WM Earthcare

Locally sourced and produced, 100% recycled compost and mulch

For Large Orders Call Us at:

877–WMEarth
(877-963-2784)

  • Home
  • Products
    • Compost
    • Mulch
    • Soil Blends
    • Hardscape
    • Lawn Conversion
    • Availability & Pricing
    • Color Chooser
    • Coverage Calculator
    • Request a Quote
  • LOCATIONS
    • Livermore
    • Novato
    • San Jose
    • San Leandro
    • Florida
  • Resources
    • About Composting
    • About Mulching
    • LEED
    • About Sheet Mulching
    • FAQs
  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Awards and Affiliations
    • Our Approach
  • Community
    • Blog
    • Community Giving
  • Contact
  • WMEARTHCARE FLORIDA >

January Soil Tip: CompostCon!

January 13, 2014 by Steven Andrews

compostcon

To Experience Compost Up Close!

Join me, the Compost Crusader, and members of the WM EarthCare team for a day of fun and learning celebrating compost.

Gardeners, urban farmers, landscape professionals, and teachers can all learn and see the latest compost trends and technologies through music, workshops, demonstrations, and the one of a kind compost marketplace. Special activities for children and families including a compost costume contest are planned so that CompostCon can be experienced by one and all.

And don’t forget to attend one my hands-on compost workshops. I’ll be talking about the science of compost, testing, purchasing and more. Be sure to check the program upon arrival to ensure your seat.

Mark you calendar now, and save the date:

Saturday, January 25, 2014
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Oakland Convention Center
550 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607

www.healthysoil.org

Admission fees for the event are $8/adult, $5 children 8-15, and $20 for families. Arrive dressed in a compost, garden, or food themed costume and admission is FREE!

~Stephen Andrews

Filed Under: Events, General, Home Gardening

Get Growing Bay Area! Participate in National Planting Day

September 23, 2012 by Steven Andrews

npd-logoThe perfect event for gardeners and landscapers, young and old, will take place on Saturday, September 8th when Keep America Beautiful and the USDA People’s Garden Initiative launch the first ever National Planting Day.

Hailed as an opportunity for communities throughout the country to support local ecosystems, the focus of the day, and activities happening through November 30, will be the planting of native species.

What is a native species? Quite simply, a native plant species is any indigenous plant (tree, shrub, grass, moss, fern, or flower) growing naturally in a given geographic area. Native plant species evolved over time. They developed unique characteristics adapted to the soil, climate, wildlife, and competitive conditions of the area in which they grow.

Why plant native species? Native species are the ‘locals’ of the ecosystem. Being masters of their environment, natives thrive where other plants struggle to survive. Native plant species attract local pollinators and provide high quality food and habitat for wildlife. They also contribute to the quality and health of the soils in which they grow. Equally important is that native species require less maintenance and water than the typical ornamental species found in most urbanized landscapes.

“As scarcity of water becomes a significant national issue, it’s important that we focus on the planting of more ecologically appropriate, drought-tolerant native species,” said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. With drought being no stranger to California, National Planting Day is not only a good reminder of our need to grow native species, but a call to action to do so.

scoop-sept image

Landscaping outside the USDA Headquarters reflects sustainable landscape practices. The introduction of native species promotes an environmentally friendly space. Photo: USDA Blog

With September marking the start of the fall season, now is the ideal time to initiate the transition from ornamental to native plants. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, it’s always a good idea to first confirm which plants are native to your area.

Many native species have “eco-types” that are highly adapted to a very narrow geographic range. Selecting the eco-type of a native species adapted to your specific area (i.e., watershed) can mean the difference between a beautiful botanical success and a dismal failure. The old adage that a rose is a rose doesn’t apply here. Resources available to help you identify the native plants best suited for your area include the California Native Plant Society (http://www.cnps.org), PlantNative (http://www.nativeplant.org), your local Bay Friendly certified landscape professional (http://www.bayfriendlycoalition.org), and your county UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program office (http://www.mastergardeners.org).

