Earth Day Investment

Personal Investment to Our Planet

For Earth Day 2022, we need a partnership between businesses and citizens to implement sustainable practices equitably. Collaborative efforts result in positive progress and lasting investments, creating accountability with all entities. Al’s Garden & Home leans into sustainable business practices in various facets. Within our farm and growing operations, Al’s commits to growing over 80% of its inventory reducing our consumption of natural resources on transportation. Speaking of power, Al’s farms are exploring installing solar panel arrays to provide reusable energy for our greenhouses.

Our stores actively practice organic, sustainable efforts with our plants and irrigation. Our Sherwood store recycles its water for irrigation. All of our stores utilize beneficial insects for sustainable pest control of our plants, trees, and shrubs. We offer organic fertilizing and pest control solutions to customers who invest in eco-friendly gardening.

Investing in our community is one of our top priorities and has been for almost 75 years. Whether it is donating plants/plant material to non-profits and educational programs or hosting the annual high school electronic recycling event around Earth Day, Al’s is committed to continuing its share of investment.

There are some easy ways people can do their share in investing in our environment all year-round. Below are suggestions you may adopt into your Earth investment practices.

 Plant, Plant, Plant

Planting trees, shrubs, herb gardens, flowers, and edibles/vegetables reduce pollution and the effects it has on the environment. The increase of flora creates a more natural balance and a cleaner atmosphere.

Think about planting “bee-friendly” plants. Our eco-system depends on bees and their pollination work. The domino effect to our environment and food systems relies on pollination. A vast majority of plants such as apples, squash, vanilla, herbs, and cotton must be pollinated to produce food for humans and livestock, as well as crops used to produce clothing, hygienic products, etc.

Bee-friendly plants include:

• Allium
• Foxglove
• Geraniums
• Hollyhock
• Lambs Ears
• Lavender
• Natives
• Oregano

Indoor Plants

Did you know you can improve the quality of your indoor environment naturally with plants? Just like flora purifies the outdoor air, house plants oxygenate the indoor air. House plants reduce the negative effects of indoor pollution from HVAC systems, pets, carpet, and some furniture. Plants will filter noxious gasses and freshen the air. A variety of indoor plants can provide this natural filtration like:

• Aloe Vera
• English Ivy
• Ferns
• Peace Lily (low allergy rating)
• Spider Plants
• Reed Palm

If you have allergic reactions to certain plants, consult the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale (OPALS). This rating scale was developed by Thomas Ogren which measures the allergy potential of all indoor, outdoor, and gardening plants.

Composting & Community Gardens

Recycling food and other organic waste into compost provides a range of environmental benefits. Compost improves soil health, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, recycles nutrients, and mitigates the impact of droughts. An additional benefit compost provides you with is an inexpensive way to maintain your garden.

Community gardens are beneficial in a multitude of ways. Community gardens reduce negative environmental impacts by promoting sustainable agriculture, reducing food transportation costs and reducing water runoff. They also create habitats and improve the ecology of the area.

The environmental investment opportunities are endless! No matter what your motivation, let’s make every day Earth Day.

 “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” — Audrey Hepburn