Good Earth Plant Company
I’m fascinated on both a personal and professional level with the principles of biophilia, the instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems. Edward O. Wilson introduced this concept in his book, Biophilia (1984). He defines biophilia as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life.” The implications for our personal physical and mental well-being are profound.
We can use the principles of biophilia and improve our well-being by proactively seeking this connection with nature through things like introducing plants into our work and home environments, taking walks through parks, or encouraging the integration of nature into our everyday urban spaces with elements such as living walls.… Read More
Summer Gardening Projects Let Kids Get Dirty and Keep Parents Happy
Kids are counting down the days until school is out for the summer. Don’t we all remember that feeling?
If you’re a parent, you have a different perspective. Something like, “oh no, how am I going to keep the kids busy and out of trouble all summer!”
Why not encourage your kids to do something that comes naturally? Encourage them to get their hands dirty in fun gardening activities. Take advantage of San Diego’s summer weather to work on projects outdoors when it’s cool enough, and indoors when the sun is a little too strong.
There are many age appropriate opportunities for gardening and art projects that will instill a love of nature that will last a lifetime.… Read More
Good Earth Plants Presents Our New Show: “Law & Order: SPU”
No, that’s not a typo in this week’s blog headline. In the Good Earth Plant Company version of the show, it’s “Law & Order: Special Plants Unit.” We noticed several stories about crime involving nature recently and decided it’s time for our own L&O episode.
In L&O’s hometown of New York City, call it a victory for trees over vandals. The Bloomberg administration wrongly gave Fashion Week organizers permission to chip down dozens of trees and yank out azaleas in Damrosch Park outside Lincoln Center to make room for a fashion show in 2010. After we pick our jaw back up off the floor, we’re glad nearby neighbors including Cleo Dana sued to get their park back.… Read More
Help Good Earth Plants Save San Diego Watershed
One of the reasons I’ve always been so enthusiastic about green roofs is their contribution to stormwater management. Green roofs can capture 60-80% of rooftop rainwater runoff so less water is directed into storm drains and ultimately the ocean. A green roof becomes a strainer for whatever water does end up flowing to the storm drains, removing a lot of the particles, chemicals, pollution and other “bad stuff” which would otherwise run into our ocean.
So I was extremely happy to see the City of San Diego’s new Sustainable Landscape Guidelines created in partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority.… Read More
Good Earth Plants Says ‘Be Nice To Your Mother (Earth)’!
It’s hard to believe Earth Day was a brand new idea well within my lifetime. The first Earth Day took place in 1970. It is now an annual event celebrated on or near 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.
Every day is Earth Day at Good Earth Plant Company! We love it when the rest of the world pauses to focus on environment issues and finding good solutions we can adopt on the official Earth Day, which is April 22.
San Diego can brag about its Earth Day Fair, which is the largest free, all-volunteer Earth Day event in the world.… Read More
Let’s Make San Diego A Biophilia Hub
Leaders from 40 of the best large gardens in North America came to San Diego last week for the Directors of Large Gardens Conference at the San Diego Botanical Garden in Encinitas. When I opened my San Diego Union-Tribune on Saturday, I was glad to see an article about the meeting by reporter Phil Diehl, and I especially loved the headline: “Stressed? You may need some nature.” Right up my alley. It’s worth reading.
As many good things as the article covered, there were so many other great topics it couldn’t fit in. Many are the things we write about here in this blog: biophilia, bioinspiration, biomimicry, author Richard Louv’s concept of “nature deficit disorder,” the new Wellbeing Standards – I could go on.… Read More
Explore What’s New at Good Earth Plant Company’s Spring Open House
You’re invited to come see what Good Earth Plant Company and GreenScaped Buildings has to offer at our Spring Open House and Plant Sale on Friday, May 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.
See the latest green roof and living wall technology, check out edible gardens, a small aquaponic systems and exciting new innovations at our living lab in Kearny Mesa. Ask questions and see if you can stump our experts!
We also offer the opportunity to purchase nursery grade plants and pots at unbelievably discounted prices.
There is no cost, but please RSVP to alexa@goodearthplants.com Everyone on our guest list will receive a free plant at the door.… Read More
Dig In and Support Urban Gardening in San Diego
While I’m on the road at the annual Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in Florida, I learned about a proposal making its way through the approval process at the City of San Diego. Yes, stop the presses: a government idea I’m excited about!
The San Diego City Council’s Smart Growth and Land Use Committee took an important step Wednesday at its meeting to establish Urban Agricultural Incentive Zones in the City of San Diego. These zones were given a green light by California state legislation passed in 2014. Now it’s up to individual cities and counties to decide whether they want to allow them in their areas.… Read More
Join the #OptOutside Movement on Black Friday
Recently it seems like we barely get to clear the Thanksgiving dinner table before the madness known as Black Friday hits us. So I was one of many people who loved REI’s announcement on October 27 it would not just close its stores in Black Friday and give their 12,000 employees the day off, but it would also encourage all of them to enjoy outdoor activities with family and friends.
What a concept, putting Nature at the center of your Thanksgiving holiday. We could all use a reason to burn some calories after chowing down Thursday night.
I’m not naïve enough to think there wasn’t a bit of public relations genius behind this.… Read More
Good Earth Plants in the Spotlight on San Diego 6
Good Earth Plant Company had the opportunity this week to appear on San Diego 6 Morning News with anchor Heather Myers to talk about toxins lurking in the air in our indoor environments, and how adding plants can help clean the air and improve both your physical and mental health.
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?
If you missed it, you can check it out here:
Those few minutes on TV are precious and we don’t want to waste a second of it. For every interview like mine you see, there is a ton of preparation. First of all, when you see us at 7:30 a.m.… Read More