Good Earth Plant Company
Thanksgiving 2019 has arrived, and I’m so glad for the break. I’m sure you are too. Let the holiday season begin by telling the people in your life how thankful you are for their presence in your life. And I’m thankful I have a platform like this blog to so say in public!
I’m thankful for:
My mom: Over 80 years young and amazingly tireless, she is the President of The Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research. She also continues to select the art for the magazine cover of the American Psychological Association.
My dad – fiercely independent and full of inner vitality – the stuff he says is book-worthy.… Read More
NO FOMO: The New Good Earth Plant Company Website Is Live
I’ve been accused a few times of having a serious case of FOMO. That’s “Fear of Missing Out” if you haven’t heard the term, probably because you don’t worry about it. It’s my job to be on the cutting edge of the Plantscaping industry, so it’s a legitimate job hazard.
The fear is real. I didn’t want you to experience any FOMO – so you are the first to know. The brand new Good Earth Plant Company website is now live!
Forgive a few extra exclamation points in this week’s blog post. We worked hard over the last few months to bring you a fresh approach.… Read More
The Best Sandwich I Ever Ate
Many people think the start of summer is Memorial Day weekend. The ‘official’ start to summer is the day of the Summer Solstice, June 20. For others, it doesn’t really feel like summer until the Fourth of July weekend. Whatever you think, summer is now in full swing.
Summer means getting outdoors. Even though we have beautiful weather all year in San Diego compared to the rest of the U.S., the longer days and the relaxed attitude combine to draw us outside for more activities. One of those is cooking. Even someone with limited kitchen skills can turn out a great meal on a barbecue grill. … Read More
My Blooming European Vacation
In May, I had the luxury of spending a couple of weeks traveling through Eastern Europe on vacation with my family. It turned out to be more than just a good time. It was an education seeing how our European neighbors view the importance of integrating nature into their environment. Those lessons are well worth sharing – along with a few vacation photos to make the point!
We began our river boat cruise in Budapest, Hungary, worked our way to Vienna, Austria and concluded our adventure in Germany. Europeans take climate change seriously. It’s a fact, it’s not a debate. They are doing their best to change their everyday practices to slow down the effects on the way to a full stop.… Read More
19 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2019 All Year Long
Forty-nine years ago, the first Earth Day took place in 1970. It is now an annual event celebrated on April 22, coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network. It reaches more than 192 countries each year including hundreds of communities in the United States.
Earth Day fell on the Monday after Easter this week. While the “official” day is behind us, Earth Week 2019 is still in full swing. In San Diego, it culminates in the largest free, all-volunteer Earth Fair in the United States at Balboa Park on Saturday, April 27.
We love it at Good Earth Plant Company when the rest of the world takes time to focus finding solutions we can make part of our daily routines.… Read More
Flexing Our Creative Muscle at Art Alive 2019
Last week, we concluded our participation in the 38th annual San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park fundraising event “Art Alive.” I haven’t missed one in 25 years, no matter what else we have going on. It’s always fun for us to spend time flexing our creative muscles.
If you aren’t familiar with Art Alive, 100 floral designers interpret artworks found in the Museum. The John and Sally Thornton Rotunda in the Museum literally comes alive with flowers, plants, and natural materials. It’s the art world version of the Rose Parade!
It also reminds us of Good Earth Plant Company’s roots.… Read More
Plants With Purpose Thanks UCSD Hearts & Hands Volunteer Doula Program
The UCSD Hearts & Hands Volunteer Doula Program is the latest recipient of the Good Earth Plant Company “Plants with Purpose” nonprofit donation program. Good Earth provided orchids for the program’s annual “Comfort & Joy Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Party.
The program’s mission is “to work within the UCSD Medical Center’s patient care team as volunteer birth assistants who provide non-clinical support in accordance with each mother’s preferences during her childbirth. To be a widely regarded, sustainable program model shown to enhance clinical outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.” Its goal is to provide every new mother delivering a baby at the UCSD Medical Center with access to a volunteer doula.… Read More
Time For Thanks (Again!) At Good Earth Plant Company – 2018 Edition
It is (already!) Thanksgiving 2018, and I’m thankful for many people and experiences in my life. Thanksgiving is a good time to let them know.
I’m thankful for:
My mom and dad: far from perfect, but great role models and teachers. They set a good standard and give me plenty to both admire and laugh about. I’m a lucky man as a result.
My son Ted: just enough of me in him to make me proud, just enough “other” to make him interesting. We had a blast in Brazil this summer. He is going to save the world. You watch.
My daughter Allie: although she tries to deny it, she is way too much like me – plus smart, capable, creative and talented.… Read More
Eeek! Ten Monstrous Plants For Halloween
People love being scared. We love it so much we have an entire holiday devoted to scary things: Halloween. Science backs up the reasons why we love horror movies and celebrate creepy things: we embrace the excitement and energy part of the “fight or flight” instinct. So we get ourselves all worked up to get that rush from screaming and getting freaked out.
Everyone has their favorite monsters. Some people dress up like them. I have my favorite monsters too – and they are plants! There are some seriously dangerous plants that can inflict injuries from annoying to serious. Some of them can kill you with their poisonous ways.… Read More
Art Becomes a Living Thing at San Diego Art Alive
“Art Alive” has been part of my life and my family’s life for several decades. I first got involved way back when I was still a florist. No matter how busy I got, this is one community project I’ve always enjoyed and will always make time for it.
“Art Alive” is now in its 37th year. Local and national floral designers create their own floral interpretations of artworks from the Museum for “Art Alive” every year. There will be more than 100 floral displays of art masterpieces, and a whole weekend of flower-filled activities and events. For me it’s the perfect intersection of nature and art.… Read More