Echter's Efforts Toward Sustainability
Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs for health, prosperity and happiness.
In 2011, Echter's replaced all of the T12 fluorescent fixtures in our store with new, high-efficient T8 lamps. We expect to use 30% less energy for our store lighting going forward. When we say our lighting is brighter, it has more than one meaning. We have replaced our single layer roof covering with double and triple-wall covers and reducing nighttime temperatures when possible saving over 40% of our winter fuel consumption.
Recycling Bin
Most of our pots are made from recycled
product. We can continue to recycle them We will take back the containers of every
plant we sell. Bring the item back to us during store hours and place it in the
recycle bin in the front of the nursery. Some of the items we can clean
and use internally. With other items we have made arrangement
through the Garden Centers of Colorado to have the plastic pots picked up and
processed for recycling here in Colorado. This helps keep plastic out of the
landfills.
Recycling
Echter's recycles our cardboard, plastic and paper whenever we can for the items we consume internally.
Earth-Friendly Products
Echter's offers earth-friendly options in the products we sell. We have the expertise to tell you what the safest products are and which ones are also effective.
FoxFarm offers custom-blended soil mixes, natural and organic fertilizers as
well as organic-based products Their fertilizers are built around the use of
earthworm castings, nature’s finest soil amendment. They produce superior
organic plant foods and extra-strength soil mixes. FoxFarm fertilizers are
specially formulated to replenish the soil, lift the human spirit, and beautify
the Earth, naturally.
Fox Farm's Ocean Forest is the ultimate potting soil—everything your plants
need, in one bag. It's a blend of earthworm castings, bat guano, and sea-going
fish and crab meal. Composted forest humus, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss
give Ocean ForestŪ its light, aerated texture.
Dr. Earth has developed organic products that perform
getting fast growth results with long term plant and soil health that is
associated with true organic fertilizers. At the heart of Dr. Earth products are
their seven champion strains of beneficial soil microbes and fungi.
Fafard Organic Potting Mix is a
100% natural formula
growing medium that is NOP approved for
organic growing. Ideal for the
cultivation of organic vegetables, fruits & flowers.
Composting
We encourage you to get into composting your yard waste. Our soils are typically low in organic material and benefit greatly from yearly additions of compost. We teach classes each year on composting. We sell compost bins and compost starter.
The Earth Machine Composter holds 10 cu ft of compost. It has vents to control the airflow. It's made from recycled plastic and has an easy, snap-together assembly. Pins hold it to the ground to resist wind.
Trees are Cool!
Why?:
In one year an average tree
produces enough oxygen for a family of four, for one year.
One tree will absorb the CO2 from 4 cars every year.
Planting trees remains the cheapest, most effective means of drawing
excess CO2 from the atmosphere.
To make up for the loss of trees in just the past decade, we would
need to replant 321 million acres, which would entail planting
approximately 14 billion trees every year - for 10 consecutive
years.
Planting 100 million trees could reduce carbon by an estimated 18
million tons per year, while savingamerican consumers $4 billion
each year on utility bills.
"Think Global, Act Local"- all you need to do is plant a tree.
Shade trees can reduce your utility bills for air conditioning by 15-50%.
The net cooling effect of a young, healthy trees is equivalent to 10
room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.