“The future is not in front of us, the future is inside of us”. Gavin Newsom

I can hardly believe it’s been 2 years since we first installed our green roof demonstration project. We’ve learned many lessons since then and developed new techniques. Different plants have been tested, new irrigation systems have been utilized and as a result we have saved 23 ½ % off of our electric bill! In addition, we are now exploring living walls and rain water retention systems to round out our products and services. Between 1 and 4pm on Friday March 20th we will be having an open house of our Greenscaped Buildings “lab”. Come by and take a look at three different systems for planting a roof, two living wall systems (including vertical vegetable gardening) and the rain water retention modules we have recently installed.

As sure as Spring will follow the Winter, prosperity and economic growth will follow recession.”-Bo Bennett

I just wanted to sing the praises of a Plantscape Industry Alliance training session taught by Deb Ringler.We sent one of our senior techs/QC supervisor up to Orange County last Thursday  for the half day workshop on “Customer Service for a Tough Economy”. She came back invigorated, encouraged and appreciative. Her next task is to teach what she learned to the rest of the crew. And this expands her level of involvement to a new dimension. I don’t make many investments that pay off so well. For only $50, some gas and her time we have gained an engaged employee whose enthusiasm is overtly apparent. The rest of the staff is looking forward to the next PIA training and vying for the opportunity to attend. So thank you PIA for this wonderful and successful session and the chance to show our staff how much we care (even in this dark economy) about them and how we support their achievements and career.

Known by other names: The Net Generation,  Millennials, Echo Boomers and the iGeneration,  Y generation employees are entering the workplace and influencing how America and the world’s businesses operate. Who in your organization was born between 1976 and 2001, roughly the years that define this demographic group?

By understanding these five trends outlining Gen Y’s role in the workplace, employers will benefit from passionate, empowered employees and a more productive work environment. Support social networking. Allowing and supporting access to networking media, including social and professional online networks, builds trust between Gen Y employees and managers and can be linked to workplace productivity. Leverage Web 2.0. Providing access to information immediately and in multiple Web 2.0 formats, such as wikis, blogs and podcasts, is critical to a productive and cross-functional work environment. Provide agile feedback. Gen Y employees react positively to constant and rapid feedback versus more traditional yearly - or even quarterly - performance reviews. Build loyalty. Managers who help their employees navigate the opportunities and challenges they face in entry-level jobs will create loyalty and a sense of commitment among their Gen Y workers. Recognize evolving job requirements. Due to the advancement and adoption of new technologies, jobs Gen Y employees will hold five years from now don’t even exist today; therefore there is a need to adopt new ways to train and educate this generation.”Every organization wants to get more out of each employee. Unlocking the potential of Gen Y employees will ultimately help minimize turnover by keeping younger employees engaged, challenged and appropriately rewarded,” explains Jenny Floren, CEO and founder of Experience, Inc.

I get more and more inquiries about growing vegetables on a roof top and/or vertical gardening with living walls of vegetables. I came across this article –it speaks volumes about what is the latest “buzz” in roof top edible gardens.By Alex Wilson of Building Green and Environmental Building News, a great new article about edible rooftop gardens with info on structural issues and much more in “Integrating Agriculture Into the Built Environment”

A healthier, greener tomorrow depends upon healthier children and communities today!  Learn about what nature means to our health, our children and families, our quality of life… and it’s all nearby!  Join us at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 for an inspiring talk by Richard Louv, catalyst for the national Children and Nature movement and author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. More information about Richard Louv and the movement is at www.richardlouv.com and www.childrenandnature.org. Local environmental, educational, and community groups will set up information tables at 6:00 pm. Louv will speak at Point Loma Nazarene University, Brown Chapel; directions are posted at http://www.pointloma.edu/Directions.htm and Brown Chapel is just inside the entrance, on the left.Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door.  Organizations are encouraged to buy a “block” of tickets and distribute them.  Get event information and purchase tickets before February 13 at http://www.pointloma.edu/LJML/LJML_Events.htm or send check and mailing address to Edie Chapman, Point Loma Nazarene University, LJML, 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego, CA  92106.  Call 619-849-2297 for more information.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give” Winston Churchhill

Today’s’ Quote:

“An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends”.  B. Franklin

10 ways to green your office

1. Add an indoor plant. A living breathing organism that gives off oxygen and absorbs toxins is a good thing to have in your office!

                Choose an appropriate plant for the light you have in your office and place it in an environmentally friendly decorative pot - like ceramic. In most cases, water minimally!

                And studies show a reduction of absenteeism and an increase in productivity when plants are present.

2. Install a green roof.

                OK, this is a little harder, but the benefits are across the board! Conserve energy, retain storm water, add biodiversity, reduce the urban heat island affect, improve the view

3. Incorporate day lighting whenever possible. Sky lights and solatubes really work - we have both.

4. You already know this one – use recycled paper and print on both sides

5. Turn off your computer at night. It is estimated that if everyone did this in the USA we’d save a $billion.

6. Wear a sweater. Studies show that our brains work most effectively at 68 degrees

7. Separate your trash. We can easily recycle bottles, cans, paper and glass

8. Dispose of your E-waste at an authorized location.

9. Bike, walk, car pool or take public transportation to work.

10. Use one less staple per day. If every office did that for a year we’d save 120 tons of steel – the same amount it takes to make 25 SUV’s.

Check this out! Is this a cool idea or what? I’m getting more turned on by the idea of growing plants almost anywhere with far more than the aesthetic value being the largest benefit. A green roof on every building! A living wall on every building! Grow vegetables, energy, medicine. What is the limit?