Recently in Sustainable Practices for Landscaping Category

Another year is "falling" into the slumber of winter. Mammals of all shapes and sizes are snuggling together to provide comfort and security for family and tribal members.

How are you snuggling...and huddling...and reconnecting? 

The holidays are a celebration of this harvest and huddling season. It starts a little earlier than we assume -- it really starts with Veterans Day in early November.  We gather our protectors of our tribe, our nation, together.  We then celebrate family and community at Thanksgiving.  And our spiritual communities at Christmas and Chanukah.  And the final snuggle is under the influence of the waning year and the rebirth of the new year. 

Blankets of crystal frost and snow snuggle the earth in a coverlet of precious moisture and skin care through the harsh temperatures of winter.  Snuggles. Repose.  Hybernation in dens and living rooms.  Ahhh, the solitude of close family and a mug of steaming brew on a crisp morning with streaming sunshine and sparkles that outclass any diamond.
 
Seasons are a sustainability system for our earth.  Rest and regeneration begins during these hugging times -- the days and nights of snuggles and cuddles that bond families together.
Observe carefully the birds and beasts of the field...they toil not.  They huddle together and forage together
.
Together they quietly bow to the king of seasons. The most powerful winds and snow drifts cannot bring the kingdom to its knees, and cannot dampen the hearts of life.
 
Tribal living is the extreme sport of extreme seasons -- winter in the heartland and summer in the lowlands.  Mountains and deserts are nature's extreme playgrounds that test the endurance and smarts of its citizens.  Together, plants, animals, minerals and the seasonal heavens throb in sync to sustain their cycle of life on a pulsating terra firma.

Happy cuddling!
Carolyn
Editor 

There are several reasons why urban gardens using containers are effective:

1. They enable us to practice "intensive" gardening method through maximum utilization of limited space.

2. It is easy to practice "intercropping" (planting a variety of plants in one container) which ensures the health of plants due to diversity.

3. It is possible to "conserve" both soil and water as containers prevent run offs of soil and excessive watering.

4. Urban gardens "make use of urban wasteland" (vacant lots, brown fields, unused parking lots, and roof tops)

5. Urban gardening provides "meaningful employment" for persons with limited skills and formal education.

6. Establishing and maintaining an urban garden are very "inexpensive".

7. Urban gardens provide creative ways to "recycle" old tires and other containers that otherwise would be thrown into landfills.

8. Churches and social service organizations can use urban gardening to "rehabilitate, create income generation projects, and provide therapy."

Technology for the Poor publishes a wonderful website that describes effective, low cost ways of developing container gardens that are highly productive. Using wading pools and tires, among other repurposed "technologies" urban residents can sink their toes into the soil in parking lots, on rooftops, in vacant lots and in their tiny urban backyards.  And the productivity isn't just in food -- as delicious as it might be -- it has far ranging quality of life and skill building results.

It can be done!  One home at a time!  Low impact family gardening makes a huge difference in our climate change strategy...and the health of our families:

Havana relies on 200 urban farms known as organoponicos

Cuba, on the brink of starvation when the Soviet Union collapsed 20 years
ago, now produces 90% of its fruits and vegetable needs, using organic,
low-tech inputs.  The Cuban diet is healthier and uses 1/3 the energy to
produce versus typical western food production.

Some of the plots are small - just a few rows of lettuces and radishes being grown in an old parking space.

Other plots are much larger - the size of several football pitches. Usually they have a stall next to them to sell the produce at relatively low prices to local people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8213617.stm

Growing food almost year round in the mountains of Colorado is a green solution for localized food. It's a bit beyond farming -- this cozy dome greenhouse, the plants are growing happily. Take a grand tour with Buckhorn Gardens manager this cozy dome greenhouse, the plants are growing happily. Take a grand tour with Buckhorn Gardens manager.

Community development techniques -- both commercial and residential -- have a major impact on fresh water supplies and the surface and underground water system. Pavement is a big contributor to the problem. Now it can provide a solution.

