-certified commercial space now totals 1.3 billion square feet of property around the globe. The project that brought the USGBC to this milestone was the Live Oak Family Center, a two-story LEED Platinum building, in Santa Cruz, CA.
This milestone demonstrates the rapid expansion of green building but according to the USGBC we still have a long way to go to make a significant impact.
We at the Good Earth Family of Companies are excited to be a part of this movement and continue to support Green Building initiatives. “It is fantastic to be a part of something that really will have impact on the environment. In addition, it supports the construction industry and a green economy,” said Jim Mumford.
Green Roofs and Living Walls can contribute to a buildings ability to earn points towards LEED certification by reducing heat the island effect and storm water run-off, reduce energy costs and provide habitat for native plants and animals, and improve indoor air-quality.
Twice a year we open our doors for friends, family, and customers to visit us at the Good Earth Plants and GreenScaped Buildings headquarters in San Diego to learn about the world of plantscaping, rainwater harvesting, and green roofs and living walls. Plus it gives us an opportunity to share what we have been up and of course what we love. We love plants!
This Fall’s Open House and Sale will be held on Friday afternoon, September 23, 2011 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Saturday morning, September 24, 2011 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at our offices located at 7922 Armour Street.
During the event you will have an opportunity to tour our Living Lab and see dozens of Green Roofs, Living Walls, learn about rainwater harvesting systems and score some great deals on plants and pots for your home or business.
We hope you can join us and give us an opportunity to share with you. Please RSVP so we know which day you will be visiting us.
To RSVP please email Alexa or call us at 858-576-9300 and indicate September 23 or September 24.
Download flyer
We’ve always thought vegetable gardens and edible walls were cool but it is even cooler when Food & Wine Magazine agrees.
In an article in this month’s issue of Food and Wine Magazine, Trendspotting: Gardens, you can learn about the history of victory gardens and the role they played during World War II. You can also find edible walls and rooftop gardens throughout the country, discover green cleaning supplies, and find some yummy recipes.
You can even read about us! GreenScaped Buildings is featured in both the print version and on the website.
Full article | Slideshow
We have all enjoyed a cup of chamomile or lavender tea but what about enjoying that cup of tea with a delicious bowl of Rose Petal ice cream?
In her new book “Eat Your Roses,” author Denise Schreiber shares culinary uses and recipes for over 50 edible flowers and takes you on a journey of smells and tastes. She also shares rules for eating flowers, a list of flowers you should never eat, and advice on harvesting, storing, drying, and preparing your flowers. You can find her book at your local bookstore or online. You can find edible flowers in the produce section of the grocery store or better yet, grow your own flowers in an edible living wall or rooftop garden.
Be aware some flowers and plants are poisonous and you never want to eat them. Be sure to check the safety of flowers and plants before consuming. If you are allergy prone it is best to avoid consuming flowers.
If you have a headache that might be the cure your doctor recommends. But what if you suffer from Sick Building Syndrome? Sick Building Syndrome is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to chemical contaminants such as formaldehyde and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from adhesives, carpets, paint, and cleaning supplies in which they are exposed to while in the building.
Symptoms include allergies, asthma, and headaches. According to the Environmental Protection Agency the air quality indoors often has a higher concentration of pollutants than outdoors.
Since Americans spend 90% of their time indoors this can be a big problem but luckily plants can reduce the impact of these pollutants according to research published in HortScience. For us, this is good news and of course another great reason to introduce plants into your work or living space. We love plants.
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal Web site, http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/45/10/1489
If you’re like us, summer is by far the best season to enjoy fresh local organic fruits and vegetables. We are big fans of Edible San Diego a quarterly magazine and website, that provides an intimate view of local food and drink in San Diego. It includes fantastic articles and resources including Farmer’s Markets, CSA’s, recipes, and local foodie events. Be sure to check out their website or pick up a copy of the latest issue and find some yummy ideas for dinner tonight.
A study by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture found that food in a supermarket traveled an average 1,500 miles to get to the store. This got us to thinking.
What if the fruits and vegetables we get at the grocery store didn’t have to travel at all?
That’s what BrightFarms out of New York City thinks as well. The company designs, builds, and finances hydroponic greenhouse farms on supermarket rooftops throughout the United States. This concept not only eliminates distance food travels but also eliminates time, costs, and even CO2 emissions from the food supply chain. In addition BrightFarms grows fresh fruits and vegetables with no chemical pesticides or agricultural runoff.
To learn more about BrightFarms and the benefits of rooftop vegetable gardens watch the Story of Lettuce or visit their website at brightfarms.com.
We're thisclose to finishing Thomas Jefferson's exterior landscaping (we're waiting on only one plant for the street level planters!) and soon we'll be waiving buh-bye. Well, ok, we'll continue doing maintenance! In the meantime, check out a few pictures and brief descriptions of each part of the project on our updated portfolio page!
And stay tuned, we've done a few smaller projects over the last few weeks that we'll also be sharing - a living wall at a private residence in Del Mar, and a green roof atop Cuyamaca College's Water Conservation Garden's straw-bale house (which we shared pics of in our last blog post)!
Last week we helped install a small green roof on top of a straw bale house at Cuyamaca College's Water Conservation Garden! If you've never been to this part of the campus, you're missing out! With nearly five acres, the area showcases water conservation through beautifully themed gardens, including those created with native plants and also some done in vegetables. Admission is free and and you can either view the Garden on a self-guided tour, or visit their website to see details on some of the great programs they offer for people of all ages.
We're proud of our involvement in their green roof project and Paul Redeker (Horticulture & Facilities Manager) has been great to work with. They even plan on swinging by to pick up our donation of sedum tiles, and soon they'll be completing the exterior finish on the little house. We can't wait to see what it will look like when it's complete. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from our installation day:
Entrance to the Garden:
Roofer Extraordinaire Ulf Waldmann, completing the waterproofing a week prior to our installation:
With the root barrier, drainage layer and irrigation down, the team (Superintendent Derek Laspisa on the right, and Installer Jacob Tibbets on the left) starts installing the slope stabilization grid:
With our part complete, the roof is ready to plant (see a sample sedum tile on the corner!):
Jim's submission to Art Alive 2012! (Sorry guys - the pics do it no justice!)
If you've kept up on our blog, you know how proud we are to have been a part of Rich Williams' ArtHaus 2 project in Leucadia. And deservedly so, the project is featured in this month's San Diego Home & Garden Magazine.
Among the many great things about the house (spectacular design, great location, awesome team, etc etc), it "is the second certified "LEED for Homes" single-family project for the region ...
The residence not only has the U.S. Green Building Council's highest certification rating of LEED Platinum, it also is San Diego's first LEED for Homes and GreenPointRated certified project. There are only a few California homes that have qualified for this certification. Williams says both programs require an independent third-party verification on the home's green features. This assures homebuyers that the residence truly has been built in a sustainable manner and helps eliminate what is known as "greenwashing," the practice of some residential developers to simply tout their homes as eco-friendly."
If you've ever been involved with the certification of a building for LEED, you know it requires a meticulous look at everything, from your internal practices, to the practices of suppliers, to every piece of material you use and how it is installed. In short - it is no easy feat! So thanks for doing what you do, Rich!
To read more about the house and its list of green components, check out the article HERE, or find the "Home Feature" article on www.sdhg.net!
You may all remember this image as Jim, the Plant Man. (This awesome picture was created and taken by Chris Giles. Check out Chris' other great works HERE).
Now it seems that the Plant Man finally has a Plant Woman! We don't know her name yet, but Jim has officially made her his new girlfriend....whether she knows it or not :)
A Superhero Scrubs the Air: The Mighty Houseplant
By Gwendolyn Bounds
"The humble houseplant is on the attack. Building on NASA experiments for air purification in space, scientists are pinpointing plant species—from the peace lily to the asparagus fern—that are particularly skillful at cleaning indoor air of pollutants that can cause a range of health problems...."
Read the rest of the Wall Street Journal article HERE!
A happy Dean is what we were shooting for, and it looks like we hit the mark! Check out TJSL's brief article about their new living wall HERE!
We've completed the 85' green wall at Thomas Jefferson School of Law! The wall, made of a mixture of succulents with a unique sunburst design, created by Nowell & Associates, is partially installed behind a granite student study counter, and can be seen from the large windows of the student lounge and library.
