Good Earth Plant Company

Good Earth Plant Company is San Diego’s largest locally-owned provider of interior and exterior landscape design, plant installations and maintenance in non-traditional spaces. Our highly experienced and diverse staff has helped us achieve this leadership position.

Our horticultural experts apply everything we have learned over four decades in business about growing plants in containers to introducing plants and nature into our urban environment. We make use of non-traditional gardening space: green roofs, living walls, tower gardens, and more that we have yet to discover.

Good Earth Plant Company’s mix of clientele includes biotech, financial, hospitality, healthcare, retail, designers, specifiers, property management, technology, developers and homeowners. Our clients partner with us in everything we do.

Good Earth Plant Company is experienced in large-scale projects, technology, construction timelines, project management and creative design build. We take equal care in creating a beautiful interior wall or tabletop design for your office or home.

We use all of the resources available to create the most enriched environment for our clients. Our long list of awards speaks for our quality and innovation. But we take even more pride in the happiness of our clients with our work.

An Attitude of Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving from Good Earth Plants

| November 25, 2013 | Categories: Awards & Achievements, Good Earth Plant Company, Indoor Plants
While the world is wrapped up in turkey, football games and pumpkin pie, the Good Earth Plants team is knee-deep in holiday décor. The warehouse is bright and shiny with trees, wreaths and garlands being readied for installation at our clients’ offices and homes. Holiday cards are being signed and addressed for mailing. Before we immerse ourselves in glitter and snowflakes, I wanted to jot down some thoughts about the people that make me so grateful this season. When I was just starting Good Earth Plants, some special people took time to help me. Mark Sandstrom, who recently passed away, gave me a big break into the flower business.… Read More

Boston Strong and Green at American Society of Landscape Architects meeting

| November 15, 2013 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Environment, Good Earth Plant Company, Green Roofs, Living Walls
Jim Mumford at ASLA meeting
I am in Boston representing Good Earth Plant Company and GreenScaped Buildings at one of my favorite events, the annual American Society of Landscape Architects Conference. Such a great group of people: friends, colleagues and some of the smartest landscape professionals you will ever meet. Friday I presented a talk on “Obstacles and Pitfalls to Successful Living Wall Maintenance,” and while it sounds like a mouthful, it brings up important issues. To design, install and maintain a living wall isn’t inexpensive. No one wants to get a living wall up and ready to grow only to see it wither under a poor maintenance program.… Read More

Bioinspiration: Letting Nature Inspire Your Work

| November 12, 2013 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Biophilic Design, Good Earth Plant Company, Indoor Plants, Sustainable Living
This week wasn’t about the usual business of green roofs and living walls. I jumped outside the box, exited my silo and spent time at events that remind me of what else is out there. I attended a Downtown San Diego Partnership workshop featuring Fred Kent of Project for Public Spaces. I first heard Fred speak at the Greening the City symposium in March 2006 at Liberty Station. It was there that I was exposed to the idea of green roofs. My passion was ignited. I went on to take a course in New York and studied Fred’s concepts about energizing, engaging and programming public places to build communities.… Read More

Plants in Space: Growing Without Gravity

| November 7, 2013 | Categories: Biophilic Design, Good Earth Plant Company, Indoor Plants, Nature and Wellbeing
There is a great new movie out called “Gravity” which tells the frightening tale of a scientist and an astronaut (played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) aboard the International Space Station when something goes terribly wrong. A great story….but they forgot to include a garden on the International Space Station! In an ABC news article (Sept 2013) NASA will reportedly be sending lettuce plants into space. In a project dubbed “Veggie,” a form of red lettuce will be grown, frozen then sent back to earth. NASA project scientists will be checking to see what types of micro-organisms are on the leaves to see if the lettuce will be safe to eat in orbit.… Read More

Bringing the Outdoors In

| October 10, 2013 | Categories: Biophilic Design, Good Earth Plant Company, Indoor Plants, Plantscaping
After a long week of reviewing designs for living walls and finalizing contracts for green roofs, I often toss some work in my leather bag and head home to finish up in my “sanctuary,” AKA my living room. With a panoramic view of a lush canyon complete with mature trees, California scrub and a pseudo meadow,  my second story living room is at treetop level. The view is spectacular: gracefully aging eucalyptus and ash trees surrounded by palms and an old and twisted Hollywood juniper. It is in my big chair, in my living room that I am able to take a deep breath and exhale the day.… Read More

Just a Crack in the Sidewalk

| October 1, 2013 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Good Earth Plant Company, Green Roofs, Indoor Plants, Living Walls, Sustainable Living
When I get busy, it’s easy for me to become focused on the minute particles that make up my life. The garden needs watering. The car needs to go in for service. I’ve got to mail that insurance payment. Most importantly, I must fix my darned office chair so that it swivels properly! You laugh, but I will bet you have a similar list somewhere. An endless stream of small details that need to be completed before the end of the week. Like little flies buzzing around your mind that demands your attention in order to find some quiet. All the while, Nature just rolls along.… Read More

Up on the Green Roof

| September 24, 2013 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Good Earth Plant Company, Green Roofs, Indoor Plants
If you had told me 20 years ago, (long before I’d even heard of a green roof) that I would be hanging out with architects and tossing around words like parapets and ballast, I would have called you crazy. Me? Jim the Plant Guy? Arguing the benefits of drain conduits to drain off excess water under a living roof? What the heck? It’s amazing for me to look around now and see who I feel fortunate enough to call a “colleague.” From architects to engineers to waterproofing specialists. A very different mix of professionals since my days as a florist. I have learned so much about roofing and walls, mostly because I like to put plants on them.… Read More

San Diego: Living in a Sustainable Paradise

| August 27, 2013 | Categories: Good Earth Plant Company, Nature and Wellbeing, Sustainable Living
Sustainable Paradise
We are so lucky to live in San Diego! Aside from the beautiful beaches, parks, local mountains and particularly the people, San Diego is chock full of brilliant individuals and groups who think ahead when it comes to city and neighborhood planning. For the past four years, I have been fortunate to be a member of such a great group called C-3 (Citizens Coordinate for Century 3.) As our name suggests, we are a group of forward-thinkers from politicians to architects to artist and just about everyone in between (including green roof and living wall contractors). C-3 is dedicated to helping improve the livability of San Diego in many ways.… Read More

IGNITE! PIA Expo, Las Vegas

| August 13, 2013 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Awards & Achievements, Good Earth Plant Company, Indoor Plants, Plantscaping
Plantscape Industry Alliance
  Is it really August already? It seems like only yesterday school was letting out and I had an entire summer to look forward to. Work goes on and this week, I am in Las Vegas for the 2013 Plantscape Industry Alliance Expo (PIA). What a great group of people. I have been fortunate enough to have been a board member for 10 years and an executive director for two years. People with PIA are the decision makers and movers and shakers in the plant industry today and tomorrow. After two years of no responsibilities when attending the PIA Expo, leisurely viewing exhibits and catching up with colleagues I was once again asked to be a speaker.… Read More