Keep Our Trees Green and Growing in Drought

| June 8, 2022 | Categories: Agriculture and Farming, Gardening, Good Earth Plant Company Tips, Nature and Wellbeing, Water and Water Conservation
San Diego's trees add to the beauty it is known for worldwide. Photo: City of San Diego keep our trees green
Several years ago, I encouraged blog readers to plant trees for the well-being of our planet. If you followed my advice, you have some shade to sit in while enjoying your beverage of choice! Now in the midst of the worst drought Southern California has experienced in our lifetime, the most important thing you can do now is to use the precious water available to keep our trees thriving. Put trees first in line for water Southern California officials are issuing new restrictions on outdoor water use amid the worsening drought. It’s fine for lawns to go brown – and it’s even better if we replace them.… Read More

Get High On World Green Roof Day 2022

| June 1, 2022 | Categories: Environment, Green Roofs, Sustainable Living
Join Good Earth Plant Company and celebrate World Green Roof Day on Monday, June 6, 2022.
When we first installed our green roof at Good Earth Plant Company fifteen years ago in 2007, all the information about the long-term impact came from Europe. There weren’t many green roofs in the United States, just a few in the northern United States and southern Canada. There were very few studies conducted on them, none in our Southern California region. Times change, and we are much more enlightened about the positive impact of green roofs on the immediate environment and their contribution overall. We love green roofs and everything they stand for at Good Earth Plant Company. We have now built several green roofs in the decade since then, from private homes in Del Mar, Encinitas, and Santa Monica, to the “Fallen Star” art installation at UCSD, to the spectacular green roof at Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa.… Read More

Even Black Thumbs Can Grow Orchids

| May 18, 2022 | Categories: Good Earth Plant Company Tips, Indoor Plants, Plantscaping
Yes, you can grow orchids! Good Earth Plant Company tells you our secrets to grow orchids. Photo: Pixabayv
During the pandemic, many people learned about the benefits of adding plants to your indoor environment at home and work. This isn’t a news flash for our regular readers. Study after study confirms plants help clean your indoor air of toxins, raise the humidity to healthier levels, contribute to an increase in oxygen levels, buffer noise, calm your nerves and help you focus. We’ll stop there. Good Earth Plant Company works with many clients who like fresh cut flowers in addition to green indoor plants in their workspaces. Who isn’t impressed by a gorgeous display of flowers in a lobby or meeting room?… Read More

Need Some Energy? Count On Indoor Plants Instead of Caffeine

| May 11, 2022 | Categories: Environment, Good Earth Plant Company Tips, Indoor Plants, Plantscaping
We love the indoor plants added to the collaborative work spaces at the American Assets Trust office in Del Mar Heights. Photo: Good Earth Plant Company
We have all been through two difficult years. The coronavirus pandemic changed our way of life, and it’s not quite over yet. You may have struggled with health challenges, job challenges, family challenges, and we lost out on a lot of fun. Some of the changes have been for the better. But learning new routines can be stressful, and it takes a lot of energy. Human nature takes over, and we do what we’ve gotta do: binging on streaming shows, baking bread, and starting happy hour at 2 pm. Now we’ve integrated our old routines with our new routines. You might be going back to the office full time or just some of the time.… Read More

Growing the Future: Mother’s Day 2022

| May 4, 2022 | Categories: Indoor Plants, Nature and Wellbeing
Good Earth Plant Company owner Jim Mumford and his mom, Sandy Fowler, at the Van Gogh exhibit earlier this month. Photo: Jim Mumford Mother's Day 2022
When it’s time to decide on the weekly blog post topic, we check the calendar at Good Earth Plant Company. The past few years, we’ve dedicated the first post in May to World Naked Gardening Day (AKA WNGD). For whatever reason, it’s one of our top blog posts every year. What’s wrong with you people? That’s OK. We’ll do anything to get people thinking about plants and ways to enrich their lives with plants, with or without clothing. This year, WNGD also falls on Mother’s Day 2022 weekend. I’ve done a lot of things to embarrass my mom Sandy over the years.… Read More