With the majority of the interior finished and school having already begun, we brought in a crane to hoist up the palette racks that housed the 252 pre-planted modules onto the 5th floor terrace (which, with the increased height of each floor, was actually closer to being 8 stories up)! Luckily, the crane work went off without a hitch, and by the end of the day, school officials were able to see the project nearly completed. In the next few weeks and into a few months, the plants will grow even more, eventually covering the cells and framework currently visible.
We'll be starting in on the lobby atrium in a few weeks! Enjoy the living wall pictures and stay tuned for part II of our work at the beautiful new Thomas Jefferson School of Law building in downtown San Diego!
All the teams were great to work with! We're excited about our continued work with them!
While the cooler temperatures will keep most of the sedums dormant for a few more months, we are happy to hear about some of the positive reactions from Sharp Memorial Hospital patients already. Boy oh boy are they going to LOVE spring, when the plants begin to grow taller and thicker, and really start showing their true colors!
Yesterday's interview with KUSI's Mike Castellucci was a blast. We joined him early in the morning on the rooftop where he interviewed our own Jim Mumford, as well as the project Landscape Architect, Glen Schmidt, and Sharp Memorial's Cindy Murphy. We'll make sure to post links as they are uploaded to the KUSI website.
In the meantime, here's a clip from NBC 7/39 with Glen, the designer of this beautiful new view for the patients.
Okay maybe not skiing per se (although the article DOES suggest it!) but we thought you'd enjoy the renderings and pictures from the "Hill House" in Denmark. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, this single family home has an elongated green roof that essentially serves as the structure’s roof and side walls simultaneously, wrapping from the top of the building down the sides, and connecting with the earth.
If your green roof basically turns into a green wall, does that make it a green gwall? Or a green woof? (Don't answer that!)
But DO check out the LINK!
Yet another city recognizes the importance of increasing stormwater quality and finding creative ways to retain the stormwater, including using rainwater harvesting systems and building green roofs!
"Local schools, businesses and neighborhood groups are receiving grants totaling more than $1.2 million to fund projects to improve stormwater quality in Lexington, Mayor Jim Newberry announced Friday.
The projects include the installation of pervious pavements, constructed wetlands, stream restorations, rain gardens, rain barrels and a vegetated roof. Several stormwater education projects in neighborhoods, schools and on television are also funded."
See the rest of the article HERE!
Looking for creative and affordable gifts for the holidays? Walk away with tons of ideas at this upcoming succulent design workshop on December 4th from 2:30 to 4:30 pm!
View this FLYER for more info!
While some of us were busy finishing up the green roof project, our fabulous Debbie whipped up a living wall for Nokia!
Nice job Debbie - the wall looks fabulous!
Sharp Memorial Hospital is now the owner of a beautiful (and completed!) green roof! Our real pictures aren't in quite yet, but we thought we'd share some images from our fancy camera phones. (See below!)
And here's a link to Sharp Hospital's website, where they recently posted information on their new addition.
More pictures to come soon!
As plant people, we love rain. But as contractors doing exterior work, we're developing quite the love/hate relationship!
Regardless of the setbacks, we are nearing home base on the Sharp Memorial Green Roof project. The sedum tiles have been laid, the majority of our plugs have been planted, and we've begun assembling our planters and trellises. We'll spend the rest of this and next week finishing the planters, finalizing the lighting, adding cobble and capping the frame.
Onwards and upwards!!!
No doubt - we're constantly trying to green literally everything we can around us. We just can't help ourselves! So stumbling upon this green retaining wall system definitely piqued our interest.
Here's a link to their site: www.smartslope.com
With a myriad of benefits in addition to the aesthetic value of this product, we hope more people consider a green retaining wall in the future. Talk about curb appeal!
To support the framework that make up the bars/measures of Beethoven's famous tune above the contours of the roof, we brought in special foam for help. Next big step? Growing media!
Working on the Sharp Memorial Hospital's green roof has been quite the adventure! From mobilizing almost immediately after being awarded the contract and handling the pressures of an extremely tight deadline, to operating a high-reach lift in between the hospital's main entrance and the ER entrance - we've got our work cut out for us! Luckily, it's been a great deal of fun as well, from working with the staff at Sharp, to constructing a beautiful Schmidt Design Group creation, we're looking forward to completing a project that research has shown will help improve the experience of the post-op patients that will see the greenery out of their windows.
We do a great deal of presentations and the media has helped spread the message about the many benefits our products and projects offer, but the visual tools are hard to beat. In fact, we know how much people like to see, feel and touch the vegetation on a green roof and wall - so we're having a second Open House this year, to give you another chance to check out what we've got ..... more details on the Open House will be posted shortly. In the meantime, enjoy some of our progress shots from Sharp!
One of the project renderings....
A shot of our roof just prior to beginning construction (see our lift below).
The framework for the bars/measures of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."
Our darling Alexa shared this link with the team this morning - who knew you could throw the last of your wine in your compost bin - if there's any left, of course ;)
Check it out here...I Didn't Know THAT Was Compostable!
The second installment of Jim's article series in Interiorscape Magazine will highlight one of our favorite green roof projects, ArtHaus. See ArtHaus' Prez, Rich Williams' blog posting here - glad you're loving it Rich! ![""]("http://goodearthplants.com//public/images/site-visit-8-10-10-006.jpg")
We submitted a bid package yesterday for a large green roof project on Sharp Hospital just down the street in Kearny Mesa.Thank you Pari and Todd for your help preparing the very large re4sonse to their RFP. It’s a very interesting 5,000 sq ft design by Glenn Schmidt and company that incorporates the opening notes of “Ode to Joy”. Patient recovery rooms look out onto the roof top and the view of a beautiful garden will speed up their recovery time.
We’re bringing in an expert colleague from Chicago, Greg Raymond, who has installed over a half million square feet of green roof over the last 10 years – and I recently hired a Cal Poly Graduate student as job foreman. Plus we have a new hire for an entry level laborer – let’s get this one!
We can use your help – if you know anyone at Sharp to that has any influence on purchasing, we are dealing with Time Crowe. Decision will be made by Wednesaday the 28th, so make your calls today!
Source: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Our intern from High Tech High Chula Vista, Andres, and edibles specialist (and Vegetable Gardening Instructor at Foothills Adult School) Abby Moldenhauer, digging up the herbs and vegetables and replanting the next round!
Abby holding up two carrots curled together in the shape of a heart....awwwww, how sweet!
Cleaned up and ready to be eaten!
Although they don't look ripe, this particular variety of strawberry (White Alpine to be exact) is sweet and delicious!
Told you "we've got the BEET" (thanks for coming up with that title Abby!) and beans and squash!
Students stay busy selling plants and organic vegetables at the Center Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The public is Welcome!
![""]("http://greenscaped.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/st-madeline-sophies-ctr-plant-donation-pick-up-5-11-10-002.jpg" "\"St")
![""]("http://greenscaped.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/st-madeline-sophies-ctr-plant-donation-pick-up-5-11-10-003.jpg" "\"St")
![""]("http://greenscaped.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/st-madeline-sophies-ctr-plant-donation-pick-up-5-11-10-007.jpg" "\"St")
![""]("http://greenscaped.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/st-madeline-sophies-ctr-plant-donation-pick-up-5-11-10-008.jpg" "\"St")
Tickets may still be available! Check out their website for more information,
In the meantime, most of us have been tightening our belts and biding our time, and continuously climbing up our lookout perch to peer through the economic spyglass for a glimmer of uptick.
"Argggg, is that a spike in the "W" I see on the horizon, Captain? Land ahoy!!"
(Okay, okay, enough with the pirate references.)
In the last couple of weeks, we're proud to say that the GreenScaped team has gotten almost two dozen inquiries about our living walls, and Good Earth has brought on several important interior plantscape clients!
It's just the beginning, but we're curious, are you feeling the uptick business?
[polldaddy poll=3123099]
Thanks to Procopio, Roel and David McCullough, ASLA (the project's Landscape Architect) for the great opportunity and team work!
Check out some of the images! You can click on them to enlarge! (Or use this link to see the PDF: Procopio Image OneSheet)
As an added bonus for the week, I got an email from Elizabeth at the Batali group that they are ready to go forward with a doubling of the size of their edible wall at Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood. The new rows will be too high to effectively harvest edibles, so we have designed a living wall of ornamentals. I am looking at an installation of late May, pictures to follow. Yahoo!
Elizabeth also wants to move forward with a proposal for their restaurant in Las Vegas. Because the light is insufficient for an edible wall, we will be proposing a somewhat monolithic approach using just a few varieties of plants that will do well under low light conditions. For this project, we will be using a different green wall system, one that allows for maximum flexibility. Plus they have an area that they want a hedge of plants to help create separation between the restaurant and the surrounding casino.
