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Blog posts tagged with 'environment'

Increasing Awareness for Using Drip Irrigation

Most people who work in the landscape or gardening industry know about Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation.  It's been used in some agricultural areas for over 40 years and is increasingly being used by larger and larger farms and groves for everything from grapes to oranges.  This has proven to be a vast improvement on the goals of saving water and wise use of water by the industries that depend on it to survive.

In recent years, large landscape companies have also adopted Micro and Drip Irrigation as a way to water a variety of landscapes, keeping the plants well-nourished and saving 50% or more on water usage.  Everywhere you look you can see it, little black stakes in the ground with Micro Sprays hidden behind bushes, Drip Irrigation tubing stretching through landscaped flower beds. With ever-increasing awareness of conservation of water, and the importance of being wise with resources, this trend will continue to improve as time goes on.

All of these things are incredible on their own, but they are just the beginning.  Where Drip Irrigation is heading now is into the garden and landscape of the average homeowner.  Most homeowners shy away from trying to mess with installing irrigation, for fear that it is too complicated or that they will not do it right and create a disaster that will kill all of their plants. But with droughts at a record high, and the desire of many to establish home gardens, that mentality is quickly changing. 

The benefits of using Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation are tremendous.  It's not just about not wasting water.  The plants get what they need rather than too much water, which can lead to fungus growth and premature rot in the root systems.  Also, many areas in the country that are under drought conditions will allow home owners to use low-flow irrigation products in their landscapes and gardens, rather than sprinklers.

Right now, homeowners across the country are realizing the need to use water wisely and are looking to install their own Micro and Drip Irrigation systems .  We applaud that - and encourage others to do the same.  A difference can be made, one garden and landscape at a time!

 

 

Go Green By Purchasing American-Made!
Earth Day is just around the corner, and we are as excited as ever. Never before has so much attention been put on environmental issues as right now, and with good reason.  People have the opportunity to use technology and common sense together to conserve natural resources, recycle a multitude of products, and utilize natural energy sources more readily in their daily lives.  With all that being said, there is a great deal more to be done.  We have become so accustomed to waste that we sometimes don’t even think about the small stuff that adds up big-time.  One of the things that seems to be missed in a lot of the “green” conversation is all of the products we buy from manufacturers overseas, instead of products produced domestically.
 
 
There are several reasons that buying products that are made in America is the “green” environmentally friendly way to go.
 
 
The first, and biggest reason to buy products manufactured in the U.S.A., is the condition of the factories in which the products are produced.  Most people don’t think about it, but very few countries have as many, or any, regulations or restrictions on dumping chemicals, releasing air pollutants, and other toxins into the environment.  American factories, though not perfect, are far cleaner than almost all of their foreign counterparts.  The domestic factories are held to a far higher standard for the environmental impact they have both on their employees and the area around them.  Factories in China, and elsewhere are not under such scrutiny to keep the environment inside and around them clean.
 
 
The second-biggest “green” reason to buy products made domestically is simply the shipping.  The fuel consumed in sending mass amounts of product half-way around the world is insane.  Talk about a carbon footprint.  Freight ships carrying millions of pounds of consumable goods embark across the Pacific Ocean on a daily basis, leaving in their wake a thick diesel fog of greenhouse gasses.
 
 
Those may be the two biggest “green” reasons to buy domestic, American-made products, but there are many more - one being the human factor. We, in the U.S., tend to treat our employees with dignity and respect. Though there are a few exceptions, most American companies try to provide a clean and safe work environment for all who work there. There is no such guarantee from foreign manufacturers who may not have any incentive to treat their employees well. 
 
 
That is why buying products made in the United States makes so much sense and is definitely a more environmentally friendly way to go.  It helps keep jobs at home, money at home, and helps keep the planet cleaner and safer for all who live here.
 
 
Thanks for reading, and have an awesome day!
 
 
Sarah L. Farnsworth