Publication helps nurseries go green
By Christina Williams
Sustainable Business Oregon
Nursery owners have a new guide to help them adopt climate-friendly practices. Best Management Practices for Climate Friendly Nurseries, includes case studies from several Oregon nurseries, including J. Frank Schmidt and Son Co. farm of Canby, which installed underground drip irrigation.
The guide was published through a pilot program called Climate Friendly Nurseries, developed through a partnership between the Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Oregon Environmental Council. The nursery industry is Oregon's largest agricultural sector.
Climate Friendly Nurseries has been working with 12 nurseries to reduce their carbon footprint, an effort similar to the carbon-neutral winery program, which has evolved into an industry-wide certification program.
The guide was available for the first time at the Farwest Show, the nursery industry's largest western trade show, held last week at the Oregon Convention Center.
"When I was in our booth, I kept hearing people say, 'Finally, somebody has something for us on this' as they picked up the publication," said Elizabeth Peters, director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries.
Peters said the Climate Friendly Nurseries project is just one part of the OAN's sustainability initiative. The group is holding a Sustainability Summit on Oct. 13.
Oregon is the second-largest nursery state in the country with 2,130 businesses employing 21,000 people. Statewide, the sector had $500.4 million in sales in 2009.
christinawilliams@bjzjournals.com | 503-219-3438
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