Greener All the Time

By Brenda Powell

What could be greener than gardening? It involves plants, soils, and nature. Independent garden centers are owned and run by people who care about the earth and the environment.

Could we do more to be good stewards of the earth and promote our planet’s health? Of course! As a partner in an 86-year-old garden center, I’m proud to say that we’ve embraced green products and practices for a number of years. Here are some healthy trends, products, and companies I can get behind.

More and more people are focusing on planting native species, encouraging pollinators, and encouraging wildlife by letting part of the landscape go wild. Organically grown vegetable and herb starts are popular and readily available. The seed companies we buy from are all non-GMO and offer a good selection of certified organic seeds in addition to conventional. We use beneficial insects instead of pesticides on the hanging baskets and bedding plants we grow.

Many of the baskets we grow in are from Western Pulp Products, a Corvallis-based company that makes molded products from waste paper. We sell their empty pots, too. We’re proud to carry Kellogg Garden Products soil and conditioners. They are the “first & only manufacturer to have all our branded organic soils and fertilizers OMRI listed and OIM (Organic Input Materials) reviewed.” Malibu Compost’s Baby Bu Biodynamic blend potting soil is peat-free, using coir instead, which is sustainably harvested. We carry a full line of organic, bagged fertilizer from The Espoma Co. Their bags are made with 25% plant-based resin from sugarcane, and they are 100% solar powered. Down to Earth, based in Eugene, sells its fertilizers in compostable boxes. The colorful CR Plastics outdoor furniture displayed around the nursery is made with 100% recycled HDPE plastic. Two new products for us are Bloem Ocean Series pots which are 100% recycled, made with sourced ocean plastic, and Eco Master breathable gloves which are also made with recycled material and ocean plastic. It would be better if the plastic never went into the ocean in the first place, but at least someone is doing something with it. Currently, we are accepting clean, rigid, black nursery pots 6-inch diameter and larger. We reuse the 5-gallon and larger pots.

At home, I personally use most of the above products. I love my aqua colored Adirondack chairs from CR Plastics. I’m committed to organic gardening and have been trying to incorporate restorative agriculture techniques in the farming my husband and I do. We’ve learned so much over the years as science and nature reveal new information.

There is always more to be done, more we can do. Let’s work on that.