Sustainable Solutions with Low Impact Development

L.I.D. is in. That's Low Impact Development, the standards by which the local ecosystem is minimally impacted by development, and water is preserved as a precious resource.

West coast microclimates are interesting. From rain soaked areas like San Anselmo, to rain starved areas like Bakersfield, each zone presents it own challenges for water issues. With each water challenge comes difficulties that municipalities, developers, and home-owners have to adapt to, and manage.

California Water Conservation Solutions

For example, water conservation is critical in California's central valley where each gallon of runoff can be a precious resource, if properly managed. Other areas of California offer surprising challenges -- such as Marin county, which is more like Portland, Oregon, which receives over 40 inches of rain a year.

LID offers workable solutions that developers and home-owners can implement to manage water issues whatever their situation -- dearth or deluge. Whether the issue is drought conditions or excessive runoff, sustainable water management is important to California.

Permeable Pavement allows water to rapidly pass through the pavement into a cistern or natural underground water supplies.

Modular Pavers Used in Hardscape Applications

Permeable pavement is a relatively new concept and product that reduces "impervious" surfaces from driveways, sidewalks and other hardscapes by allowing water to run through the pavement and back into the soil - not follow the hardscape to the street and eventually into our waterways. This solution retains more rainwater for our underground aquafers - but it also allows plants and the soil to filter pollutants out of the water naturally.

Permeable Pavers

One LID product that can provide solutions for water runoff and infiltration issues, large or small, is permeable pavers from Permapave Northwest.

Different from traditional concrete pavers, Permapave NW pavers have an actual flow-through rate of over 1 gallon of water per second. The pavers are manufactured from natural rock, with an acrylic polymer binder similar to the clear coat on your automobile. The finished product is a completely inert paver which returns water directly to the soil, or underground storage, without adding alkalinity, zinc or hydrocarbons to the runoff.

When permeable pavers are installed over properly prepared secondary filtration in the sub-grade, they will capture and filter 100% of gross pollutants and up to 70% phosphorus, 80% of heavy metals and 98% of hydrocarbons from the water that flows through them.

Residential Applications Alleys, Driveways Walkways Patios Camper Parking High Traffic Grass Areas Pools / Hot Tubs Courtyard Rooftops Sidewalks / Pathways Foundation Drainage

Commercial / Industrial Applications Parking Areas Pedestrian Walkway Bike Path Plaza / Entryway Bioretention / Rain Garden Rooftop Tree Grates Rooftops Roadways / Median Strips Large Public Spaces

Modular Permeable Pavers for Sustainable Landscaping

Modular pavers over an advantage over "poured" pervious pavement by allowing edges of permeable pavement to be installed in many locations - under downspouts, along sidewalks, along driveways, around trees, around rain gardens, and on or around patios.

Modular Pavers Used in Landscape Applications

• Permapave NW pavers are available in a number of colors/aggregates to enhance building and landscaping aesthetics.

• PermapaveNW's Permeable pavers come in a modular, 12x12x2" standard size, with widths up to 16" and thicknesses up to 4" for heavier vehicle loads.

• The pavers, while extremely pervious, provide the hard surface needed for normal urban activities.

The surface not only performs well for sidewalks, biking paths, parking lots, and driveways but also handles water efficiently in both drought and flood conditions.

The EPA has long noted the benefits of pervious pavers, highlighting them in their Best Management Practices: "depending on the design, pervious pavements (pavers), when used in combination with other techniques such as vegetated swales, or vegetated filter strips, may eliminate or reduce the need for land intensive BMPs, such as dry extended detention or wet retention ponds." (EPA Best Management Practices- porous pavements)

Both residential and commercial developers may find that the use of pervious pavers, which can range up to $8 per square foot, can actually make money for them, by eliminating detention ponds and increasing the amount of land that can be developed.

