April 9, 2018 RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA—As part of Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply’s and Audubon International’s commitment to local sustainable solutions, the organizations have partnered with Toro and others to help build a community garden space for the California School for the Deaf, Riverside.
On April 7, 2018 Ewing worked with a local irrigation and landscape contractor, ValleyScape Irrigation & Lighting, Audubon International and a variety of local manufacturers, including Toro, Kellogg Garden Products and Corona Tools to install irrigation, plant vegetables and educate staff and students on sustainable food and water practices. The local Riverside Garden Council designed the site’s community garden.
“Working with the local communities we serve is of the utmost importance to Ewing as a company. We’re excited to be able to help provide something as important as a sustainable food source that is so valuable to this school,” said Warren Gorowitz, Vice President of Sustainability at Ewing.
California School for the Deaf, Riverside serves deaf students aged three to 21 with innovative learning and technology solutions, extra-curricular opportunities and college preparatory classes in Riverside, California, a member of Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program. During the school season students reside in on-campus dormitories. School administration wanted to provide a more robust community space and on-site garden for students, which led to this community garden project.
The new planter beds and vegetable garden—installed by ValleyScape, Ewing and others—will be used by on-campus students to care for, cook meals with and learn about sustainable urban food practices.
“We’re very happy to partner with Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply to make this wonderful project a reality in Riverside,” said Christine Kane, Executive Director of Audubon International. “It ties together several of the focus areas of our Sustainability Communities Program and nicely complements the efforts the city has underway to think more holistically about integrating sustainability on the community scale.”
Ewing and Toro donated all of the irrigation provided for the project. Ewing, ValleyScape, Toro and Kellogg installed the raised planter beds and vegetable garden on April 7. Kellogg and Corona Tools donated mulch and plant material and tools, respectively.
The planting day corresponded with GrowRIVERSIDE, a local event to highlight and encourage urban food and agriculture initiatives across the Inland Southern California region. GrowRIVERSIDE tour participants were provided lunch and an overview of the work completed at the school.
About Ewing
Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply is the largest family-owned national supplier of landscape, irrigation, agronomic, aggregate, hardscape and water management products. As your business partner, we offer products and education for irrigation and landscape, turf and land management, outdoor living, sports fields, golf and sustainable solutions. Our nationwide network of friendly, knowledgeable staff helps green industry professionals discover products and services for business success.
About Audubon International
Audubon International is a not-for-profit environmental education organization that delivers high-quality environmental education around the world to facilitate the sustainable management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources in all the places people live, work, and play. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, single properties, new developments, and entire communities. For more information, visit Audubon International’s website at www.auduboninternational.org or contact Christine Kane, Executive Director at christine@auduboninternational.org at (518) 767-9051 ext. 114.
