Indoor Plants
We’ve just wrapped up one of my favorite workplace greenery and horticulture conferences – the annual Cultivate 22 held in Columbus, Ohio, by American Hort, our national organization supporting and promoting the horticulture industry.
We were back last year post-pandemic, but we were all still feeling the many effects of what we’d all gone through. This year, the energy, collaboration, and creativity were truly back. I could tell immediately from the bright-colored plant and floral displays in downtown Columbus. They were missing last year.
More than 650 exhibitors and 10,000 industry professionals like me attend this show to see all the latest products and plants and talk with colleagues to share and learn about the latest trends and solutions for our clients.… Read More
Plants Can Save The World – It’s Science
In my spare time, I read science articles. Doesn’t everyone?
In this case, the headline got my attention: “Plants aren’t good at photosynthesis. We can do it better.”
This didn’t make sense to me. The reason plants grow and thrive is photosynthesis. It’s life and death for plants. The article was
written by Dr. Raffael Jovine, a scientist who is the author of the new book “How Light Makes Life: The Hidden Wonders and World-Saving Powers of Photosynthesis.”
I read more and thankfully, Dr. Jovine isn’t a hater. Far from it. His book explores how photosynthesis was first discovered and understood by humans, how it works, our planet’s reliance on photosynthesis for nearly all life, the economic value of photosynthesis, and how we can use photosynthesis and plants to save our environment and solve many other complex problems like hunger, healthcare, and equity.… Read More
Go Green To Recruit Tech Talent
Before the pandemic, technology employees loved their free meals, foosball, and office happy hour. Post-pandemic, it’s going to take more than booze to bring tech workers back into the office.
Good Earth Plant Company has a hot tip for tech employers: Go green at work.
Many of the big tech companies including the Big Five known as GAMAM (Google, Apple, Meta [Facebook], Amazon, and Microsoft) or FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) announced they would bring back their workers into the office. Their employees said, “Umm, not so fast.” Recent surveys found nearly three-quarters of tech employees plan to quit their jobs this year in part because of lack of flexibility with the post-pandemic return to the office push and toxic workplace culture.… Read More
Plants Add Finishing Touch To Luxury Living In La Jolla
Good Earth Plant Company works most often on larger commercial projects in office buildings, hotels, restaurants, technology and biotech properties, shopping centers, and retail businesses.
When we get the opportunity to work on a residential project, it’s a treat and a special responsibility.
We recently completed our second project for luxury homebuilder Blue Heron Homes. Even their name tells you something about this Las Vegas-based builder. It chose Blue Heron because it “represents something beautiful and unexpected, yet organic and naturally occurring.” Blue Heron designs home in harmony with the environment.
Blue Heron called on us for plantscaping design services adding plants to a brand-new oceanfront home in La Jolla.… Read More
Even Black Thumbs Can Grow Orchids
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
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
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
San Diego Tree Week: Calling All Treehuggers!
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
New Thoughts for 2022 About The Nature of the 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
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