Ari Presents to La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club

On Thursday Dec. 2nd Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape made a presentation to the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club highlighting the role urban landscapes can play in watershed management. Ari demonstrated how many conventional landscape designs aim to get all water offsite which translates into high surface runoff rates that ultimately lead to ocean pollution. By using bioswales, organic mulches, and other conservation practices Ari showed how residences and businesses can help reduce pollution from storm water runoff.

Here is the link to the Rotary Clubs website: http://www.lajollasunriserotary.org/

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: December 2nd, 2010   |     No Comments »

Presentation to San Diego City College Class

On Tuesday Nov. 30th Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape spoke to a class at San Diego City college about how to start a “green” business. The students ranged in ages but were all part of the new sustainability program at City College. Ari spoke about his experience helping to create Revolution Landscape and answered questions about business models and other business concepts that could be founded on the principles of sustainability.

San Diego City College is host to the Seeds at City Program which educates students through their participation in a sustainable food project at their urban farm. More information is located on their website.

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: November 30th, 2010   |     No Comments »

Jeff Presents to University City Garden Club

On November 16, Jeff Robbins presented to the newly established University City Garden Club. The presentation, which focused on sustainable irrigation techniques, included examples of over-watered and under-watered hibiscus plants, an overview of drip irrigation, and an explanation of beneficial mulches. He explained that by using a combination of these practices, Revolution Landscape has reduced its client’s water use by up to 60% while growing delicious fruits and vegetables! Check out the garden club which meets at the UC Library on the third Tuesday of every month.

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: November 16th, 2010   |     No Comments »

Revolution at UTC Farmers Market

Revolution debuted at the UTC Farmer’s Market today.  The market is held at the north west side of UTC mall in the parking lot every Thursday.  The market is small but gaining in popularity with San Diego vendors and the UC community.  We set up a new style of booth with lots of finished project photos, sustainable material and compost displays, free organic gardening advice, and of course heirloom vegetable starts.  Come check us out!  Here is a link to the UTC Market.

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: September 16th, 2010   |     No Comments »

Red Worm Fertilizer Tour

Daniel Rojas, of Red Worm Fertilizing Products, gave the Revolution team a tour of his farm facility out in Escondido.  Daniel told us he starts by collecting horse manure from all the neighboring farms.  He then piles it up, allowing it to heat up, and further breakdown.  Once the heap composting process is complete he moves the material to feed his worms.

The worm bins are recycled avocado crates and are positioned in the shade of his many thriving avocado trees.  The worms migrate and eat the new materials.  Their castings are then collected and sold as organic compost.

We had a lot of fun seeing the animals, playing with soil, and hypothesizing about worms as a future protein source!  His website is www.redwormproducts.com

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: September 13th, 2010   |     No Comments »

Shanghai and Sustainability?

Shanghai and Sustainability?

Shanghai, China. If you know even the slightest bit about this city, you know it doesn’t exactly conjure images of lush gardens and nature abound. Like most major urban centers, Shanghai is host to a dense expanse of smog and pollution that continues to grow each day as all 20 million of its inhabitants leave their greasy carbon footprints – not exactly ideal for an organic home garden. But not ideal does not mean impossible – if neatly trimmed green lawns and sculpted bushes can thrive in this habitat, plenty of other landscaping possibilities should be available. During my trip to Shanghai this July, those beautified lawns were all I saw along public roads and corporate buildings. To be fair, Shanghai receives much more rainfall than San Diego (of the three weeks I was there, it rained for at least one week) and is constantly humid, so plants are easier to maintain. But still, it’s a little disappointing seeing how much public land is used planting a bunch of bushes instead of sustainable, edible crop, especially considering how crowded Shanghai is.