Monday the 12th I am being interviewed by David Asman for the FOX news feature: Small Business America's Nightly Scoreboard. I am still getting all of the details, but the best part is that they are sending a limo to pick me up. Now all I need is for them to agree to my rider that states my culinary and massage needs before I go on air. Yeah, and I only eat green M&M's! It will air at 4pm PST. Tom Walsh and my other buddies over at Parker Urban Greenscapes have graciously agreed to provide the studio in New York a small potted plant and living wall panel. You guys rock!
Last weeks open house was an exceptional success. We had nearly 100 people come in between the two days and were talking non-stop answering questions and giving information. I'll see if we can get a copy of the map that showed 23 stations of green roofs, living walls and rain water harvesting systems. Everything looked fantastic and we got two very good leads on future green roof projects.
The green wall project for the Procopio Cory Law firm is coming up quickly. We are designing and installing two green walls in their 22nd floor, open ceiling, two story, courtyard atrium. I doubt there is another space like it in San Diego. The system selected was our TerraWall that I believe offers the best solution for this particular application. I have not yet finalized the plant design, but it's coming together in my head and will be finished over the weekend. I can't wait to see it come to life!
GreenScaped Buildings Hosts
Third Annual Open House March 26 & 27
Meet San Diego's "Eco-Warrior" and
Tour the GreenScaped Living Lab
RSVP: Alexa@GoodEarthPlants.com
Where: GreenScaped Buildings, 7922 Armour Street, San Diego CA, 92111 (Kearny Mesa)
When: Friday, March 26, 3 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 27, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
Who: Jim Mumford, President and Founder, and the staff of GreenScaped Buildings
What: Tour the GreenScaped Buildings Living Lab and explore various green roof, living wall and rainwater harvesting methods and products that contribute to low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings, cultivating a legacy for which future generations can be proud.
Even if you've visited before, you'll see plenty of new systems and products just added to the lab this spring. Displays include:
• A conventional loose-laid green roof on an existing building with native plants
• Five other green roof system options
• Over a half-dozen indoor and outdoor living wall systems, expanding the potential for gardens in areas with no traditional space, the first of their kind in the United States
• Innovative products and systems that capture rainwater runoff and recycle it for irrigation
• Sub irrigation systems for green roofs eliminating evaporation
• Organic drainage layers for green roofs, minimizing synthetic materials
• Artificial growing mediums that don't use traditional "soils" that can sit on any flat surface
Plenty of people told Jim Mumford he was nuts building a green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Three years later, the roof is thriving and Jim Mumford's GreenScaped Buildings is a leader in the green building industry.
Mumford was named one of San Diego's "Eco-Warriors" and an environmental role model in the April 2010 issue of San Diego Magazine.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com or www.goodearthplants.com
About GreenScaped Buildings
After more than 30 years of providing award-winning plantscaping service and design to the region as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, Jim Mumford and his venture GreenScaped Buildings has expanded the focus to include green roofs, living walls, and rainwater harvesting systems. Mumford's passion for low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings will cultivate a legacy through GreenScaped Buildings for which future generations can be proud.
That said, here's a cool project where they've implemented Urban Farming in the heart of Brooklyn! Brooklyn Grange aims to build on decades of rooftop farming best practices and establish a one acre farm that operates as a sustainable small business. The farm will sell fresh, organic and affordable food to the local community, contributing to the health and economic development of the neighborhood.
Check out their blog at www.brooklyngrangefarm.com. We'll keep them on our blogroll so everyone can stay up to date as well.
Check out their blog posting HERE. Thanks Chris & Jon!
Check it out:
Part 1:
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/mariobatali-part1
and Part 2:
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon/mariobatali-part2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2010
Contact: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, Falcon Valley Group
619-997-2495 or gayle@falconvalleygroup.com
Elizabeth Meltz, Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group
646-572-6359 or ermeltz@bandbhg.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
GreenScaped Buildings Installs Edible Wall
at Chef Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza
WHEN: Friday, February 26, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
WHO:
Jim Mumford of GreenScaped Buildings, San Diego
Nancy Silverton, Partner, Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group
Elizabeth Meltz, Director of Food Safety and Sustainability, Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group
WHERE:
Pizzeria Mozza, 641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles CA, 90036
WHAT:
GreenScaped Buildings will install an "edible wall" at Pizzeria Mozza to supply the restaurant with herbs and demonstrate industry leadership in sustainability
The first of its kind at a California restaurant, GreenScaped Buildings of San Diego will complete installation Pizzeria Mozza's edible wall, providing 72 square feet of growing space for a dozen varieties of herbs and greens to be used in the restaurant. The edible wall demonstrates the potential for sustainability and use of green building practices within the restaurant industry.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com and www.mozza-la.com
# # #
Tomorrow, February 23, 2010, I will be the speaker for the Green Plant and LEED Teleseminar from 9:00 am to 10:00 am (pacific).
Tune in for an interview as I discuss the perils, profits, pros and pitfalls of adding green roofs to your portfolio of services. I'll cover structural requirements, liabilities, plant selection, working with a team of professionals and potential sales and profits. A Q&A will also take place. As one of the first Accredited Green Roof Professionals in the country, past president of PIA (Plantscape Industry Alliance) and president of Good Earth Plant Company and Greenscaped Buildings, I've taken great strides in learning about this new technology, and I'd love to share my experience.
Most importantly however, proceeds from this event benefit Urban Corps of San Diego! Learn about the organization and their new ECO Center here: www.urbancorpssd.org
Please find more information about the teleseminar HERE.
To register for the teleseminar, click HERE or visit the shop using the info link above!
Let's help Urban Corps add the finishing touches to their Recycling ECO Center!!! Thanks for your support!
Like every week for seemingly a very long time, this last week has been very busy. The news media is picking up on our "incredible edible wall" projects and we had Larry Himmel come out to do a short piece on us that aired on Tuesday the 2nd. He was both friendly and professional, doing us justice with what he produced. To see the video, visit the media page on our website at www.greenscapedbuildings.com/media
I gave a green roof talk to the Sustainability Alliance of Southern California that same night. They asked the best questions of any group I have spoken to and want to be instrumental in green roof and green wall projects throughout the region. I hope to be able to collaborate with them to help promote the viability of this type of architecture.
A couple of authors have contacted us this week and I believe we will see their articles coming out in the next few months. I am excited that all of our hard work is being noticed.
Later this month I will be giving a 60-minute teleseminar on green roofs through the Green Plants for Green Buildings organization. It will cost $29, and all proceeds will go to Urban Corps San Diego, a local non-profit. Please plan to attend or forward the information below to any one that you think would benefit from learning more about green roofs.
You can link to more information on teh teleseminar HERE, and register for it HERE.
All media members are welcome to this event. Check out our website for the media advisory, here.
See you tomorrow!
On Thursday the 14th, we submitted our largest bid to date for a green roof - nearly one and a half million dollars. The new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) building in La Jolla has a 27,000 sq ft green roof of varying depths and plant patterns designed by Jeffery Bruce and Associates of Kansas City. Jeff is the current president of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities organization. Keep your fingers crossed!
Last week we participated in the Balboa Park Sustainability workshop and set up a booth at the lunchtime trade fair. Lisa Michaels, our new "star" salesperson joined me and did an outstanding job doing the trade show dance. We saw many old friends in attendance and even made a few new ones.
Yesterday I spoke at Cuyamaca College's faculty enrichment program with an emphasis on sustainability. I was able to condense into 15 minutes what normally takes me 3 hours to present. I believe we will be working with the college in developing a plan for a green roof in the Water Conservation Garden.
When I returned from the Cuyamaca program, I met with representatives from Point Loma Nazarene College and gave them a tour of our green roof and living wall systems demonstration, while it rained profusely. That was a first - I've never been on top of our green roof in a rain storm. I doubt I would do it again but they were here to see what is possible as we put together plans for a green roof on campus. They have a horticultural department that we will incorporate to grow the native plants we will be installing later this year in the fall.
And to wrap up our day, Pari Sanati nearly single handedly submitted a major bid for the green roof on the new Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. Designed by RoofScapes Inc., we have a very good chance of winning this project and it will be our first working with the Roofscapes crew. We are even planning on bringing in Greg Raymond from EcoGardens in Chicago. He is a member of the network and has extensive experience with large green roof projects.
