Sustainability

"Educate, enchant and inspire environmental stewardship through displays of living beauty."

In 2006, Reiman Gardens updated its mission statement to include sustainability. This update goes hand-in-hand with the Gardens' practices to carefully utilize resources. These changes will benefit this generation, as well as generations to come.

The following are examples of how Reiman Gardens practices sustainability:

Garden
- Composts and chips all organic garden materials
- Uses capillary mats in greenhouses to reduce water usage
- Reduces use of heat, cooling and water requirements in all glass houses with environmental controls
- Uses retention devices on new plantings to save water
- Provides continuing education for employees in reduced chemical use for pest control
- Incorporates bio-controls in pest management practices
- Re-uses all nursery pots & garden labels
- Chooses site appropriate plants when planning new gardens
- Uses low-maintenance plant materials
- Chooses lower-emission models of leaf-blowers
- Reduces labor, fuel usage & water consumption by mowing grass to height of 3.25" instead of 3"
- Incorporates the automatic shutdown of decorative fountains
- Reduces water usage with irrigation controls
- Sponsor of "Plant A Row for the Hungry" with 22,839 pounds of food collected & donated since 2003

Recycling
- Collection bins used for cardboard, glass, white paper, compost, aluminum, plastic, ink cartridges, toner, batteries & motor oil
- Sponsors "Stash the Trash" program in Ames

Kitchen
- No paper products
- Volunteers & staff bring their own coffee mugs & store them on-site

Cleaning
- Uses "green" products including: green seal certified, non-toxic, biodegradable & no petroleum-based cleaning products
- Uses recycled trash bags in all buildings

Offices
- Prints double sided copies & uses scrap paper
- Energy Star equipment installed
- Shuts down unnecessary equipment during non-occupancy
- E-invites & E-newsletters instead of mailed pieces

Buildings
- Uses sensor controlled light switches & energy efficient light bulbs
- Cycles air handlers to the "off" position during non-occupancy
- Uses automatic thermostats for energy conservation
- Reduces heat loss with thermal curtains in the glass houses