But while there’s not much one can do about public landscaping, there are more opportunities in the home. There are two sections of Shanghai, Pudong (East of River) and Puxi (West). Puxi is the commercial and entertainment center, and is most commonly associated with Shanghai. Here, everyone lives in apartments or condos stacked into hundreds of towering skyscrapers. This is urban Shanghai. Pudong, however, is a little different. I guess it would be considered the suburbs, but recent development has rendered this false in some areas bordering the river. However, drive far enough into Pudong and you’ll find single-standing houses and mansions…with their own yards. There are even a few farms in this area, mostly corn and lotus (yes they eat that) from what I’ve seen. Fruit vendors in Puxi probably get some of their produce from here, though most are probably delivered from even further out, in the countryside. Unfortunately, due to recent government beautification efforts for the World Expo, Pudong’s public landscape has fallen prey to more sculpted bushes and saturated green vegetation pumped with pesticides, but with a bit of education many families could easily start a sustainable garden in their yard. I stayed at an aunt’s house in Pudong for a few days, and unfortunately their backyard consisted of nothing but a few nameless shrubs and weeds.

Fortunately, there are emerging programs and organizations dedicated to helping Shanghai denizens create their own garden, even in an urban environment. A non-profit group called Roots and Shoots, for example, is teaching organic gardening at local schools and shows people how to turn their balcony or windowsill into a small urban garden in an environmentally-friendly, pesticide-free way. Shanghai has a long way to go to organic, as it’s still developing and paving its way in world economy. But in the words of the founder of Roots and Shoots, “Try a little bit at first…start with a small space, gain some experience then expand your selection.”

Read more about Roots and Shoots: http://www.jgi-shanghai.org/ColumnList.aspx?NodeID=2

Author: Christine   |   Posted on: August 31st, 2010   |     No Comments »

IRC Aquaponic Fish Farm

Earlier this year members of the Revolution Landscape team joined the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in building an aquaponic fish farm right here in the city on Fairmount Avenue on a previously vacant ¼ acre lot. This aqauponic system includes a large green house that now supports 1,400 tilapia and 12 vegetable grow beds. On June 19th they held their grand opening and now it’s time to watch the food grow!

For more information contact Jaime Garza or Amy Lint at (619)641-7510 ext 264 or ext 244 or visit http://www.theirc.org/us-program/us-san-diego-ca/aquaponic-farm-tour-june-19

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: June 23rd, 2010   |     No Comments »

Revolution @ La Jolla Farmer’s Market

Revolution Landscape made its debut at the La Jolla Farmer’s Market last Sunday, 5/23! We featured an array of heirloom fruit and vegetable starts raised without the use of any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. We will be selling our organic starts and answering any of your gardening questions! Come buy to learn more about organic gardening and get the plants to start your summer garden today!

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: May 27th, 2010   |     2 Comments »

Mama’s Day

Last night, three members of the Revolution crew plus dates attended Mama’s Kitchen’s big annual fundraiser called Mama’s Day at the Hyatt Aventine in La Jolla. The event was held to raise money and spread awareness for their organization which provides freshly cooked meals to AIDS patients as well as other ailing, and disabled people. Roughly 80 of the best local San Diego restaurants were in attendance. They had cooking stations set up and were serving their finest! It was a fantastic party. Our favorite was Harry’s filet mignon and mashed potatoes. We have to get some protein in our vegetable diet, right?! We met the executive director of the event, whom was excited about the prospect of a garden at the hotel, as well as several restaurant owners whom could provide veggie oil to fuel our truck. Overall, great food, people, venue, and hosting organization. We had a really really good time.

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: May 8th, 2010   |     No Comments »

La Jolla High School Presentation

Today Revolution Landscape made a presentation to the La Jolla High School AP Environmental Science class to discuss some of the problems with conventional food and agriculture systems.

Many students already had a great understanding of how conventional agriculture causes pollution of water ways and uses excessive amounts of energy to produce the food we eat. The presentation aimed to identify some of the major problems with agriculture, but also offered tangible solutions using our own experience as landscapers. We demonstrated how we can all use our own skills and interests to help our society move toward sustainability. The students really seemed engaged and interested in hearing a solutions oriented presentation as the class can get pretty heavy learning about all the problems facing society.

Revolution Landscape will again be supporting LJHS by donating our consultation services to be auctioned at the LJHS Foundations annual fundraiser on May 21. Hope to see you there!

Author: Jeff Robins   |   Posted on: March 3rd, 2010   |     No Comments »