Sustainable, sustainability, sustain . . . one of the hottest words in our industry right now. Everywhere you go the word is there. The phrase is there. The philosophy is there. The mindset is there.
Sustainable landscape design. Nurseries with sustainable plans for their growing fields. Sustainability means responsibility for Garden Centers. The buzz, it’s everywhere.
I have a feeling that companies are going to try and make themselves or break themselves over this word in the next decade. This will happen because companies putting all of their eggs in the sustainable basket, will have to follow through. Lip service won’t do with this trend/philosophical attitude.
If we are to become a industry that really wishes to become one that embraces the sustainable model. It must start at the top leadership; in January, in November, and in May. From the top down.
Yes I am pointing at the leadership in this industry. Go beyond the lip service, go beyond the winter wish list-where dreams hatch only to die under the pressure of the Spring crush. We must totally buy in before going down the path.
Right now I think the best thing we can do is arm ourselves with as much information as possible. Learn all that we can to make the best/most-informed decisions we can. Having said all that . . .
One of the sessions this week is Water Issues in Landscape Sustainability:
. . . John Thomas will explore solutions for water use in the landscape. In addition to storm water mitigation and bio-filtration work, with project examples, Thomas will address emerging market trends from new research that will be impacting the Green Industry over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond. Interwoven with this information are tidbits on traffic, health and planning as it affects our quality of life.
The above is part of the description for the talk, it looks interesting enough on it’s own merits to attend. Add to this the fellow giving the talk-John Thomas.
John Thomas works as a Senior Associate for Edward Pickney down in the South Carolina lowcountry. I don’t know much about Mr. Thomas personally but I am familiar with Edward Pickney and his company, a 1st rate bunch of people, and a design/planning firm with a great professional reputation.
I think Pickney and Assoc. is one of the few companies in the country I would listen too if they offered me a job. Between their location and the type of work they do, they would have my attention.
Add it all up, sustainability, Thomas, Pickney and the Clinic I wish it was tomorrow I am ready to go.
For those of you going. Have you bought your Muggets badge yet? If not pick ’em up Friday night at the reception. maybe they’ll even give me some to sell. Who knows.
The Whispering Crane Institute 