Go green with vegetable walls and living roofs

Creating a living wall module from live plants.

Scott Hutcheon has a passion for turning creative ideas for sustainable environments and healthy living into reality. Growing up close to the ocean and being heavily involved in beach activities fostered his early interest in the environment, and after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo University in 1998 with a degree in Landscape Architecture, he started his own landscaping business and soon set to work creating beautiful vertical wall gardens and green roofs.

Patrick Blanc was considered by many to be the "Godfather" of living walls and green roofs.

The first roof gardens and living walls were created by Patrick Blanc, who is considered by many to be the “godfather” of this creative form of landscaping. His beautiful plantings paved the way for a new form of landscaping artistry which also happens to be incredibly environmentally friendly! Living walls and roof gardens can expand the lifespan of the buildings they cover by protecting roofs and walls from the aging exposure of the weather, they insulate the building from sound and reduce the temperature of the interior of the building promising energy savings by as much as 25 to 50 percent, they help to reduce the urban heat island effect, and they naturally remove toxins and unhealthy contaminants from the air that we breathe. Functionally, they also create efficient garden space in places where room might not otherwise be available. Not to mention, that they’re quite beautiful!

Many living walls are outdoors on the exterior walls of buildings, but they can also be installed inside homes as well. They are typically irrigated using drip systems that water the plants from the top, and are usually not difficult to take care of. The most common systems available to consumers use modular plastic containers that allow the gardener to choose a variety of plantings depending on their personal interests and desired garden size.

Scott Hutcheon demonstrates a living wall he created.

I first met Scott when his company, NatureXhibits, www.naturexhibits.com created a living wall for the Yokohama exhibit at the Los Angeles Auto Show a few months ago. I met him again at the California Green Schools Summit,  where I learned he also has helped create a “Green Ambassadors” curriculum that uses living walls as an experiential learning program in schools. Scott’s “Green Ambassadors” curriculum uses a “Junior Achievement” style education program that involves the students in every aspect of the installation of their living walls, from the fundraising required to pay for the systems, to the public relations involved in promoting their events. In the end, their schools benefit from reduced energy costs and beautiful landscaping, and the students learn real-life business and planning skills. Living walls installations also prevent graffiti, and can contribute as much a 20 points to LEED-certification in construction projects.

Living walls used in exhibition space.

In the trade-show business — an industry that is perceived as being particularly wasteful — Scott’s installations create an eco-friendly image for exhibitors with a spectacular eye-catching element that attracts crowds and leaves behind almost zero waste. The plants provide an oxygen rich environment for exhibitors and trade show guest, and when the show is over, the plants and soilless growth medium can be replanted in a garden in the “trade show aftermarket,” so that the exhibit not only appears ‘Green’ but will truly be demonstrating their product in a sustainable way.

NatureXhibits Living Walls can cover vertical surfaces, curves, three-dimensional objects, even ceilings, and can integrate four-color print media to match corporate logos and create gorgeous exhibits never seen at trade shows before.

I’ve got a terrible black thumb. With the exception of a creeping ficus benjamina that I planted to cover a wall, almost everything I’ve ever planted has died, but what I’ve learned from Scott about living walls makes me want to plant one on the back wall of my own home!

You can go green by recycling your used printer cartridges & cell phones
If you already recycle empty cartridges and used cell phones, you’re among a growing number of people who understand the benefits to the environment. What you may not realize is that your inkjets, toners, and cell phones are worth more than you think. Why not recycle them at eCycleGroup.com?

Tags: composting and gardening, EcoFriendly Alternatives, Green News and Products, Organic and Natural