The funny thing is, it actually works.
Being a Good Steward
Too much of 'business as usual' these days means taking advantage of natural resources with little or no regard for the health of our shared environment. At Zantopia Gardens we make decisions about producing plants with the understanding that it's important for our planet, and especially our local ecosystem, for us to incorporate sustainable work practices in all that we do.
First Things First
Where do we start? We begin with a natural view about pest control. We do not use chemical pesticides, allowing instead nature to provide the checks and balances in the nursery setting. Beneficial insects can be found every day patrolling the nursery, and keeping the "pests" at bay and under control. Allowing Mother Nature to work this way has provided us with a harmonious balance throughout each growing season.
Take a Look Around
The benefit of being pesticide free is noticeable in the abundance of wild fauna around the nursery. Tree frogs, garter snakes, honeybees, butterflies, toads, song birds - they're all there, living their lives and making their way in the world. Besides enjoying the numerous flowers and types of plants which abound at Zantopia, there is appreciable joy at unexpectedly finding a tiny frog taking a nap inside a daylily blossom.
Get Down in the Dirt
In order to have good roots, one must have good soil. At Zantopia Gardens we create our own by mixing locally sourced hard wood mulch, composted autumn leaves (both of which are completely sustainable) and sand for drainage. These items are mixed in proportion and create a fertile medium for growing healthy perennials which transplant extremely well into our customers gardens.
H2O and flow
You may have noticed that summers are getting drier, not to mention hotter. This has made for long days in the nursery, dragging a hose around to water all the plants in the past. Besides taking up many hours, it also wasted many gallons of water. So we installed a drip irrigation system in 2016. With tubing going to each plant, a slow drip, and a timer keeping everything on schedule, many gallons of water are saved throughout the season, and that is better for everyone.
A Walk in the Weeds
It's been said that one man's flower is another man's weed. Hmm, maybe, but fact is weeds happen. In the nursery we do our best to keep on top of them by cutting them down, rooting them out, and once in a while lighting a torch and burning them up. We've also found that using a high concentration of vinegar plus a little soap detergent goes a long way to keeping weeds to a minimum. But sometimes we just have to tip our hat to the weeds, and try to view them as flowers.