The kitchen garden. It's something those of us who cook at home hope to have just outside our kitchen door, accessible for quickly snipping a few sprigs of oregano, picking some lettuce leaves, or pulling a few radishes. But if you live in a condo or apartment you're probably limited to a small balcony or terrace. And, if you're a chef in the city, you may not even have that surrounding your restaurant.
Enter Jim Mumford, owner of the San Diego-based plant company Good Earth, and his edible walls, an idea so cool in concept that chef Mario Batali is his first restaurant customer. According to Mumford, Batali wanted a roof garden at his restaurants Osteria Mozza and Pizzaria Mozza in Los Angeles, but couldn't get it to work with the building specs. So, if he couldn't go horizontal, how about vertical? After doing some research on his own, he found Mumford, who has been playing with the concept with several types of materials and styles.
'Green roofs' prove even more effective in fighting global warming than first thought
2010-01-08 09:58:2301:30 September 24, 2009 PDT
You only have to watch a TV show in which the camera flies over any major city to realize the numbers of ugly, stark, gray, flat roofs that occupy millions of square feet but contribute nothing to the environment. It's almost an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude we have with these unoccupied spaces. But what if we could turn these wasted environments into something beneficial to the environment, while at the same time beautifying the tops of our tall buildings and skyscrapers? 'Green roofs'- urban rooftops covered with plants - are gaining in popularity to help buildings reduce their reliance on air conditioning, and now scientists in Michigan are reporting they could also help fight global warming by eliminating carbon dioxide in cities, more effectively than was first thought.
Previous studies have indicated that painting roofs white can be a low tech way to reduce global warming by reflecting the sun's rays back into space and Prof Steven Chu, the U.S. Energy Secretary, has been heralding the idea.
Now researchers have attempted to quantify the benefits of covering urban rooftops with plants. The scientists found that replacing traditional roofing materials with 'green' in an urban area the size of Detroit with a population of about one-million, would be equivalent to eliminating a year's worth of carbon dioxide emitted by 10,000 mid-sized SUVs and trucks. Their study is the first to examine the ability of green roofs to sequester carbon that may impact climate change and the findings are scheduled to appear in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Multi-functional
While many researchers understood that green roofs were multi-functional because of their ability to reduce heating and air conditioning costs, detain stormwater and absorb carbon dioxide, it wasn't until Kristin Getter and his colleagues' new study that anyone knew how big a positive impact green roofs could have on reducing green house gases, which contribute to global warming.
The scientists measured carbon levels in plant and soil samples collected from 13 green roofs in Michigan and Maryland over a two-year period and found that green roofing an urban area of about one million people would capture more than 55,000 tons of carbon, or the same effect as removing more than 10,000 mid-sized SUVs or trucks off the road a year.
Imagine how much more carbon dioxide could be removed if urban environmentalists and town planners incorporated vertical landscaping into their the cities, like we highlighted recently in Gizmag.
(Check out the actual article here!)
1. According to a 2004 study, cited in an article about noted Berkeley engineering professor Arvad Horpath, reading the NYT wirelessly consumes 140 times less CO2 and 26 to 67 times less water. Which explains why we didn't print these answers upside down. What would the answer be if "PDA" were changed to "desktop computer?"
2. According to the Yale Sustainability Blog, 2 (high-density polyethylene), 4 (low density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene) are re-usable.
3. Trick question! According to Green Car Journal, the green car of 2009 was the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, a clean diesel that achieves estimated highway fuel economy of 41 mpg. The green car of 2010, just announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is the Audi A3 TDI, that gets 42 miles per gallon.
4. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFC-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) are the six primary sources of greenhouse gases.
5. According to the Green Bride Guide, one wedding generates produces 63 tons of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash - and there are 2.5 million weddings every year in this $60 billion industry.
6. From the coolrain44 blog:
# 1 -> PET ... polyethlyene terephthalate
# 2 -> HDPE ... high-density polyethylene
# 3 -> PVC ... polyvinyl chloride
# 4 -> LDPE ... low-density polyethylene?
# 5 -> PP ... polypropylene?
# 6 -> PS/PS-E ... polystyrene / expanded polystyrene
# 7 -> OTHER ... resins or multi-materials
7. Between 39 and 43 percent of all energy is used to heat, cool, ventilate or illuminate buildings in the U.S., depending on whose numbers you follow. Either way, it explains why upgrading the building envelope, insulation and systems of existing buildings is a high priority of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
8. Well this one should be easy, for those familiar with Sustainable Minds LCA software: it means life cycle assessment, and LCA is the best way to determine the environmental sustainability of a product. Because LCA looks at all stages of a product's life cycle, including 'end of life', you can determine how meaningful it is to recycle products or parts after their useful lifetime, and to specify recycled materials in the manufacturing process.
9. According to the Department of Energy, 90% of the energy in a conventional top-load washing machine is used to heat the water. That's why many environmentally-conscious homeowners simply wash their clothes in cold water.
10. Chocolate - well, actually, waste fat from chocolate factories - was used to power the Formula 3 car, built at the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center in Warwick, Britain. Demonstrating biofuels -- the waste chocolate comes from Cadbury's nearby plant, according to the New York Times - the car's body is constructed from recycled bottles, carbon fiber and soybean oil.
11. The 2009 Solar Decathlon was held Oct. 9-18 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and challenged 20 student teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. First Place went to Technische Universitat Darmstadt, the team that also won at the last Solar Decathlon, in 2007.
This blog post originally appeared on SustainableMinds.com, a greener product design software and information company bringing environmental sustainability to mainstream product design.
SustainableMinds, a green product design software and information company bringing environmental sustainability to mainstream product design, offers up this year-in-review take on 2009, "taken from our perusals of some of the quirkier green stories we've seen this year."
Go ahead: Test your green cred.
1. What's greener, reading the New York Times on a PDA or on paper?
2. What plastic bottles are safe to re-use, by numerical designation?
3. Name the Green Car of the Year.
4. Name the six most prevalent greenhouse gases.
5. What common social ritual produces 63 tons of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash?
6. What do all the numbers on plastic bottles represent?
7. How much energy do buildings consume in the U.S., by percentage?
8. What is LCA and why is it an important factor in product design?
9. In a conventional washing machine, what percentage of energy is used to heat the water?
10. A prominent story this year featured a racing car made from recycled materials that runs on which biofuel?
11. What team won this year's Solar Decathlon challenge for energy-efficient, solar-powered homes?
Leave a comment and show us your answers - We'll post the real answers at the end of the day!
Cooling the Asphalt Jungle
As green roofs proliferate to cool and cheer cityscapes, might they also suck up and store some of the carbon urban life pumps out?
We are installing a green roof this week and very likely installing another the following week. We also planted the edible wall for Pizzeria Mozza and got confirmation of a small living wall for a resident in La Jolla. Plus we have several green roof projects on the boards and even more as future possibilities.
And now that it is raining, inquiries and RFP's for rainwater harvesting systems are arriving daily.
Plus, core business, plantscaping, is expanding. We did a really nice installation at a local non-profit this week and a couple more are coming up soon.
Knock on wood, business is good!
What does it mean to design and operate a business in the era of green?
Recently, executives from the real estate, legal, technology and design services industries recently joined together for "The Green Symposium; Your office in the Era of Green." The event was hosted by Howard Ecker Company and panelists from Gensler, Workplace2go, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck, LLP and Ecker Green headed up a focused discussion on new ways to think about locating, planning and tech-ing, and living in office environments in the era of green.
The key takeaways from the discussion:
1. The time is now for companies to start thinking about sustainable practices. It isn't something we are going to see coming in the future. It is already happening.
2. Businesses that align their practices with core values, such as sustainability, are often better positioned to recruit and retain employees. 58 percent of people working in office environments are under the age of 44 (bureau of labor statistics), placing them in the Millennial and Gen X demographic categories. A business's sustainability practices are increasingly important to people within this age group.
3. Energy aware real estate strategies, space selection and efficient design can cut energy costs and increase work productivity and employee retention.
4. Reducing total energy use by 40 percent (average Energy Star Building reduction) would net savings of $1 a day per employee.
5. While LEED-certified buildings are designed to perform based on a set of prescriptive data, it's how you live and occupy the space after the building is built that will ultimately decide the buildings performance. How you live and occupy your space also defines and demonstrates your commitment to the environment and the health of your organization.
6. Computers are proliferating and it appears growth will continue to be exponential. Computers use a great deal of power and disposal is a big problem. Server consolidation or cloud computing will reduce a company's carbon footprint and save a lot of money.
7. Employees are often looking for a better work/life balance and telecommuting accomplishes this objective and at the same time improves productivity and the bottom line.
