Rick Feldman is a seasoned horticulturalist who specializes in drought-resistant gardens. He has many techniques and tips for efficiently irrigating and maintaining beautiful gardens without wasting water.
SOME TIPS ON WATER CONSERVATION FOR YOUR GARDEN:
- Plant in the shade
- Use ground cover such as wood chips to keep moisture in the soil.
- Use dial-a-flow drip irrigation emitters on sprinklers to control flow and direction of water.
- Plant drought-resistant plants like lavender and salvias that only require two light sprays a week.
- Plant succulents and cacti that can survive on virtually no water.
- Use ornaments or rocks to create nice-looking areas that require no water.
- On hills, build retaining walls to minimize runoff.
- Replace live grass with a synthetic lawn. They're pet friendly, and you'll never have to water it or mow it again.
For more information, visit: www.gardensbyrick.com
VENDORS:
California Nursery Specialties
(818) 894-5694
Riviera Palm
(310) 721-1897
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Going green also means conserving electricity. Eye on L.A. talked to Southern California Edison about some simple things you can do to reduce your usage and cut your power bills.
For more information on Southern California Edison's "Edison Smart Connect" program, visit: www.sce.com
If you would like to find out if your power utility company offers any rebates or special programs, here are their Web sites:
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
www.ladwp.com
Metropolitan Water District of Southern
www.mwdh2o.com
THE LITTLE SEED
You're never too young to go green, so when friends Soleil Moon Frye and Paige Goldberg Tolmach started having kids, they wanted the very best for them and sought out organic, eco-friendly options. It planted the seed for their own business endeavor -- a children's boutique in Los Angeles called The Little Seed -- selling all things "green" for little ones.
For more information, visit: www.thelittleseed.com
POMME BEBE
Pomme Bébé is an organic baby food store located in Newport Beach. With a team of professional chefs, Pomme Bébé peels, steams and purées wholesome fruits and vegetables making nutritious baby and toddler baby meals. Pomme Bébé also delivers to your home. By placing your order online, freshly made organic baby food will be delivered to your front door in environmentally friendly packaging.
For more information or to order online, visit: www.pommebebe.com
GREEN TO GROW
A hot topic over the past year has been the controversy surrounding a chemical in plastic bottles -- particularly baby bottles. According to the FDA, a chemical called Bisphenol-A, or BPA, could potentially harm children. When Shelley Aronoff was pregnant with her son Hart, she'd researched the risks with Bisphenol-A and baby bottles. So, to eliminate the risk, she developed her own BPA-free baby bottles and named her company "Green to Grow."
For more information, visit: www.greentogrow.com
JOSIE MARAN COSMETICS
It would seem fitting for a cover model who's graced the pages of countless magazines to know a thing or two about makeup. But, for years, model Josie Maran struggled to find a line of cosmetics that was not only good for women's skin, but good for the environment too. So she created her own eco-friendly line of makeup called Josie Maran Cosmetics.
To buy Josie Maran Cosmetics, visit: www.josiemarancosmetics.com
For other natural and eco-friendly makeup lines, visit these Web sites:
TREE PEOPLE
Tree People is a local nonprofit organization that has been serving the Los Angeles area for more than three decades. Their mission is to help nature heal our cities through educating and training people on how to plant and care for trees in neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.
For more information on how you can volunteer or organize a group tree-planting event, visit: www.treepeople.com
OTHER GREEN WEB SITES:
TreeHugger
Shares sustainable design, green news and solutions.
http://treehugger.com
DailyFuelEconomy tip
Gives you tips on increasing gas mileage, fuel efficient cars, and saving money at the pump.
www.dailyfueleconomytip.com
The California Cars Initiative
Works to promote plug-in electric hybrids (PHEVs) or plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids use cleaner, cheaper, domestic energy.
www.calcars.org
Low Impact Living
Can help you lower the environmental impact of your home and your daily life.
www.lowimpactliving.com
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.EPA.gov
Green Bag
Green Bag operates as a specialist advisory, design and product supply company which creatively addresses the needs and opportunities related to this world-wide issue of disposable shopping bags.
www.greenbag.info
Reusable Bags
Reusable Bags helps advance the adoption of reusable shopping bags and reduction of plastic bags as a lifestyle choice.
www.reusablebags.com
Global Green
The United States affiliate of Green Cross International fosters a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure world.
www.globalgreen.org
NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth.
www.nrdc.org
Conservation International
Nonprofit organization applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's biodiversity around the world.
www.conservation.org
Renewable Energy
SolarCity
Solar Power Company leases solar panels
www.solarcity.com
Sun Power Corp
High Efficiency Solar Systems
www.sunpowercorp.com
Prevailing Wind Power
Sells and installs custom residential, agricultural, and small commercial wind systems.
www.prevailingwindpower.com
PermaCity Corporation
A leading solar energy company.
www.permacity.com
