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. » Read more

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Americans throw away more than 30 million Christmas trees at the end of the Christmas season.

If you want to make sure your cut tree finds an organic end, recycle it! In the weeks after Christmas, many communities offer curbside pick-up of trees, while others offer drop-off locations or wood chipping services. Make sure you know when these services will be offered, or your tree will wind up in a landfill where even the most natural trash is unlikely to decompose.

These services will usually chop and mulch your tree so that it can be used for weed control and water conservation in public areas and parks; sunk in lakes to provide habitat for fish; or turned into fuel at biomass plants.

Be sure to remove any tinsel, lights, and ornaments. Unfortunately, trees with artificial snow or flocking can’t be mulched, so next year, make your tree more earth friendly by avoiding such decorations. » Read more

According to Earth911.com, Americans throw away an average of 1.3 pounds of food scraps daily per person. Most of this can be added to home compost systems, keeping trash out of landfills and turned into nutrient-rich garden soil and mulch within just a few months. Beyond just the kitchen, home composting systems can reduce yard waste that needs to be hauled to the dump by anywhere from 50 to 75%! Composting while you cook is a great and easy way to reduce your impact on the environment.

Home composting systems can range from small counter crocks to keep your scraps until you can take them outside to a larger unit, hidden cabinet units, midsize apartment gardening setups, or full-on backyard bins. Passive composting systems can be as simple as a pile of leaves and other organic matter left to rot in the distant corner of your yard; active systems require more participation by the user, turning and aerating the material as it decays to ensure even decomposition. Some systems even add worms to the compost like this system from VermiPro,  while other pet-friendly setups will even incorporate pet waste.

The important essentials include maintaining proper moisture and using a variety of compostable materials ranging from plants and garden clippings, kitchen scraps, and even newspaper and hair. The composting process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (microbes, bacteria, and fungi) that assist with decomposition, eventually creating a rich, organic fertilizer.

Composting guides generally sort compostable materials into two categories, according to what they contribute to the process: green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon). Regardless of what you eat, it’s probably okay to add it to the compost mix: Apple cores, banana peels, citrus rinds, coffee grounds, corncobs, egg shells, pasta, popcorn, potato peels, pumpkin seeds, rice, salad, sandwich crusts, spoiled canned fruit or veggies. Non-food items like tea bags, newspaper and brown bags, shredded cardboard and cereal boxes, and paper towels can also be added to the compost. Be sure to leave out such items as meat, bones, fat, grease, dairy products, salad dressings, cheese, or cooking oil. And obviously, do not include such items as plastic wrappers, bags, or containers. » Read more

California is setting the pace for a green schools revolution that reflects the state’s commitment to preserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Being held this week at the Pasadena Convention Center, The 2009 Green California Schools Summit will bring together leaders in this movement to share green strategies, eco-friendly practices, and results from green school programs.

Keynote speakers include Alec Loorz, the Founder of Kids vs. Global Warming and Bharat Patel, a LEED(R) accredited professional and the Director of Sustainability for URS. Alec, the featured speaker on Thursday, December 10 at 9 am, is a high school sophomore at El Camino High School in Ventura, California; perhaps you remember Alec’s video titled “iMatter” posted here a few months ago. Alec created Kids vs Global Warming to educate youth about the science of global warming, and empower them to take action.  A powerful and inspirational speaker, Alec has led workshops, given presentations, been keynote speaker and served on panels with PhDs, experts and professionals. He has addressed diverse audiences from school children to college students, green builders, and environmental activists to politicians and UN delegates, urging adult leaders to integrate the voices of youth into their climate change discussions and the youth, themselves, to raise their voices. Alec has also been trained by Al Gore to give the official Inconvenient Truth slide shows, and is currently the youngest trained presenter.

The 2009 Green California Schools Summit will also include hundreds of exhibitors displaying innovative eco-friendly products and services that can help schools or businesses attain their green goals, and attain long-term savings. While some of the Summit seminars and workshops do cost money to attend, the general public can attend exhibits and keynotes for free.  The educational seminars will offer in-depth training on a variety of essential green topics intended to help schools create energy efficient and sustainable educational facilities. » Read more

In a program initially created to celebrate Earth Day, Wente Family Estates has announced expanded “Farming for the Future” initiatives highlighting the family’s longtime commitment to sustainable winegrowing and estate management practices.

Since 1883, the Wente family has planted, grown and harvested fruit from its estate vineyards. More than 125 years of stewardship of the land led to the development of Farming for the Future, a system that creates a balanced, sustainable ecology, enhances the vitality of the soils, minimizes water use and reduces non-organic wastes. First codified by the family in the early 1990s, these practices extend throughout the organization, including the family’s three wineries, Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well, Tamas Estates, as well as The Course at Wente Vineyards, The Restaurant, The Concerts, and every other aspect of the company’s operation. New and expanded initiatives include:

Sustainable Estate Walking Tours
Initially launched on Earth Day 2009, walking tours of Wente Vineyards educate guests on sustainable practices in winery and across the estate. “The new tours are a natural extension of our sustainable practices,” said Christine Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower. “Sustainability is not a buzz word for us, it’s a passion that we want to share with our guests.”

According to the Wente Vineyards Website, over the long term — in principle and in practice — the application of sustainable agriculture in the vineyard and sustainable practices in the overall community:
* Enhances environmental quality and the resource base on which agriculture depends
* Makes the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources. It integrates, when appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
* Is economically viable while using recognized best practices
* Enhances the quality of life for farmers, workers, and society as a whole.

There is no charge for the tours. To sign up, please call (925) 456-2400.

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