8. Avoid seeking the elusive environmental "silver bullet." It doesn't exist. It's essential to look out for opportunities to use less. If an asset doesn't improve customer service or productivity, get rid of it.
9. Design performance is all about beginning to research strategies on how to measure from four primary drivers: emotional, cultural, economic and environmental. The most important thing to do is to develop an understanding of space utilization and design accordingly.
10. The regulatory environment surrounding green building will change drastically in the next year or two, from a market-driven, locally-regulated environment, to a mandated, federally-regulated one.
11. Cities and counties, armed with federal funding and resources, are adopting climate change plans and regulations and are not waiting for federal direction, but are moving forward with a wide variety of programs and regulations.
12. Developers and building owners who are considering green construction practices or retrofit projects now will be ahead of this regulatory curve.
Our one and only Danny - planting away!
Some of the units planted and ready to go grow! All media is welcome to visit tomorrow between 10:00 to noon to watch as we finish up the rest!
Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton & GreenScaped Buildings Partner on New Hollywood Living Wall
2009-12-08 15:20:19December 8, 2009
Contact: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR
Falcon Valley Group
619-997-2495
GreenScaped Buildings Installing Edible Wall for Iron Chef Mario Batali
Wall for Batali's Pizzeria Mozza now being constructed; will be installed in January
(SAN DIEGO) - The hottest trend in green is sending people up the wall - literally. The latest development in green building technology is green walls, especially edible walls. Like green roofs, green walls are structures that allow plant materials to grow on a building, but have the added benefit of allowing them to grow on vertical spaces indoors or outdoors. Both types of walls grow in "found space," using far less space than typical gardens. Edible walls can be planted with herbs, fruits and vegetables.
Cutting edge chefs and restaurant owners are embracing edible walls, including popular "Iron Chef" Mario Batali. Batali and his partner Nancy Silverton will work with Jim Mumford, San Diego's "green roof guy" to build an edible wall at their Hollywood restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza.
"We've always been leaders in our industry when it comes to sustainability, and a green wall is just the logical next step," said Batali. "We hope to be able to supply our restaurant with some of our own herbs, from our own restaurant's wall! How exciting."
Mumford will build and plant the wall at his Kearny Mesa business, GreenScaped Buildings. It will grow for approximately six weeks before being transported to Batali and Silverton's restaurant and put into place with the plant materials well established.
The wall will be planted with mint, endive, Chinese celery, rosemary, parsley, chicory, sage, and edible geraniums. It will be 72 square feet on an east facing wall near the restaurant entrance.
Over three years ago, Mumford planted the first commercial green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Mumford's original roof planted the seeds for innovations in restorative building, including an explosion of interest in green and edible walls.
Mumford has been growing green walls as part of his living laboratory at GreenScaped Buildings, trying out various methods and products that contribute to low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of his green roof and walls, they produce increases in biodiversity, cooling buildings and reducing of the urban heat island effect, carbon sequestration, cleaning the air of particulates and adding oxygen.
"I'm now applying my experience with green roofs to the next natural step, green and edible walls," said Mumford. "Green roofs are wonderful but not practical for everyone. Green walls can be built for a fraction of the cost in many more places.
"The victory garden is making a comeback. People keep asking me about growing vegetables on the roof, which is problematic from a labor perspective - you can't easily allow folks on a roof to tend a vegetable garden."
The idea of vertical farming and "victory farms" are not new, but with more densely-built urban areas and an eye on lessening environmental impacts, advocates of urban farming have embraced edible walls as a way to lower food costs, increase nutritional quality and cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by using fewer delivery trucks. While not all vegetables can be grown on a wall (corn being a good example), with practice and technological advancements the possibilities are endless.
"We can bring an entire farm to found space in the middle of an urban environment," said Mumford. "I'm excited to be working with Mario and to be building this edible wall for his wonderful restaurant. I'm looking forward to my first great meal at Pizzeria Mozza made with ingredients from the new edible wall."
Mumford is also in discussions with a high end La Jolla restaurant about construction of an edible wall, and a prominent San Diego based corporate headquarters about installing an edible interior wall.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com and www.mariobatali.com/restaurants_pizzeriamozza.cfm
# # #
About GreenScaped Buildings
After more than 30 years of providing award-winning plantscaping service and design to the region as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, Jim Mumford and GreenScaped Buildings has expanded the focus to include green roofs, living walls, and rainwater harvesting systems. Mumford's passion for low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings will cultivate a legacy through GreenScaped Buildings for which future generations can be proud.
Niemann blogs (somewhat regularly, judging from the comments on the page) on the NYTimes.com site. We're definitely going to keep an eye out for his new posts - these are fun!!
Seems that something has changed and perhaps some of the stimulus money is finally trickling down to us. The phones are ringing...
Last week we got a call on a project in Rosemead that will entail the design and installation of 5,000 sq ft of occupied roof garden space. This area will include paths and benches along with pergolas and maybe even a water feature. The other part of the roof (7,000 sq ft) will have a green roof made up of low growing sedums. And still another area will utilize living walls to hide the mechanical element of the roof top heating and air conditioning system.
Still another call came in from a local Landscape Architect for a job with a major downtown law firm. They have a very unique space that will have a green wall as part of the décor along with potted plants surrounding an outdoor seating area. This will be "the" place for members of the firm to hang out. We're proposing a system that is new for us, but I have been coveting one for some time now. I really like the design. We will have one displayed in our plantscape trialing area in about two weeks.
So what happens when a major local restaurant hears about our living edible wall project happening at Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood? They jump on board and want one too! We're in talks with the "powers that be" to create another custom edible wall in La Jolla. I cannot wait to see the first harvest.
I've also heard from an interior design firm and a moving consultant on two very different projects coming up in the near future. These are both projects for the interior plantscaping team, but I'm suggesting indoor green walls to augment their décor scheme. We'll see!
We've worked hard this past year to get the name of Good Earth's sister company out there, and judging from the number of calls we've gotten as of late, we're pretty sure we're doing something right!
Thank you to those who contributed to the nomination. Full steam ahead!!!!!
I don't know how much I can emphasize that extensive green roofs don't need much maintenance but they do need it done right. It isn't rocket science (well OK the green roof we did on the jet Propulsion Lab comes close...) but it does require the expertise and knowledge to do it well. It's why we insist on a two year after-installation maintenance contract to be able to guarantee the long-term health of the vegetated roof top.
This is will be a fantastic project - one that we will be able to see some amazing results relatively quickly. And at the same time - make it apparent how beautiful and sustaining a green roof can be!
ArtHaus Home project in Encinitas - The house, still in the finishing stages of its construction, is already looking beautiful, with interesting architectural design both inside and out and a sweeping view of the ocean from its main living space.
Rich Williams, owner of ArtHaus Home and his Construction Manager, Matt Friedman, are great to work with and are as eager as we are to get the roof installed before the rainy season. See ArtHaus' images and description of 1491 Neptune, here: www.ArtHausHome.com.
Let the battle begin!
Okay, not really. But the Iron Chef fans here at GreenScaped Buildings are excited about our newest endeavor - building an herb wall for Mario Batali's Hollywood restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza!
The east-facing exterior wall of Pizzeria Mozza, one of the many restaurants in the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, will soon be adorned with aromatic herbs and edible flowers to supplement the restaurant's needs and simultaneously create an aesthetically pleasing façade. After analyzing several different systems, our team, along with the Pizzeria team, decided to use the deep profile VGM wall units, to help create a finished look.
The VGM units are the same product we use at our headquarters, and since the installation, we've enjoyed delicious strawberries, mojitos made from our wall's pineapple mint, and many a spruced-up leftover by adding sage, beet greens, oregano, geraniums and other herbs to dishes we bring from home!
Visit our blog for updates as the projects nears completion!
He was also a recipient of a Green Roof Professional accreditation a few months ago, along with Jim. And he's been visiting us every so often to gather more facts about the industry and check out our test site.
He may be helping us with our upcoming green roof in Leucadia too! We can't wait to see updates on his work!
Check out this video on the researcher's arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, that can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.
She shared with me some of her thoughts on the use of color:
"The implications of the thoughtful use of color are tremendous. A person cannot look at a color and remain neutral. Our lives are immeasurably enriched by the informative and emotive qualities of color. Though color has a profound impact on our human experience, few understand the far-reaching effects of our color choices."
"Color is part of our psychological and biological heritage. Color and light affect our brain waves, hormonal responses, automatic nervous system and arouse emotional and aesthetic associations. Our biological responses to color are beyond our control."