Home-owners can install the easy-to-use permeable pavers themselves, providing drainage areas for driveway or patios that may be puddling, or as a pervious cover for an underground water storage cistern.

The pavers can also be used as stepping stones, in pet areas, in gardens, along walkways, as parking areas for RVs -- the landscaping possibilities are endless.

Some municipalities are offering rebates for the purchase of LID products like Permapave. Check with your local city or county city and county governments, as well as water providers (ie: Metropolitan Water District) to find incentives and rebates to improve water quality, reduce runoff, or retain stormwater.

Sustainable Solutions to Stormwater Runoff

Retaining rain water for your landscape can be especially helpful during California's prolonged droughts. By protecting your landscape with adequate water supplies from a cistern, and from focusing the available rain into specific rain gardens, your plants will not suffer as much - and your water bill will thank you, too!

Sample permeable pavers by Permapave Northwest

CONTACT:
Permapave Northwest
Distributor for Western US
1-877-694-0141
815 NE 172nd Ave
Vancouver, WA 98684
www.permapavenw.com

California landscaping is... well, different.  Having lived in several states in the eastern half of the country, I was not prepared for the dramatic differences in plant species, seasons or water situations when we moved to California.  And it appears I'm not alone.

California, having a very long southern to northern body is as diverse as ... well, most of the eastern seaboard states combined.   That covers a LOT of habitat diversity!

California has deserts, semi-deserts, foothills, mountains, coasts, and dense urban habitats that have been radically altered from natural landforms. 

Landscaping in California is about water conservation more than it' about a green lawn.  At least it is to most native Californians who understand that we get no rain ... I mean ABSOUTELY NO RAIN for NINE MONTHS every year. That's different!

Okay...so that's Southern California.  Like I said, our southern to northern diversity is mind boggling!

Sustainable landscaping is important in California no matter where you live.  It's even more important here than many other states because of our unique geography, our dense populations along the coasts, our high agricultural influences, and yes, our high tourism appeal.

California looks like a tropical paradise in some areas...but we're not.  We're a desert.  We're one of the Western states...with lots of sand, hot winds, droughts, cacti, rattlesnakes and of course, floods, fires and landslides!  Those wildfires are a major contributor to California's unique necessities in landscaping. 

Even urban sprawl has added the need for water conservation.  Native plants and low-water requirements of plantings and hardscapes are helpful when your neighborhood is threatened with wildfires and the fire department needs water pressure ... and an ample supply of water for disaster prevention.

Native plant societies do their best to spread the word about alternatives that are more suited to our climate and wildlife and seasonal uniqueness, but most new residents don't even take the time to learn what is different here.  They just go to a big box store and stock up on the plants they know how to tend.  And those plants frequently last about as long as it takes for water to seep through 90% sand soils!

Here's one resource for landscape  professionals -- who can be as challenged as anyone to keep pace with climate change and regulations and client demands.

CLCA 'Greenovate' Your Yard Tip of the Week

With the threat of global warming looming on the Earth's horizon, eco-friendly ideas have once again revitalized the "green" movement. Going "green" is not only a state objective, but meets local policy mandates for healthy communities. One place you can begin to go green is by starting in your own yard. There are some simple changes you can make that will not only benefit the planet, but will also save you money as well. Here is one way that a CLCA licensed contractor can help you "greenovate" your yard. Check back weekly for a new tip in the series.

Learn to GREENoVATE!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally recognized the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NN EPA) in 2009 for their efforts to protect and preserve the environment over the past 30 years.

"For over 30 years we have partnered with the Navajo Nation to protect public health and precious natural resources," said Laura Yoshii, acting regional administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region.  "The EPA applauds the Navajo Nation EPA not only for their achievements on their land, but for their leadership role in the development of tribal environmental programs nationally.  The Navajo Nation continues to build and implement its programs, has enacted seven of its own environmental laws, and set a national precedent for tribal sovereignty and environmental protection." Navajo Nation leaders met with federal officials to discuss environmental priorities for the Navajo Nation which administers several of the country's largest and most sophisticated tribal environmental programs.

