4 minute read
GARDENS
HOW GREEN ARE WE REALLY?
Last month we caught up up Diogo from Geojardim garden center to discuss the new direction in which he is taking his business
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Whenever a customer makes a change in their business, whether it be a new menu at a restaurant, or a new greenkeeper at a golf club, we like to inform our readers about the updates in the form of an editorial story. So when Diogo told us that he was updating his website and that he was ‘changing his business strategy’, we picked up the camera and headed off for a meeting at GeoJardim garden center with him.
Always organised, Diogo had prepared some notes for our meeting. In front of him was a piece of paper on which we could read two sentences, both outlined; ‘Green industry is not really green’, and ‘It needs to stop’. We immediately knew this interview was not only about his new website, Diogo was serious about something!
For the first time in 11 years of publishing magazines, we had a client to who was offering a free editorial story who didn’t want to promote their business, but instead to promote a different way of thinking and working within the gardening industry, for both the consumer and employees.
Let’s start with the mission statement: ‘Geojardim’s mission is to leave a better world. We will continue to be an ethically responsible company, believing in sustainable growth models and continuing to strive towards solutions that respect People and the Environment. We have a long journey ahead, but we will do our best’. So... to leave a better world and sustainability!
Why do we have to wear such a high level of protective clothing and breathing apparatus when spraying insecticides, fungicides and herbicides (weed killer). The image of a family sitting on a lawn having a picnic is scary when you’ve just seen it being sprayed by someone covered from head to toe and wearing a mask. Surely there’s something wrong with this image!
Diogo has stopped using or selling glyphosate (Round up) and is currently working with suppliers to find solutions that respect the environment and persuade their clients to use 100% natural products. For example, their is a natural weed killer containing pelargonic acid from plant extract which has been available for years, there are also insecticides made from extract of plants roots like Nim oil and many other alternatives.
Our question was: why isn’t everyone using this already? Diogo’s view is that consumers decide on what products are sold on the market by the choices they make. If we carry on buying the usual pesticides, they’ll carry on selling it to us... there’s no change. If we start demanding more from companies and their products and question were does it come from and how is it made? Who do they work with? Do they support the local community? Do they have sustainability programs? Once again, it’s the consumer who can make a change by choosing how and where they spend their money. place at the Garden Center. Diogo will be keeping checks on the results and is happy to talk to clients and other garden companies about them. The goal is that all of the 24 products he currently uses are replaced by 100% natural products with the same quality results... a big task, but it’s achievable.
Next in the mission statement is being an ethically responsible company. Although the following points may appear obvious, they are not always in place. Staff should be fully trained including health and safety. They should be fully insured and receive a fair salary. Quality machinery and safety equipment should be provided. For example the latest strimmers and lawnmowers run on rechargeable batteries. For the employee there is no smelly petrol to deal with, the noise is significantly reduced, the machines are much lighter and more comfortable to use.
GeoJardim have a compost shredder in which they shredded garden waste last year resulting in 20 tones of compost. This takes 6 months before it can be used in the gardens.
At the end of the interview Diogo makes a point that is very important to him. he says, “This is not about promoting GeoJardim. It’s about creating awarness, sharing information with other companies and working together with the suppliers to find new solutions. It’s no longer a competition for us anymore. Our mission is no longer focused on growing, on market share and maximazing our profit, it is about doing what we think is right. It’s about becoming a more ethical and sustainable company, and being more involved with our local comunity and ultimately working for a better future. We dont have all the anwsers but will do our best!
For more information or to contact Diogo, visit his website www.geojardim.pt