"We also react to color based on personal, cultural and symbolic associations. Within ourselves and outside in nature and the man-made environment, complex reactions to color have profound meaning for our lives and our livelihood. Something so powerful should not be relegated to mere decoration."
"Whether creating a skyscraper, school, hospital, jail, office or home interior, effective application of color can mean the difference between an ordinary, perhaps even dull result or an exceptional result that communicates its precise intent."
I've always been aware that color attracts our eye and have incorporated its use directly and indirectly. Think how stunning a bright floral arrangement is on a front reception desk or a row of planters that utilize a contrasting color makes them stand out and be noticed. I also love to use plants that have variegation or colors other than green in their leaves.
We like to think that we make buildings "authentically green" by growing plants in or on a building. Think how powerful the color green is in the sustainability world!
Today, Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) debuted its new Flight Projects Center, the greenest completed facility in the NASA family. JPL is a Federally-funded research and development facility managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Their new building included a 5,000 sq ft vegetated roof, to help keep the building cool and help minimize storm water runoff into the Arroyo Seco, a dry riverbed near JPL.
Check out the video here!
This flower is the biggest one in the world! Two meters high and weighing 75 kilos, it has the peculiarity of blooming only during three days every 40 years. Though found in many botanic gardens around the world it is still indigenous only to the tropical forests of Sumatra. The "fragrance" (uh....can you really call it that?!) of the inflorescence resembles rotting meat, attracting carrion-eating beetles and Flesh Flies (family Sarcophagidae) that pollinate it. Yummy!
Check out the video of this prized (and very temporary!) bloom in Veracruz, here.
The Plantscape Alliance Industry team led by Mary Golden was for the first time augmented by a large volunteer staff if BYU horticultural students. What a great crew they were. I counted at least 15 students all very helpful and willing to do anything for the organization to help the conference work better.
A new agenda item this year was a "reinvention forum" created and hosted by Jerry Shipe. He rounded up a panel to speak on the virtues of; short term plant rentals, florals, residential plant care, exterior landscape services and holiday décor. Participants included; Barb Helfman, Rich Parker, Steve Foster, Tim Konig, Rita Rogers, David Lemel, John Kruzshak, Don Warner, Peter Harleman. Although alternative revenue streams are what PIA has offered at each Calscape for years, having it all in one place spoke to the urgency we are all feeling right now. I look forward to this being a regular part of future Calscapes.
The welcoming party Wednesday evening was sponsored by Dennis Gabrick of Preserved Treescapes and once again he outdid himself. Overflowing with appetizers and finger food we washed it all down with a margarita (or two). The party was outside in the palm studded courtyard and it was a little cold (in Las Vegas?) but we managed OK and all ended up at the party room hosted by Bill Meade, Peter Herrera and Bill Lyon.
Thursday the morning keynote speaker was Paul Dolan a winemaker and sustainability advocate. He gave a thought provoking talk that was inspiring and funny but a little bit of a downer as he told the story of our nearly destroyed ecosystem and what monumental efforts it will take to restore it. He spoke again in the afternoon as part of a panel and the dialog that it created went past the session and into the next few days.
The trade show was then opened and it was full of planters and pots, silk plants and preserved plants, live plants and assorted accents. There was a guy representing a green roof growing media company as well as several holiday decorating wholesalers and even a software company. Feedback from the vendors was very positive with several echoing the sentiment that they were pleased to see the enthusiasm by attendees. Chris Lyon said he took an unusually high number of orders! I believe I visited with each and every booth and got some new ideas to use on our next project.
Later in the day I gave a talk on green roofs and living walls that was well received. My emphasis was on inspiration coupled with preparation and indeed caution. After some technical difficulties with the power point I was able to get into a rhythm and put on a good and informative presentation. And perhaps I may have gained several green roof design and installation consulting contracts.
The awards banquet Thursday night was a beautiful event with some of the most amazing images of outstanding projects imaginable. A noteworthy item was that almost all of the awards came from outside of California. I was a bit embarrassed that we didn't have an entry as we nearly always do and usually win an award. Alas, there just wasn't anything we did this past year that I thought was award winning on the scale I want it to be to enter. Regardless, it was fun to see other plantscaping design and installation award winners along with special events and holiday décor.
When the awards banquet concluded, the infamous Calscape-After-Party at suite 24078 began. Hosted by the "Gang of Three"; Bill, Peter and Bill, food and booze flowed aplenty. The view of the Strip from their room was phenomenal. With camera in hand, Bill Lyon captured many provocative images of attendees that will undoubtedly end up on the internet, somewhere. Interesting how much is learned during an after party, who you meet and what is shared. I particularly enjoyed talking with Howard of Blondie's and meeting some of his folks. I hope I can arrange a trip to New York to pay them a visit soon.
I missed the Friday morning session on a "killer" database for interiorscapers as well as the session about environmentally sensitive pest management put on by Suzanne Wainwright, a perennial Calscape speaker. The "lunch with exhibitors" was set up like speed dating as a variety of vendors stopped at each table and gave a 5 minute talk on their product line and services. I found a fantastic database of plant images during one of these conversations.
The Friday afternoon closing keynote was put n by Jan Goodman of Cityscapes in Boston and focused on differentiating yourself from your competitors. It was a lively hour long info-fest as Jan has an extraordinary amount of energy to share her creative ideas. Afterwards the Green Plants for green Building organization hosted a reception that included information about interior plants' ability to sequester carbon. The research was conducted by Dr. Bodie Pennisi and looks very promising.
All in all a great Calscape conference that included people, plants, ideas and concepts that I am implementing daily. I look forward to next year!
Employees working in green buildings phone in sick to work less frequently and are more productive than their counterparts who work in non-green buildings, according to a recent study by University of San Diego's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis.
The study suggests buildings that bear the LEED-certified or Energy Star label are more valuable as office space because of the increase in productivity, said Norm Miller, academic director for USD's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate.
Indoor air quality, natural light and ventilation were cited as reasons employees perform better when working in green buildings.
"People like natural light, they like clean air," Miller said, whether the effects be on health, morale or psychological.
Conducted by Miller and David Pogue, national director of sustainability for CB Richard Ellis, the study surveyed 534 tenants of 154 green buildings nationwide.
Of those surveyed, 12 percent of respondents said they strongly agree employees were more productive in green buildings, 42.5 percent agreed employees were more productive and 45 percent noted no change in productivity. Of the companies that reported an increase in productivity, the average increase was greater than 4 percent.
The increase in productivity was in part due to employees taking fewer sick days. Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed reported employees took an average of 2.88 fewer sick days at their new green office location compared with their previous location. An equal amount noted no effect and 10 percent reported more sick days. The 10 percent were residents of Energy Star-labeled buildings, which -- unlike LEED-certified buildings -- do not have air quality requirements.
The study estimates the increase in productivity translates into a net effect of $20.82 per employee based on an office space of 250 square feet per worker using average salary as an index. The average effect on productivity was estimated at $5,204 per employee, with the average impact of employees taking fewer sick days was estimated at $1,228 per worker.
The effect of increased productivity and fewer days lost to illness increases the worth of rented space by $20.82 and $4.91 per square foot, respectively.
Despite the benefits, it is important to note that the majority of respondents said they would not pay more for a green building, an attitude Miller said he believes will change as people begin to realize the benefits of such office space.
"Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity," Miller said. "If you consider the benefits in terms of recruitment, retention of employees, less sick time and greater productivity, tenants should be willing to pay more rent for such space or require steep discounts for less healthy space."
So last Friday, we took park in Park(ing) Day 2009 by designating a spot on the street in front of our headquarters as our "park." We took some great pictures and had a lot of fun doing it! Check out the Park(ing) Day website to see pictures of Park(ing) Day entries from around the world! Here are some of ours - notice our green roof in the background!:
[gallery]
I'd like to say that it started off with a spectacular Monday night football game where the Chargers whooped up on the Raiders, but I'll have to settle for just a win...
Tuesday I brought the A-Team (Roofer Ulf Waldmann of Mission Valley Roofing and Robert Thiele AIA LEED AP architect) to the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) for a half day workshop on green roofs. I begin with an over-view and definition of green roofs, their history, styles and types. Robert follows with a view from 5,000 feet and from his perspective all about structure, codes and permits. Ulf comes on next with information on roof types, waterproofing and safety concerns along with his German experience. I wrap it all up with the sexy part - plants! I also include media, irrigation and drainage.