"Former Navajo Nation elected leaders and managers have provided the foundation for the partnership with U.S. EPA," said Steve Etsitty, Executive Director of the Navajo Nation EPA.  "Under President Shirley's guidance the Navajo Nation EPA has truly emerged as a key implementer of environmental regulatory programs, and it will continue to protect the Navajo Nation and the south west United States from unhealthy pollution."

Abandoned Uranium Mine Cleanup

Navajo Nation EPA, four federal agencies and EPA are working together to implement a 5-year plan to address the legacy of over 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.  Currently, NN EPA and EPA are working to

• identify and cleanup mines,
• assess potentially contaminated structures, and
• conduct massive outreach efforts to warn residents of potential hazards from unregulated, contaminated wells.

Together, the agencies have assessed 113 structures and are in the process of demolishing and excavating 27 radiation-contaminated structures and 10 residential yards.



This year, the NN EPA, the Navajo Department of Water Resources, EPA, and the Indian Health Service are working together to provide

• safe drinking water to 3,000 people and
• wastewater infrastructure to 2,500 homes.

 Over the past 25 years, Navajo homes with access to safe drinking water rose by nearly 20 percent.

Federal Drinking Water Program

The Navajo Nation remains the first and only tribal government that has EPA's authority to implement the federal drinking water program which ensures that the 162 public water systems serving approximately 150,000 people meet federal drinking water requirements.  These groundwater supplies are also protected through NN EPA's underground injection control program.

Underground Injection Control Program of Disposal Wells

The underground injection control program regulates the construction, operation, permitting and closure of storage and/or disposal wells.  In 2008, NN EPA took over the program to protect the tribe's groundwater resources.  Together with their prior authorization to oversee public water systems, the Navajo Nation is the first tribe in the nation to implement the two main regulatory programs under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.  In addition to the underground injection control program, the Navajo Nation also administers protects groundwater resources through their underground storage tank program.

Underground Storage Tank Lead Prevention Program

 The NN EPA runs the most capable tribal, underground storage tank leak prevention program in the country with two federally credentialed inspectors and a field citation pilot program. Recently, federally credentialed tank inspectors began inspecting the Nation's 125 underground storage tank facilities on behalf of the EPA.  

The pilot project allows the two inspectors to write EPA field citations for federal violations and is expected to increase field presence and improve compliance.  A hole the size of a pinhead can release 400 gallons of fuel in a year's time, enough to foul millions of gallons of fresh water.  To address leaking tanks, both agencies have cleaned up over 100 leaking underground storage tanks since 2004, using a combination of both federal and tribal leaking underground storage tank funds.

Title V Air Permitting

The Navajo Nation EPA has been successfully implementing their Title V air permitting program for 5 years, and collecting the permitting fees for 13 major sources. The NN EPA was the first tribe in the nation to achieve authority to implement this program.

Pesticide Inspections to Restore Land and Soil

Other programs protect and restore Navajo Nation's land and soil.  Last year, Navajo Nation Pesticide Program's federally credentialed inspectors conducted 120 federal pesticides inspections and 25 tribal inspections.  To address open dumps throughout the Navajo Nation, the EPA has invested $2 million dollars since 1990.  To date, 41 open dumps have been closed using federal and Navajo Nation funds.

First Tribal Superfund Law

In February 2008, the Navajo Nation Council passed the Navajo Nation Comprehensive Environmental Response, and Liability Act (Navajo CERCLA) or Superfund modeled after the EPA's program.  This is the first tribal Superfund law in the country, and is a huge success for the Navajo Nation, as it gives the Tribe the authority to address hazardous contamination across the Nation.

 For more information, please visit: http://www.navajonationepa.org/

"The Plight of the Bumble Bees"
Monday, June 22
10 a.m. to 12:30  p.m.
Baird Auditorium of the National Museum of Natural History.
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C.

