A local active adult community is showing us how their garden grows. K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Westshore in El Dorado Hills recently unveiled its sustainable community garden that utilizes recycled water through the “purple pipe” system.

The pipes are in fact purple, so it’s evident that it carries non-potable water (water not treated to drinking water standards). The two-acre parcel will provide gardening to the age 55 and better community’s residents. 

The recycled water that runs through the purple pipe system is converted from sewage through a three-step process that removes solid matter, separates dirt particles from cleaner water, and then filters water through coal, sand and gravel to trap microscopic particles. 

Elevated plots will provide access to residents that would otherwise have trouble gardening due to the amount of kneeling and squatting usually required to tend plants. The recycled and filtered water irrigates the raised garden sections, herb and ground-level plots. The garden plots, filled with 80 cubic yards of planting mix are already boasting wholesome vegetables and brilliant flowers. The garden also includes a half-acre parcel prepped for growing grapes, with post, braces and wire. The community garden is a great asset to the K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Westshore, and residents will undoubtedly harvest happy memories along with homegrown fruits, vegetable and flowers. This community garden gets two green thumbs up!  To learn more, visit khov.com.
 

PRESERVE & PROTECT

According to wastefreelunches.org, an organization committed to reducing trash in schools, it is estimated that, on average, a school-age child using a disposable lunch tosses 67 pounds of waste per school year.

Multiply those 67 pounds by the number of kids at an average-sized elementary school, and you get over 18,700 pounds of trash per school per year. That sure adds up! Preserve, a company  treading lightly on the earth, offers storage products made from 100 percent recyclable plastics, all made in the U.S. Their stylish Preserve Square Food Storage is just the right size to pack a sandwich in, comes with a snap-on lid, and is stackable and dishwasher safe, helping your family reduce the waste produced by packing lunches. Preserve products don’t just reduce waste, they reuse it! Their products are made from #5 polyproylene plastic collected to recycle through their “Gimme 5” program and through partner companies like Stoneyfield Farm. Buying a Preserve plastic product translates into 54% less water, 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity used compared to what is required to manufacture virgin polypropylene. Order online at preserveproducts.com or buy at Nugget Markets, 4500 Post Street, El Dorado Hills. 

THE GRASS IS GREENER

When it comes to our homes and bodies, we’ve all become more conscientious about what goes inside, but what about outside? You’ve heard of the “gold” standard, well now there’s a “green” standard in the landscaping world. Not only do forward-thinking lawn pros provide what you’d expect in terms of residential lawn and landscape maintenance, but they also offer water-wise techniques, mulching and native tree care.

LadybugLawn Landscape Care & Repair, for example, abides by ecological standards, including water conservation measures to promote sustainable environmental practices. Ladybug is approved by Serrano and the El Dorado Irrigation District for work on recycled water irrigation systems. For more information, call 916-941-9600 or visit ladybuglawn.com. Also committed to preserving our environment and helping homeowners save money is English Garden Care of Rancho Cordova, which offers design, installation and maintenance services to  Sacramento and foothill areas. True to their word, they were the primary  sponsor of this year’s Regional Water Authority Ultimate Water Smart Garden Makeover Contest. For more information about English Garden, call 916-635-4275 or visit englishgardencare.com.