Keeping the "GREEN" in W.W. Greenhouses...

You hear about it everywhere, "green," "Green," "GREEN!" Everyone seems to be jumping on the Earth-friendly bandwagon, and to a certain extent, that's a good thing. Taking responsible care of our planet is what we all have been called to do. If the changes we make in our habits and uses are based on facts (instead of marketing, political, and/or other reasons), it's a very good thing.

However, at W.W., being "green" is not just something we are doing because it is currently popular in our society. We have taken numerous steps throughout the years to be more efficient and responsible in all aspects of our operation. Some of the steps we have taken in the past include :

» Ebb/Flow Benching :: The benches we use in our garden center have shallow trays in which plants sit. Water is pumped into these trays, flooding the entire bench. The plants then "wick" the water up through the soil in their pots. After a set time, the water is then drained away to a holding tank where it can be re-used again. We began using these benches in 1995. Using this method cuts down on labor costs, water use, and disease (which keeps our chemical and spraying costs lower).

» Roof Vents :: In 1997, we installed roof vents in our garden center. The roof literally opens up when cooling is desired. Before roof vents, cooling was usually done with large exhaust fans which used a great deal of electricity compared to using roof vent assemblies.

» Energy Curtain :: Also in 1997, we installed an energy curtain in one of our greenhouse ranges. This "curtain" closes during desired times to trap heat in the winter months and evenings. By doing this, less natural gas is used to heat during the more demanding cooler times. The curtain also can shade the area in the summer time, keeping it cooler. Plants do not normally need as much moisture when kept cooler, so water use and irrigation labor is further reduced.

» Underground Heat and Efficient Furnaces :: It's a no-brainer to use the most efficient furnace available if you want to save energy. But by placing the ductwork of some of our furnaces underground throughout the greenhouse, we can direct the heat right under and much closer to the plants. By doing this, less heat is needed to get the same growing results from the plants. We have been using this heating method in one of our greenhouse ranges since 1997, and have updated our furnaces in 2004.

As in the past, we continue to make "green" improvements. Some of the steps we have taken recently and will take in the future include :

» Earth-friendly Pots :: We are increasing the usage of more bio-degradable pots. Realistically speaking, our industry still uses a huge amount of plastic, and will likely continue to do so for a long time. But using more Earth-friendly pots certainly helps (and looks cool, too!).

» Plastic Recycling :: We are always looking for ways to recycle the plastic film that covers our greenhouses. It is difficult to find a company that can recycle or use our plastic, but we keep trying. Look for a plastic pot recycling program from W.W. in the future as well.

» Biological Pest and Disease Control :: We are constantly exploring new ways to use Earth-friendly methods to control any bugs or diseases we encounter. Increased use of "good bugs" (e.g. predatory mites/ladybugs/wasps which feed on bad mites and aphids) have produced good results in recent years within our greenhouses. Organic-based products which control fungus, mildew, and other diseases are also being tested. These methods of control decrease the use of sometimes damaging and dangerous chemicals, which is especially important in a garden center setting.

» Organic Products :: We offer many organic fertilizer products, suitable for vegetables, roses, and any other annual or perennial you have. Try them sometime, you may like them!

» Paper Bags :: Service is something that has not changed at W.W., and we remain one of few garden centers in the area who package up your plants for you upon checkout. During checkout, we are increasing the use of paper bags to package up your plants instead of using plastic trays. Sometimes a plastic tray is needed for strength, but using degradable bags when possible instead of plastic is just another way we are helping to reduce landfill waste.

Now you know some of the things W.W. has been doing to be responsible in our community and world. Come join us at W.W. Greenhouses...