Native pollinator specialist and researcher Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis, is one of the key speakers at a public symposium on "The Plight of the Bumble Bees"   at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Thorp, a fellow of the California Academy of Sciences since 1986, will speak on "Western Bumble Bees in Peril."  

 "The loss of a native pollinator could strike a devastating blow to the ecosystem, economy and food supply," he says.

He recently spoke at a UC Davis Department of Entomology seminar on Franklin's bumble bee, a bumble bee historically found only in southern Oregon and northern California that he fears may be extinct. View the Bumblebee Webinar.

The symposium, themed "Plight of the Bumble Bees" and part of the National Pollinator Week activities June 22-28, will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30  p.m. in the Baird Auditorium of the National Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian is located at the corner of 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.

Other speakers are:

• Stephen Buchmann, University of Arizona, "USA Native Bee Diversity: Rarity, Threats and Conservation Ideals"
• Paul Williams, Natural History Museum, London, 'A Global View of Bumble Bees and Their Conservation Status"
• Sydney Cameron and Jeff Lozier, University of Illinois, "Status and Trends of Midwestern and Southern Bumble Bees"
• Leif Richardson, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, "Bumble Bee Trends in Northeastern North America.'
• Buchmann received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 1978. Thorp was his major professor.

Moderator is Michael Ruggiero, senior science advisor, Integrated Taxonomic Information (IT IS) of the Smithsonian Institution.

The event is sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, Smithsonian Institution, National Biological Information Infrastructure, Pollinator Partnership and ITIS.

"Over the past couple years I've been developing a public seating program with the City of Manhattan Beach, as a result of winning an artists' competition initiated by their Cultural Arts Committee. Their objective was to find designs for a series of beach/strand furnishings that are to be site-specific, recyclable, and suited for long-term use," explains the designer, Stacy Dukes of Santa Ana, CA.

During the design process Dukes discovered a recently introduced ceramic-based composite (85% recycled industrial ceramic waste) that is fully recyclable. After testing, this material proved to be highly resistant to any damage from scratching, staining, oxidation, etc. Being cold-formed it eliminates production of greenhouse gasses, while UV has little or no effect and graffiti can be easily removed as it is non-absorbent.

The first benches that have been installed in alcoves along the boardwalk. Upon evaluation Dukes' team found that, unlike concrete or wood, the material dissipates heat and that the benches are virtually maintenance free. In terms of both design and material, we expect unsurpassed longevity.

Stacy Dukes Design, SDD, is a highly creative, full service design and production company specializing in architectural graphics and signage systems, visual communication and product development.

What makes Stacy Dukes Design unique is not only the capability to handle a project from start to finish -- from planning, concept and design development to in-house production and coordination with outside services -- but also the commitment to "break the barriers" in design and materials. With all aspects of a project under one umbrella, the complete process is expedited and the quality maintained at no extra cost.

Stacy Dukes Design
3201 W Warner Ave
Santa Ana CA 92704
Tel: 714 241 9144
www.StacyDukesDesign.com

"According to the results of a 2007 National Gardening Association survey in which nearly 25 million households participated, there was an increase of 22% in money spent on vegetable gardening compared to the previous year. Total money spent was about $1.4 billion. It makes sense that as grocery prices increase and interest in locally produced food is on the rise, people would look to home-grown vegetables as a practical and cost-effective solution."  P. Allen Smith.

When budgets are tight and people need to squeeze value from every dollar, they look for suppliers who are on their side. Providing extra information that demonstrates that your products are worth their cost is a good way to reassure customers that are cautious.

When customers see that you understand what they are going through and can provide them with real money-saving ideas, they are more likely to turn to you for their carefully considered purchases.

Between the organic and locovore movements, people are getting serious about knowing where their food comes from.  Nurseries should be prepared during Memorial Day weekend with plenty of vegetable plants, seeds, compost, manure and organic pest controls," says Teri Smith, Smith's Acres.