Enhance Your Environment

Environment Shapes Successful Behavior

This past week I had the privilege of hearing the remarkable story of Bill Strickland at the annual convention of The National Speakers Association in New York City.  Mr. Strickland has transformed the lives of thousands of inner city kids and their families by creating a center right in the heart of the poorest part of Pittsburgh where he grew up. As he pointed out - "because that's exactly where it had to be."  Bill Strickland raised the funds to create a world class - and I do mean world class center that takes the natural abilities that we all have and nurtures them by training these kids to go on to successful careers, even as Ph'd's and physicians.  Mr. Strickland believes that environment shapes behavior.  I couldn't agree with him more.  As a landscape architect for the last twenty years, I'm always amazed at how peoples lives and lifestyles are transformed by enhancing their environments.

What exactly did Bill Strickland do?  Well, in this beautiful center he began to bring in original artwork.  The naysayers said that wasn't a good idea because it would might get harmed. In 24 years they've not had one incident.  So he has brought in more original art, which happens to be one of his passions.  He did the same with jazz music. His center soon attracted the attention of gourmet chefs, who now help train the students in the culinary arts while also create amazing food that everyone enjoys.  There's more.  Every day they bring in fresh flowers - every day!  I don't know how he pulls it off, but now there are other centers like this being developed across the country with a goal to create 200 of them.  Organizations like Dell are donating computers. Steelcase donated furniture.  Paul Simon brought in his engineers to help develop the recording studio that attracted world class musicians like Herbie Hancock that have even recorded Grammy winning work there. I think you'll be hearing more about Bill Strickland's story now that he has put it into print.  Check out his book - Make the Impossible Possible.

Businesses people like you and me can learn from this.  Change the work environment and you will change productivity.   A beautiful environment supports high expectations that produce results -whether that means increased sales or better customer service.  But what if you are an employee working out of a cubicle and can't change your environment?   I'm sure you can always do something like bringing in a personal photo.  Yet, we all can change our attitude about our environment by accepting what can't be changed.  In one of my favorite movies, the Jericho Mile, Peter Strauss plays the lead character Rain Murphy who is a convicted felon and also a world class runner.  Running is Murphy's way of "doing his time."  The warden wanted to take Murphy outside the prison to train for the Olympics - good intentions - but not so good result.  Well, the movie ends with Murphy celebrating with his own olympics within the walls of the prison.  It says the a lot about the human spirit and the power of the mind.  And it showcases the Rolling Stones classic Sympathy for the Devil quite well. See what you can do to bring some beauty to your life and the people you work with.  Everyone deserves to learn and work in the right environment.

Mulch Prices to Soar!

You had to see this one coming.  Years ago I played in a golf tournament with a gentleman who owned a lumber mill on the west coast.  He was shocked to learn that the bark and other waste from his lumber operations actually had value to landscapers as mulch.  You bet!  In fact, shredded hardwood bark is superior as a mulch because it decomposes much more slowly (due to its lignin content) than wood mulch (which is predominantly cellulose).

An article in today's Wall Street Journal - "Sawdust Shock - A Shortage Looms as Economy Slows" - accurately points out that by-products of the lumber milling process, namely sawdust that is used as bedding for horses and chickens, and shredded bark that is used in residential and commercial landscapes, are in very short supply.   Sawdust prices have more than doubled in the last 9 months.  As we enter a new season for landscaping here in the Midwest, and especially in Naperville, you can expect to pay approximately 15-20% more for the the material that protects your investment in your landscape.  This is compounded by increases in fuel prices that have resulted in increases over the recent years.  Incidentally, most of the mulch used in this locale is barged up from the Gulf Coast. 

Doesn't it seem that we are running out of resources to sustain the lifestyles we've created for ourselves?  This winter we ran out of salt to keep our roads safe.  Fuel prices continue to rise, although this is arguably an artificial market - cast your vote accordingly in the next election.   And now we are running out of not just a commodity, but a product that was considerate a waste-product.  Caveat Emptor!  What's next?  I suggest clean water will soon be in short supply.   Sound ridiculous?  No more ridiculous that a shortage of salt when we are surrounded mostly by salt water.   

