Environmental Commitment

Our Commitment to the Environment

Plants beautify and enhance the world around us. We grow them responsibly, with a caring-for-the-land attitude. We're proud that our growing practices are in line with the protection and preservation of the environment so we can continue to grow and beautify local communities for decades to come.

Certified Organic Vegetables and Herbs

We are proud to have over 5 acres of our growing facilities certified organic. The plants, growing methods and even transportation are done with special care to ensure these plants are 100% certified organic without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms.

Water Practices

Water is a precious and limited resource that we use with extreme care. We use a combination of natural water filters and modern water treatment methods to recycle water at each of our growing facilities. This is done through the use of "scrubber" plants that take out some of the toxins in irrigation water to be used by the plants as energy to grow. A series of canals and sediment basins allow even storm-water run-off to be clear and free of debris. This water filtration system allows us to recycle unused water.

Water Management

A variety of water efficient systems are in place to reduce overall water consumption. Drip irrigation, the most water efficient method, is the primary watering method and uses small tubes inserted directly into the soil of each plant so little runoff is produced and the effects of evaporation are minimized. Overhead irrigation is accomplished through the use of a moving water boom. The water boom places water and fertilizer directly on the plants avoiding the wasteful overspray of conventional sprinkler systems.

Innovative Eco-Friendly Pots

All colorpacks are made from 100% recycled bottles. This "bottle pack" includes a "No. 1" chasing arrow on the packaging. We were the first grower in the industry to make this move to 100% post-consumer recycled colorpacks. For landscapers, we pioneered a pot-less growing system that eliminated the use of plastic that would end up in landfills and allows for a faster installation.

Greenhouse Efficiency

Our greenhouses have been designed to maximize sun exposure and natural air flow to regulate the greenhouse temperature. This passive ventilation of the greenhouses eliminates the need for water-wasting cooling pads and large energy-consuming fans. This natural growing method tends to make our plants stronger.

Composting

To reduce volume in our local landfills, we take the plants we do not sell and any trimmings, and turn them into compost. This compost is blended into the soil we use for new plantings.

Bee Health

We are committed to practices that ensure honey bees are not harmed by the use of pesticides. The use of neonicotinoids, commonly referred to as "neonics" is being widely debated. We continue to follow this topic and consider the different opinions about neonics with all their validity and flaws. We are in support of the stance taken by the American Nursery & Landscape Association and The Association of Horticulture Professionals which is: " when used correctly, neonicotinoids are an effective pesticide with the lowest environmental impact on non-target insects, which includes bees."
We use good plant culture, beneficial insects, and the most natural controls available whenever possible. We never spray pesticides containing neonicotinoids. Rather, we use drenches (applies a solution directly to the soil) with this class of pesticides. This practice avoids the possibility that bees will come in contact with neonics. Research has shown that extremely small amounts, if any, of the neonics move into flowers from a drench or granular application to soil. Drenching is the safest way to apply this class of pesticide. There may be some residue on the leaf that is short-lived with levels comparable to the residue on fruit and produce in the grocery stores.