This is our third time doing the program (the first two were for Cuyamaca College) and I am proud to say that we drew the largest audience for any of their previous events. The crowd was a good mix of architects, contractors, developers, homeowner's and interested parties. For the first time I was asked about insurance concerns (I know of nothing) and what to do if you get termites in the building and how does one tent it. All I know about tenting a structure for termites is that it would undoubtedly kill the plants on the roof. I am looking into it for more in-depth answers.
On Wednesday I teamed up with Mathew Porreca of BNIM Architects to do a presentation to the Sustainability Committee of the Downtown San Diego Partnership organization. Mathew has worked on some amazing projects in Kansas City and the Midwest. I was stunned by the scale of their green roofs covering many acres.
After our presentation, I was off to Petco Stadium for QUALCOMM's vendor appreciation day at the Padres game. I went with a friend, Christine Petrarca of Christine Connects You, and she indeed knew most everyone and connected me to several new people. Plus, the Padres won!
I wasn't able to enjoy the game much as I had another appointment with Reno Contracting later in the afternoon. I met with their "Green-Team" and both learned about their objectives and shared with them about our work doing green roofs and living walls. I was impressed by both their interest and level of questioning. We have already started to look at a retro-fit green roof project on a building in Rancho Bernardo.
Last night I took my children; Teddy and Allie to the San Diego River Parks Annual Gala. After speaking with the director, Rob Hutsel, we will be doing a green roof presentation for them as they want to incorporate an eco-roof into their plans for a visitor's center.
And finally, I am preparing a new Power Point Presentation for a large un-named client that wants an edible wall in their new buildings cafeteria. I'm excited!
Whew! Hopefully I'll get some rest this weekend. Who knows what next weekend will bring!
We also bid a large green roof in the Brentwood California area. I have to say it was a very aggressive bid, one that I am proud of as Pari did the lion's share of work and learned a tremendous amount. I don't know yet whether we were awarded the job, if we do I'll be posting details.
I flew up to San Francisco at the last minute on Tuesday to meet with the owners, developers, contractor and architects of a hospital project that is going to have a green roof. It felt like a senate subcommittee meeting with 10 of them on one side of the table and I on the other as they grilled me about our experience, knowledge, design ideas and other pertinent areas important in this early phase of the design process.
While in San Francisco I visited with friends Tony Caruso of Decorative Plant Service and Mathew Gardner of the Wright Gardener and we were able to see the Academy of Sciences spectacular green roof designed and installed by my buddy Paul Kephart and Rana Creek. Amazing project!
I also attended a couple of designer networking meetings and have to say that I feel a "nervous optimism" out there as the economy stops falling and bounces along the bottom. Folks are finding work, projects are beginning to move forward and the bleeding seems to have stopped. Let's hope so!
I also went to the "Slow Foods" group mixer and was impressed with the attendance. A broad and diverse group and everyone was interested in what we are doing with vertical gardening and the edible walls we are designing and proposing. Our newest potential client is the Marine Room in La Jolla. They want an edible wall close to the front door to establish the concept of very fresh locally grown spices and herbs. I like it!
We get asked a lot about doing vegetables on a roof top here in San Diego and indeed southern California in general. I am a firm believer that this is an outstanding use of a roof top garden - so much more to offer when you can harvest edibles from an otherwise wasted space. And the benefits of a green roof: storm water retention, energy reduction, extending the life of the membrane and bio-diversity, are all still applicable.
The challenge is two-fold. First our roofs in southern California are not built to handle the additional load of a green roof. So a retro-fit is difficult if not impossible.
The second issue is safety. A vegetable garden is labor intensive with all of the weeding, watering and harvesting. So the roof must have some type of railing surrounding it to prevent someone from falling off. In addition, code compliant access can pose a problem, unless designed in from the beginning.
This is one of the reasons we have been designing and installing living walls that support vegetables, herbs, spices and lettuces. Using a wall for vertical farming is nothing new and the benefit is that the engineering is minimized compared to a roof top. Plus, you don't have to worry about access issues unless you build a green wall high enough that one would need to stand on a ladder.
Design one in from the beginning? You bet! That will work just fine and not cost an arm and a leg in beefing up the structure. That said....anyone planning on a building a new building any time soon? ;)
The following is my list of techniques to diffuse a bad situation and cranky people:
1. Be empathetic. Use terms such as "I know how you could feel like that."
2. Let people talk. Sometimes they just need to talk it out. The worst thing anyone can ever say when someone is trying to discuss an issue is "I don't want to talk about that". Of course the other interpretation of I don't want to talk about it is when someone says to you, "All you are doing is harping on the same issues. Move on." People need to talk things out. That's why psychiatrists have patients come back again and again. Shut the door on the communication and shut the door on the relationships.
3. Ask for a remedy. If you did something wrong, then ask how it can be corrected.
4. When dealing with the unreasonable remedy, simply use the expression, "I wish we could." That works just about every time.
5. Thank you. We cannot thank people enough. I am becoming a believer that we are in the midst of an epidemic of people who just expect everything. You do something for someone and they don't thank you. It is so easy but so few people do it. When was the last time you thanked a client for choosing to work with us? Send a thank-you note after a sale!
6. Expectation management: What does a client expect when we walk into their office or home? Take the time to write it down then have a friend or even yourself practice. You will avoid problems before they happen.
7. Become a Flexetarian. Don't be so rigid. Lighten up. The times they are-a-changin' and the rules of the new normal are yet to be written. Things are never just black or white. There are many shades of gray.
8. Be a Seeker and a Doer. Many times our policies become stale because we never shop other businesses to see what our clients are experiencing. It's one thing seeing good ideas but it's another thing implementing them. You can't be successful without both of them.
9. Decisions of Convenience: Again, I am seeing more people make decisions because it's the easy way out. In the service business we sometimes get lazy and make the decisions because it's easy or convenient to do. Somehow we start to have different rules and policies for different customers and employees. It's the same as buying from a rep because it's easy. Just be aware of the amount of decisions we make because of that. It's scary and extremely dangerous business.
10. Commitment. The service business isn't easy. There can be long hours and frustrating times. BUT you have to love it. You have to get excited when new clients get installed and the plants and planters arrive. You need to get excited to call a client up and be so enthusiastic that you were able to get exactly what they are looking for. You need to get excited about every orchid, palm or ficus tree that you push yourself to visit one more nursery when you're dead tired but that new resource becomes the winner of the season.
Hopefully, the client's mood won't last long, but the way you and your team handled it will, creating a better relationship in the long run....
While that quote applies to a lot of situations, it's clear that in our society, it usually takes a tragedy or crisis to get us to make a change. Look at our energy issues. While we are not energy independent yet, the energy crisis of a few years ago got us things like tax incentives for PVC installations, more solar products in the market, and the word "sustainability" forever embedded in our minds.
Now here we are, facing a water shortage. For years we've touted the benefits of gray water, but have also stared into the face of bureaucratic red tape to make it a reality. Just like the energy crisis however, we, as a City, are becoming advocates.........click here to read about: Residential "Gray Water" Rules Eased
"EnvironDesign Notebook: Inviting Nature In
Biomimicry can lead us to more innovative, sustainable interior spaces
By Mary Ann Lazarus, LEED AP
The emerging science of biomimicry has captivated the design professions. Conferences are buzzing about it, magazines are craving it, and the next generation of designers can't get enough of it.
Established by biologist Janine Benyus in the 1990s, biomimicry looks to the natural world for ideas and inspiration for all kinds of design opportunities. The goal is to create sustainable products, processes and policies-new ways of living-that are well-adapted to life on Earth and able to endure, regardless of the challenges.
In its brief evolution, biomimicry has led to some amazing innovations-from self-cleaning surfaces inspired by the lotus leaf, to Olympic swimsuits that emulate the skin of a shark. There's even a new sunscreen under development that mimics the UV protection properties of hippo secretions.
Within the built environment, however, the discipline is still in its infancy. While a growing number of bio-inspired products are expanding the sustainable options available to designers, projects that incorporate biomimicry at the macro scale are few and far between.
Perhaps you're familiar with the small number of building projects that have been completed around the world, including the Eastgate Centre shopping mall and office building in Harare, Zimbabwe. Inspired by thermal control found in termite mounds, architect Mick Pearce worked with Arup to design the structure, which is passively cooled and doesn't even require a fuel-based air conditioning system.
Although these innovative projects are exciting showcases of biomimicry in action, the fact that they are so rare reveals the need to advance bio-inspired design within the built environment-to bring biomimicry to the masses.