Sunday Afternoon in Nature - Make the Connection

It's Sunday afternoon here in Chicago and I'm just relaxing in front of our backyard pond.  It won't be long now until we move out of this home we have enjoyed for nearly twenty years.  With the mid-summer weather in Chicago treating us to Spring-like conditions, we will miss our pond as much as anything.  It has become an event to simply greet it in the morning - saying hello to our little paradise - fish, plants, smooth, comfortable stepping stones, and of course, the enduring symphony of the waterfall.  What is it about nature that engages us?  Whatever it is, we need to remind ourselves that we are part of Nature. This reminds us that we are alive! -- and should be enjoying every day to the fullest. 

If you aren't enjoying nature in your personal environment, maybe it's time for an upgrade - an enhancement.  I'm sure we will have at least one and probably more water features in our new home - installed by Treemendous Landscape Company, of course. By introducing water, fragrance, texture,  and color into your outdoor environment, you are abstracting the larger envrironment that we are all connected to.  Landscaping isn't just ornamentation -- properly designed and implemented, it creates a space where you can contemplate, meditate, and best of all - celebrate!  It may remind you that you are not alone. We are all part of a larger universe that supports and sustains us in ways that we cannot always comprehend, but that we can surely appreciate.  And thankfully the awareness of green is bringing that to the forefront.  Take some time in nature - even just looking up at the stars at night.  You will know with certainty that you are connected with every living creature in this universe.  I'm confident it will remind you that you are not alone, but connected in ways we don't even have to understand to appreciate.

Home to Environment - "You Complete Me!"

The United States is presently experiencing a slow real estate market.  Yet, we just sold our home at full asking price - in one week!  How did this happen?   There is no doubt in my mind that having a well designed and maintained landscape that complements the home and integrates with the interior spaces dramatically helps to make 'a house a home.' A home is more than the physical structure - it an intimate combination of the structure carefully sited and appropriately enhanced to capture the best qualities of that site.

Every homebuilder knows you sometimes have to build a spec home so that potential buyers can experience their product - because most can't do this from drawings and plans.  The physical structure is tangible - people can relate to it.  Moreover, if you have a home with poorly enhanced outdoor spaces, it is a distraction from what may otherwise be beautiful home.  Offering choices of outdoor spaces with different personalities - sometimes referred to as outdoor rooms - fully immerses the homeowner in their environment where they can envision themselves relaxing, rejuvenating, enjoying family and friends, or otherwise experiencing their home - and life more fully.   I imagine homes with great landscapes might feel as Tom Cruise did for Rene Zellweger in the film Jerry McGuire when he proclaimed to her - "You Complete Me."

Celebrate Rain - It's Anything But Lonely!

It's raining in Chicago at the moment.  As a landscape architect in the Green Industry, this is a celebration to the end of a day of planting.  This should also be a celebration - and likely is - for just about anyone.  Rain nourishes, replenishes, and rejuvenates the environment which sustains us.  I always find it interesting that rain is a common metaphor for the opposite of celebration - for sorrow, regret, and lost love.  Remember the lyrics from Jackie Wilson's classic, Lonely Teardrops - ...   My Heart Is cryin', cryin - Lonely Teardrops (fallin' like rain) - My pillows never dry off - Lonely Teardrops."

Somehow I feel Jackie may have been at least celebrating his feelings for someone special - hoping to transform his feelings into a hope and a dream.  Someday we may too be 'cryin, cryin' if we don't begin to "celebrate" - that is, if we don't protect and preserve our natural resources - and water should surely be near the top of the list.  Water should also be a metaphor for good health and vitality.  Water sustains us - as the human body is nearly 2/3 water - depending upon your age.  We are a mirror of our larger environment, which itself is over 2/3 water - interesting and ironic, isn't it - and thankfully a reality! 

There are not too many things more enjoyable than the fresh, captivating air that accompanies an evening rainstorm.  And the morning often brings the bright sunshine that transforms this resource into the life of flora and fauna.  O.K., maybe I am 'fawning' a bit here - though I hope I'm reminding you and me of how our natural environment enhances the quality of life we all enjoy.  Let it rain. Yes, life is full of ups and downs - but there are more ups if we all appreciate what we have and enjoy ever moment - rain or shine!