Hooray, It’s Time to Celebrate Earth Day 2022

| April 20, 2022 | Categories: Biophilia, Environment, Sustainable Living
Earth Day 2022 reminds us of ways to preserve our planet - and plants can be a big part of the solution. Photo: Pixabay
The first Earth Day took place in 1970. It is now an annual event celebrated on April 22 in more than 192 countries each year in hundreds of communities in the United States Guess which city has the BIGGEST Earth Day event? Yes, it’s right here in San Diego. The annual Earth Day Fair 2022 returns to Balboa Park after two years off due to the pandemic this Sunday, April 24. It is the largest free, all-volunteer Earth Fair in the United States. Organizers definitely need both volunteers and cash donations. Please help if you can. This year’s Earth Fair features 300 exhibitors, the Children’s Earth Parade from 9:30 to 11 a.m.,… Read More

San Diego Tree Week: Calling All Treehuggers!

| April 13, 2022 | Categories: Environment, Indoor Plants, Nature and Wellbeing, Sustainable Living
Can you imagine Balboa Park without its sigature Moreton Bay Fig Tree at Sixth and Upas? We can't. Photo: Wikimedia Commons San Diego Tree Week
Some of my favorite quotes are about trees. I love what they express about the power of nature, optimism, and time. “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit” – Nelson Henderson “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” – Warren Buffett “He who plants a tree, plants a hope” – Lucy Larcom “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now” – Chinese proverb I love all things trees. I always have. One of the very first blog posts I ever wrote was about the magic of treehouses in September 2013.… Read More

Celebrating 15 Years of Our Thriving Green Roof

| March 30, 2022 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Awards & Achievements, Environment, Green Roofs, Sustainable Living
My original green roof at Good Earth Plant Company in Kearny Mesa, still growing strong after 15 years.
Fifteen years ago this month, the first permitted commercial green roof appeared on a building in the City of San Diego at Good Earth Plant Company. Just a few days ago, I ran across the original invitation to our dedication event and even a copy of my speech that day. Today, the roof is still thriving and teaching us something new every day. Looking back on this milestone anniversary, I admit I took a giant leap of faith installing the roof in 2007. But my whole career has been filled with leaps and innovation. The only difference here was how BIG a leap it was.… Read More

New Thoughts for 2022 About The Nature of the Post-Pandemic Workplace

| March 23, 2022 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Awards & Achievements, Biophilic Design, Case Studies, Good Earth Plant Company Tips, Indoor Plants, Nature and Wellbeing
Where would YOU rathr work? Our Second Edition white paper is optimistic about the future of the American office. Download your copy free! Post-pandemic workplace
The modern American office is now competing with the work from home (WFH) environment. Employees are voting with their feet for more flexibility in their lives. The days of the open office and cubicle farms are over. How should the workplace evolve? It was time for my colleagues and me with Silverado Roundtable to dig deep to offer human resources professionals, facilities managers, and the design community some tools to address the post-pandemic reality. We present The Nature of the Post-Pandemic Workplace – Second Edition. I never thought I’d write ONE white paper. Now I’ve written two! How did we get here?… Read More

Ten Ways to Go Green St. Patrick’s Day

| March 16, 2022 | Categories: Biophilia, Environment, Indoor Plants, Nature and Wellbeing, Plantscaping, Sustainable Living
My neighborhood mascot Mr. Stumpy is ready for St. Patrick's Day in his recycled Irish attire! Thank you, Nina! Photo: Jim Mumford Go Green St. Patrick's
You don’t have to be Irish (or part Irish like me) to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today, March 17. And I won’t judge if you continue the celebration through the weekend. Slainte! We love any occasion focusing on green things. The Eco-Warriors at Good Earth Plant Company don’t think of shamrocks when we think about going green. There are many more ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all year long besides just wearing green and drinking green beer. Think green all year with our ten ways to go green on St. Patrick’s Day. Eat Greener For some of you (like me), this is a tough one.… Read More