At the nursery, be sure to ask to speak with a representative who’s been trained with knowledge of the care and maintenance of native plants. You wouldn’t consult a plumber for an electrical question would you? The same holds true for nursery folks trained with knowledge of ornamental versus native species. The growth and nutrition needs of native species are often vastly different from ornamentals. You typically won’t need fertilizers and all those sprays found in the chemical aisle. In most cases, compost will be enough, and even that may not be necessary. My advice is to consult wisely before you purchase.

Now, to get on the bandwagon and help raise awareness about gardening with native species in your community, do the following:

  • Spread the word! Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers about the importance of native plants, and get them involved in a National Planting Day event. Learn more at http://www.getgrowing.org.
  • Plan and register your community group, business, or individual National Planting Day event at: http://www.kab.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=2302&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS.
  • Start a native garden in a highly visible location in your community. Establish the garden as a demonstration site that promotes the benefits and beauty of native plants.
  • Incorporate native plants in your school garden project to teach students the role that native plants play in the local ecosystem.
  • Tweet your support @PeoplesGarden #NationalPlantingDay

Go Native!

Happy Planting Day!

~The Dirt Dude / CompostCrusader

Filed Under: Events, Home Gardening

Earth Day Celebration!

April 12, 2012 by Steven Andrews

Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday April 28 at Davis Street Material Resource Recovery Complex. Discover how we recover feedstock for our compost and mulch. Take home a bag of CDFA-labeled, OMRI-listed & USCC-STA Homegrown Compost.

Filed Under: Events, Home Gardening, Professional Landscaping

Gardens for a Green Earth

March 14, 2012 by Steven Andrews

This month the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show welcomes spring with its world-class garden festival. Now entering its 27th year, with a greener approach that is celebrating “Gardens for a Green Earth”, the show starts Wednesday March 21st through Sunday March 25th at the San Mateo Event Center.

You’ll find twenty full-sized garden installations from top Bay Area designers (including John Greenlee and Mike Boss creating one of their signature meadows) who will teach attendees of all ages how to create “Gardens for a Green Earth”, with a strong emphasis on forward-looking, environmentally friendly techniques that can be accomplished in private gardens.

Amongst the parade of celebrities speaking and demonstrating their skills will be Ahmed Hassan of DIY Network’s Yard Crashers and Joe Lamp’l of PBS’s Growing a Green World is back to delight with earthy pearls of wisdom on greening your garden and protecting the planet. Annie Somerville, a recognized pioneer in promoting organic cuisine and gardening through her restaurant Greens will be speaking about the ‘green & food’ movement with Wendy Johnson, one of the founders of the organic farm at Green Gulch Zen Center and the Indian Valley College Organic Farm in Marin. Johnson is the author of the popular and poetic organic gardening how-to book entitled Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate. You will walk away with both agricultural and spiritual tips to savor in your own yard.

Speaking of spiritual teachers . . . How about the Dirt Duo? Yes, that’s us. The Dirt Diva and Dirt Dude will join earthly forces to talk dirt on Saturday afternoon March 24th at 1:30PM, preaching “compost, compost, compost, mulch, mulch, mulch.” Come enjoy the combination of scientific facts from an environmental science professor and simple organic home gardening techniques from an escaped, impatient New Yorker who hearts Mother Nature but has been witnessed on several occasions screaming and running from a Jerusalem Cricket.

Along with the entertaining speakers there will also be 200 vendors selling plants, seeds, tools, and a plethora of well-known gardening authors signing books. You can find the entire schedule of seminars on the website: sfgardenshow.com

Where and when:

The 27th Annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show is held at:
The San Mateo Event Center
1346 Saratoga Drive in San Mateo

just one block from the Hillsdale Caltrain Station.
Parking is available for $12 for the entire day.

Wednesday, March 21 – Saturday, March 24, 10am-7pm
Sunday, March 25, 10am-6pm.

Single day pass is $20, a five-day bargain pass is $25, and a half-day pass is $15.
Children under 16 are admitted free.

Visit sfgardenshow.com for more information.

Filed Under: Events, Home Gardening

WMEarthcare

WM EarthCare™ is produced by
USA Waste of California, Inc.
172 98th Avenue – Oakland, CA.

  • Home
  • Products
  • LOCATIONS
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • Community
  • Contact
  • WMEARTHCARE FLORIDA >

Copyright © 2021 · Enterprise Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in