No Stone Left Unturned!

by Deborah Orrill, CalMAX Coordinator

Since 1997, City Farmers Nursery of San Diego has run "wanted" listings in the CalMAX catalog for crushed rocks and gravel, 15-gallon nursery pots, and used automotive tires. In the last year, with help from CalMAX, this locally owned and operated nursery has diverted over 24 tons of crushed rocks and gravel from the landfill, thus saving thousands of dollars in procurement costs while transforming business discards into useful resources.

City Farmers accepts materials from a variety of sources. They also receive numerous calls every month offering more materials as well. The exchanges are both ongoing and one-time arrangements. William and Patty Tall, owners and operators of the nursery, make every effort to utilize all materials received. In the past, they have received crushed rocks and gravel from a local roofing company and tires from a neighboring tire store. As for the 15-gallon nursery pots, they come from several landscape companies in the area, while a one-time burlap bag exchange was made possible when a local San Diego coffee grinding company heard of the Talls' reuse exploits.

City Farmers Nursery only accepts "free" materials, even though some of the CalMAX contacts have offered materials to the nursery "for a price." Not one pound - let alone one ton, of those 24 tons of crushed rocks and gravel, 2000 pounds of useful tires, 100 pounds of nursery pots and 100 pounds of burlap coffee bags cost these innovative business owners one thin dime last year.

William Tall opened the City Farmers Nursery 28 years ago at the age of 16 and it is still located on its original site. The Talls use much of the crushed rocks and gravel to use in paving walkways, stairways, and driveways at the nursery. The tires are used for decorative purposes and in the construction of a small retaining wall. The burlap coffee bags were used for bagging and decorative purposes, and while some of the nursery pots were planted with new cuttings, others were given away to local schools for special arts and crafts projects. The result is an impressive multi-faceted business "reuse" program. "When one source is depleted, a new source always seems to be available," said William.

A proponent of the printed CalMAX catalog, William Tall is not one of the "electronically connected." He does not have a Web site, nor does he receive e-mail. What he does receive is the quarterly publication, delivered to his front door four times a year. Upon receiving the catalog, William reads it "from cover to cover," as he says, looking for materials that his business can reuse.

If these reuse efforts aren’t impressive enough, last Christmas William partnered with the City of San Diego and chipped 240 Christmas trees, after which time he offered free mulch to residents who dropped off their trees at the nursery. The city supported these efforts by giving William and Patty a $900 grant to cover the cost of chipping the trees. When local residents came back in pickup trucks with bags for their mulch, everyone was smiling.

Recycling doesn't stop there for the Tall family; they also have a mini-farm including the family horse, goats, sheep, and ducks that are fed plant trimmings as their primary feedstock. Like many creative recyclers, William and Patty's resourceful efforts wouldn't be complete without worms. The worms produce worm castings, providing a nutrient-rich soil amendment that is used for plantings in the nursery. The Talls also sell worms to neighbors heading to the lake for a day of fishing. But there is one catch—those interested in acquiring the worms must dig them up. "The kids have a great time," says William.

With a habit of answering opportunity's every knock, it should come as no surprise that the Talls have decided to open a Delicatessen adjacent to the nursery. In the Deli, plans are underway to recycle food waste with the help of their indispensable worms. Cardboard, glass, and aluminum will also be recycled.

If you have materials you would like to provide free of charge to the City Farmers Nursery, please refer to the nursery’s listings "Wanted Materials" listings in the catalog or on the CalMAX Web site. The crushed rocks and gravel can be found under "construction," the 15-gallon containers can be found under "containers," and the used tires are found under "rubber." Enjoy finding new uses for your unneeded materials!

City Farmers Nursery—Retail Nursery & Deli
William and Patty Tall
4832 Home Avenue l San Diego, CA 92105-4405
(619) 284-6358

Return to CalMAX Connections Articles

Last updated: August 01, 2008