ADVANCING A NEW SUSTAINABLE STANDARD
Since forging a formal alliance with the Biomimicry Guild in 2008, HOK has been working to expand biomimicry into tangible, real-world design solutions for our clients. We believe biomimicry will not only help us significantly reduce the environmental impact of our projects, but will also help define a whole new sustainable standard for our profession.
Because biomimicry addresses critical environmental issues at the habitat scale, it gives us lessons on how to achieve increasingly more significant sustainable outcomes. We're pursuing solutions that reach far beyond the realm of LEED® Platinum, net zero carbon and regenerative projects.
"Integrating biomimicry within interior environments is about much more than specifying bio-inspired products. It requires introducing the concept as early as possible in the design process-ideally before any initial ideas have even been formulated."
Integrating biomimicry within interior environments is about much more than specifying bio-inspired products. It requires introducing the concept as early as possible in the design process-ideally before any initial ideas have even been formulated. It also involves inviting a biologist to the design table as a full team member, not as an add-on specialty consultant or afterthought.
Rather than primarily looking to previous projects for ideas to solve a particular design challenge, our teams need to ask how nature would solve it. With 30 million species and 3.85 billion years of R&D experience, it's a pretty safe bet that nature has encountered-and tackled-the same challenge before, and we could probably learn something from those natural systems strategies.
Bio-inspired solutions frequently have far-reaching sustainable implications, reflecting the interdependence of a project's systems.
As an example, the ability to effectively bring natural light into a space that has limited access to it reduces the need for artificial lighting. Because less heat is generated, less cooling is necessary, which could reduce the size of cooling equipment (a capital cost). Overall energy use is reduced (an operational cost), and fossil fuel dependence is lessened (an environmental cost). And we're not even considering the significant aesthetic and human benefits that natural light offers.
In the natural world, the most innovative lighting strategies might emerge from studying begonias, which maximize photosynthesis in low-light conditions by using clear surface cells to focus light. Or perhaps the ideal approach is to mimic emperor penguins, whose beaks reflect UV light via a multilayer reflector photonic microstructure. These time-tested strategies are accessible through a new database called Ask Nature. A project of the Biomimicry Institute, this free resource enables designers to search for and study nature's solutions to design challenges-e.g., how organisms filter air and water, gather solar energy, and create non-toxic dyes and glues.
In fact, studying nature will help us uncover effective and sustainable solutions to the most significant issues in our interior environments: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustical privacy, flexibility, and productivity.
HUMBLING OURSELVES
Biomimicry opens up a whole new palette of design inspiration, ideas and opportunities. But it also demands a certain humility in admitting to ourselves that we humans don't have all the answers-or even, necessarily, the best ones.
The Biomimicry Guild has developed a phrase, "quieting our cleverness," to remind us of the need to step back and be open to "genius" from unexpected sources. For designers, this notion can be a challenging one to consider; but it is a vital component of unleashing the most profound, transformative ideas and solutions.
As we introduce biomimicry to our clients, we're finding that those who are most receptive to the concepts are the ones who are eager to pioneer a cutting-edge, showcase project. They're also more likely to have an overall appreciation for nature. One of the most revealing questions we can ask clients is how they spend their free time. If they like to fish, hunt or hike, they're much more likely to be open to biomimicry than if they spend their weekends watching TV or fixing cars.
And another great aspect of biomimicry is that it isn't limited to projects of a certain size, market sector or geographic region. Potential ideas and applications are as diverse as nature itself.
TOWARD A GREENER FUTURE
The built environment is the most fertile ground for biomimicry. Buildings account for about 50 percent of total energy use in the Unites States, and it's estimated that 75 percent of buildings in the year 2030 will be new or renovated. Consulting with nature will help us to effectively address the environmental and climate crisis by leapfrogging incremental sustainable improvements in order to develop profession-transforming solutions.
I truly believe biomimicry can help create a new environmental standard for spaces, buildings, communities and cities worldwide. For designers and other design professionals, it opens up a whole new universe of inspirational ideas for transforming our interior spaces, while optimizing human and social well-being. And beyond the projects themselves, the principles of biomimicry will help our people and teams work smarter, design smarter, and truly connect our work with the natural environment.
Mary Ann Lazarus, AIA, LEED AP, is sustainable design director at HOK, a global design and services firm. She can be reached at mary.ann.lazarus@hok.com.
The study, "Doing Well by Doing Good?", also concluded that the sale price for green buildings is on average 16 percent higher than non-green buildings. The report concludes that upgrading the average non-green building would increase its capital value by $5.5 million.
For those that don't believe in the green movement (sadly, there are still a few out there), perhaps these numbers which "speak to their pockets" will change their minds!
The good news? Bill will be offering their competitors planters at a reduced price with higher quality and turnaround time. Sunshine carried a full line of very interesting pots, in a wide variety of colors, shapes and styles. I particularly loved the industrial looking pots with a diamond steel finish. They were also carrying a line of wooden pots that went very nicely with today's emphasis on sustainable, natural elements.
Definitely a loss for Sunshine, but a plus for Bill, and of course - our clients too!
I'm still making my mind up about this, but regardless of how I feel, it is quite an intriguing concept. In case you're tired of that good ol' fashioned bath mat, the makers of the Moss Carpet have a new alternative for you. It's basically a bath mat with three different types of moss adhered to a specialized type of foam. The result -- a stunning piece of functional art that uses the humidity in your bathroom to survive, and tickles your toes when you're done scrubbing in between them.
Check it out here: Moss Carpet by Nguyen La Chanh
Then tell us what you think....
[polldaddy poll=1809192]
The good news is that about two months ago, it felt like the trend had finally hit bottom. We stopped seeing any cancellations and started to see more new clients coming on board. I think that when it comes to the quality of life, particularly in an office setting, interior plants cared for professionally are an appealing benefit to the harried and stressed out workforce. The deciders are recognizing that the payback for such a small piece of the overall company budget is worth it.
Now we are finally starting to see the reversal. Clients that had cancelled their indoor plant service are calling to have us start up again! And boy, what a mess we are finding. Even the most well meant care by an office worker who "loves plants" does not equal what a professional interior plantscaping technician dedicated to their job can do. We are once again the heroes for working our magic and bringing a little bit of life to an otherwise cold and sterile interior environment of concrete and steel.
Natalie Pfister, Uncommon Ground's organic rooftop farm director, says the farm is tended with great care by a group of interns.
"There are a lot of green roofs in Chicago, but none are a full production farm," she adds. "It's hard to find reliable books on gardening because they don't apply when you are 30 feet above the ground. The growing experience is completely different, and I think we could benefit from a little shade."
Construction of the farm took about six months to complete, four of which focused on revamping infrastructure in the restaurant to accommodate the rooftop facility, Mike comments. A rooftop deck made of a recycled plastic and wood material composite and solar thermal panels to heat the restaurant's water and reduce the gas consumption are some of the many ways the Camerons' keep their business centered around an environmentally-friendly focus.
I am impressed!
Essentially, it's a "pocket" made of UV protected recycled plastic fabric. Not all that attractive on its own, but from the images I have seen of a completed green wall, a fantastic solution. I got some samples and will be planting them up shortly. There are two versions, one that goes inside and another for outdoors. They are very conscientious about their impact on the environment in their manufacturing process, making them a nice alternative to green wall systems that are made of plastic.
Yet another addition to our "living lab!"
Recent posts:
- San Diego's Top Influentials Named
- Jim Mumford Named Eco Entrepreneur
- What is Growing at the O'Hare Airport?
- Celebrate the Season with Trees
- Poinsettias, an Encinitas Legend
Blog Categories:
- Green Living (27)
- Plants (5)
- Good Earth (2)
- Featured Project (2)
- Uncategorized (69)
- Achievements (3)
- Press (0)
- Slow Food (1)
- Gardening (1)
- Organic Foods (2)
- Green Roofs (8)
- Living Walls (1)
Archives:
- January, 2012
- December, 2011
- November, 2011
- October, 2011
- September, 2011
- August, 2011
- July, 2011
- June, 2011
- April, 2011
- March, 2011
- February, 2011
- January, 2011
- December, 2010
- November, 2010
- October, 2010
- September, 2010
- August, 2010
- July, 2010
- June, 2010
- May, 2010
- April, 2010
- March, 2010
- February, 2010
- January, 2010
- December, 2009
- November, 2009
- October, 2009
- September, 2009
- August, 2009
- July, 2009
- June, 2009
- May, 2009
- April, 2009