Full service landscape provider specializing in landscape construction, maintenance, water management, and tree care for commercial, municipal, and residential customers. From 15 local service centers, we serve Northern California. We serve our customers in a customer-centric way. We are Major Supporters of both the Bay-Friendly Qualification Program & the CLCA Water Management Certification Program with more people qualified than any other contractor in California…

Harbor Bay Blvd in Alameda starting at Ron Cowan Parkway (Airport) and extending through the Harbor Bay Business Park Assoc. to the HOA’s

110,000 SF of Turf in Median Islands Using 3.6m Gallons of water annually

It’s about Education – how many landscape contractors, designers and architects know this?

Today talk about three things: Soil Regeneration – How to Go Organic BF Practices – Landscape Locally, Less to the Landfill, Nurture the Soil, Conserve Water, Conserve Energy, Protect Water & Air Quality & Create & Protect Wildlife Habitat BF Rating – largest sheet mulching project in Bay Area (maybe the world) Return on Investment – up to 75% water savings

BF Practices #3 – Nurture the Soil Building Healthy Soils As I have recently learned about soil biology, I have become an advocate and created so many opportunities on our projects. Educating customers, employees and myself… Testing Soil Biology – levels of Bacteria, Funji, Protozoa, Nematodes & Mycorrnizal Colonization Re-specifying or substituting Organic Compost for Nitro (still the dominant spec) Promoting Sheet Mulching in lieu of traditional renovation methods – retain the soil life & Organic matter Applying Compost Tea & Bio-stimulants – regenerate soil biology Proposing Fertigation Systems to deliver organic fertilizer and bio-stimulant

Sod Cutting, 1st step to cut grade at perimeter and allow profile of 2” compost, cardboard & 3” of mulch. No sloughing off of materials into the street.

Mounding of existing organic materials… building healthy soils.

Sheet Mulching in progress

Touch on 3 Specific Best Practices of BF #2 Less to Landfill - 99+% of all debris was reused or recycled - 1,500 cyd of organic material reused for soil prep - only 2 cyd of material sent to the landfill (including lunch debris from crews) - Sprinkler heads & valves saved for reused by property manager for routine irrigation repairs

Projecting savings of up to 75% on water or 2.7M gallons.

The nitrogen-rich compounds found in fertilizer run-off is the primary cause of a serious depletion of oxygen in many parts of the ocean, especially in coastal zones; the resulting lack of dissolved oxygen is greatly reducing the ability of these areas to sustain oceanic fauna. About half of all the lakes in the United States are now eutrophic, while the number of oceanic dead zones near inhabited coastlines are increasing Fertigation Nutrient Absorption 95% + compared to 10% with dry granular Labor to apply reduced by 90% - Reduces labor & material costs (ROI of 1 year) - Reduces Harmful fertilizer run-off - Reduces water use Healthier plant material also reduces insect and disease activity Why not?

Value Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Warren Buffet Not enough of our work is appreciated purely for aesthetics or environmental benefits. ROI Quantifying savings in operating costs can sell projects – Water & Maintenance Installation of SMART / ET Controllers can reduce was use by up to 30% and pay for themselves in 1-5 years. Example 8 year old HOA, Altamar at the Ridge, in Brisbane (south of SF) Water is over $9/unit base rate with an average annual rate increase of 12% Install of 11 Hydropoint Controllers, approx $100K, paid for in 1 year Typical Landscaping 10 years+ ROI Drakes Landing & Harbor Bay Medians as examples Too far out for many investors to value – similar to the challenge with Solar (17-20 years) Some customers, that don’t flip properties, see value… Do the math for owners, connect their operating expenses for water & maintenance to their capital budgets. City of Santa Rosa is hosting a workshop on selling water use efficiency with an excel spreadsheet calculating ROI.

Community & Environment Education – water, energy, pollution Connecting the quantifiable changes with a project Make an emotional appeal – Polar Bears Saved Create community events

Young Landscape – completed in Dec 2010 Pest Control – Scarecrows, & Critter Control (thru Fertigation)

Harbor Bay Medians Case Study in Water Conservation Aaron Majors, Owner & Department Manager

Full Service Landscape Contractor Bay-Friendly Qualified CLCA Water Managers

Harbor Bay Medians Harbor Bay Blvd, Alameda

Harbor Bay Medians Pre-Renovation

Harbor Bay Medians 70% of Earth’s surface is Water 97.5% of all Water on Earth is Salt Water 70% of the Fresh Water is frozen or not accessible Less than 1% is accessible for human use

Harbor Bay Medians Soil Regeneration Bay Friendly Practices & Rating Return on Investment

Soil Regeneration Soil Biology – Analysis & Rec’s Sheet Mulching, Compost & Mulch Compost Tea & Bio-stimulants Organic & Pesticide Free Fertigation Systems

Soil Regeneration Building Healthy Soils

Soil Regeneration

Soil Regeneration

Soil Regeneration

Bay-Friendly Practices #2 – Less to Landfill #4 – Conserve Water #6 – Protect Water & Air Quality

Bay-Friendly Practices #4 Conserve Water 79% of plants are CA Native or drought tolerant No-mow Fescue is less than 25% of total area All Drip Irrigation with ET Controllers

Bay-Friendly Practices #6 Protect Water No herbicide used Organic Fertilizer & Bio-stimulant delivered through Fertigation System

Harbor Bay Medians ROI – Value Cost of Water Cost of Maintenance Benefits - Community & our Environment

Ground Breaking Community Event Sheet Mulching Demonstration Presidents of Planning Board & HBBPA

Harbor Bay Medians

Showcase Sponsors Signature Sponsor Platinum Sponsor Silver Sponsors Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency Golden Gate Litho San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Media Sponsors

Thanks for Coming! All Water Conservation Showcase presentations will be available at www.usgbc-ncc.org/wcs For a certificate of attendance, be sure to put your name and email on the list at the door.