• Gardeners and Gardens Enjoy Cool Fall Weather In October - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 1:29 PM
  • October finally brings relief from summer heat, allowing both gardeners and gardens to enjoy a temperate climate for planting an array of cool season vegetables, trees and shrubs, says Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of premium soil products and one of the state's largest green materials recycling companies.

    Plant Bedding Plants: Plant now for colorful blooms by Thanksgiving. Use nursery six-packs instead of costlier annuals in larger containers. In fall, smaller plants grow bigger and will flower longer than their larger counterparts.

    Landscape Trees and Shrubs: Plant drought-resistant trees and shrubs so they have the long, cooler winter months to establish themselves before summer heat. Avoid frost-sensitive plants and those best suited to summer planting. Drought-resistant trees and shrubs include Eucalyptus, California pepper, California sycamore (drought tolerant once established), coast live oak, Italian buckthorn and oleander.

    Let Roses Rest: Stop fertilizing roses, water sparingly and don't cut dead flowers. This will let plants make rose hips (fruits) to allow a smooth transition to winter dormancy.

    Plant cool season vegetables: Pull out summer vegetables that have stopped producing. Buy six packs of seasonal vegetables including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, peas, spinach, Brussels sprouts, lettuce and rutabaga. Plant them in well cultivated and amended soil.

    Spruce up perennials: Thin out perennials including Shasta daisies, callas and yarrow. Prune overgrown and dead stems, preferably almost to the ground. When the plants grow back, they will fuller with a less straggly appearance.

    Herb season: Hardy herbs that can be planted in fall include garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel and thyme. Basil goes to flower in fall so harvest and dry the leaves and use them for winter cooking.

    Cut back on watering: Unless we experience unusually strong and prolonged hot Santa Ana winds, gardeners can reduce the amount of water for their lawn, garden, trees and shrubs. Make sure water timers are shut off when it rains.

    For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

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    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for the farmers, landscapers and consumers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for over 50 Southern California communities. Each month, Agromin receives and processes thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions. Agromin is the U.S. Composting Council's "Composter of the Year."

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  • Soils & Mulches From Recycled Green Materials Now At Ojai Outlets - Monday, August 10, 2009 at 9:06 AM
  • Soil products and mulches made from materials collected each week from residential green waste bins in Ventura County are now available at three Ojai outlets.

    Planting mix, potting soil, vegetable garden mix and other soil products are produced by green waste recycler Agromin. They are available in bags at Wachter Hay & Grain (114 S. Montgomery St.) and Mountain Meadows Nursery (245 Old Baldwin Rd.). They are also sold in bulk at Greg’s Rents and Equipment Sales (420 Ventura Ave., Oakview).

    Agromin was recently named "Composter of the Year" by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). Agromin compost is also USCC certified, meaning it meets the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe. Agromin compost complies with the requirements of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), meaning it can be used in certified organic farm production and food processing according to the USDA National Organic Program.

    "Communities are striving to become more sustainable," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "One way is through recycling our green waste at a local level." Residential grass clippings, leaves and branches are cleaned of any non-green materials, chopped and laid out in composting rows at one of Agromin' recycling locations.. The material is turned and watered until microorganisms naturally "compost" the materials into rich, organic soil. The compost and mulch products are then bagged for consumer use or distributed onto agricultural lands throughout the county.

    "We all want to be more mindful of our natural resources," says Camarillo. "Using soil products made from local green waste is an easy way to help close the recycling loop."

    For more information about green recycling, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Growing Produce - Story on Agomin-Limoneira Partnership - Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 12:53 PM
  • May 2009

    This past January, the California Institute for Rural Studies released a new report titled "California Water Stewards: Innovative On-Farm Water Management Practices." The report highlights several of these growers, whose efforts reflect important strategies for stewarding the state's limited water resources. Keep reading for more information on some of the water saving practices these growers are implementing.



    Sustainability is a high priority to Limoneira Company, as the Ventura County based company's 115-year history can attest. They grow a variety of fruit and nut crops on 7,000 acres in Southern California, including approximately 3,000 acres of lemons and avocados grown in Santa Paula, CA. Part of Limoneira’s success lies in their dedication to building partnerships with the community and other companies that share their vision.

    In response to the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, Limoneira Company formed a partnership with Agromin Corporation to help Ventura County meet required reductions in waste delivered to landfills. The partnership, formed in 2004, mutually benefits both companies. Limoneira provides Agromin with access to five acres of land, on which Agromin produces organic mulch and compost from municipal green waste collected from Ventura County residents. In exchange, Agromin provides Limoneira with valuable soil amendments for their farming operations.

    According to Gus Gunderson, Head of Southern Farming Operations, and Ely Key, Special Projects Manager, the organic mulch helps improve both soil structure and water efficiency. As Gus explains, "We are confident that the Agromin product has been helping improve orchard health because after applying mulch to the orchard floor we have seen an increase in overall tree health and productivity. As we add the organic matter, we are adding benefits to the soil structure; improving soil tilth and microbial populations. We are getting better intake of water and better intake of nutrients, which in turn gives us better root systems."

    Water-Saving Practices
    --Limoneira applies organic mulch/compost on their lemon and avocado orchards. Organic mulch reduces the need for water by holding moisture in the soil and reducing the amount of water lost through evaporation.
    --Limoneira contracts with Fruit Growers Laboratory to help monitor their soil and water quality, which helps them evaluate soil moisture levels and avoid ground water contamination.
    --Limoneira converted to low-flow micro-sprinklers and modified furrows with micro-tubes (spaghetti-tube) emitters to irrigate crops.
    --Using no-till farming methods in the orchards, they are able to reduce soil erosion and improve soil moisture holding capacity.
    Benefits
    --Compost improves soil structure by reducing bulk density in clay soils and increasing water-holding capacity in sandy soils. Improved soil structure produces better root structures and improves air and water infiltration.
    --Mulch holds the soil in place, reducing soil erosion and associated negative impacts on water quality.
    --Mulch increases organic matter in the soil, which in turn increases the amount of nutrients available to the trees and plants and reduces the need for chemical fertilizer.
    --Organic mulch is beneficial for the maintenance of microorganisms. It provides food and a stable environment, with a constant soil temperature, in which the microorganisms thrive.
    --Organic mulch dramatically reduces weed growth and herbicide use.
    --Mulch improves tree and plant health, leading to increased plant yield and improved fruit quality. Research conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension also indicates that mulch can suppress the growth of Phytophthora and reduce the appearance of avocado thrips which cause scarring of immature fruit, thereby reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
    --The partnership between Limoneira and Agromin has had significant impacts on reducing the amount of green waste entering landfills.
    Costs
    --The cost of spreading the mulch including equipment and labor is around $350 per acre.
    --Limoneira receives the mulch free in exchange for providing Agromin with five acres of land to use for mulch production.
    Lessons Learned
    --Develop partnerships. By developing a partnership, Agromin Corporation and Limoneira help recycle the community's green waste while providing mulch for Limoneira's orchards and a marketable product for Agromin.

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  • Agromin Named "Composter of the Year" by US Composting Council - Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 8:54 AM
  • CAMARILLO, CALIF.--Agromin, the green materials recycler for more than 90 communities throughout Southern California and a premium soil manufacturer, received the "Composter of the Year" award from the US Composting Council (USCC) at the 17th Annual USCC Conference held in Houston in January.

    The USCC is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting industry in the US.

    Every year, the USCC evaluates and reviews the nominees for its Composter of the Year award. The award goes to the commercial-scale composting facility that has displayed excellence in both compost production and marketing/distribution. Additionally, the facility must be in operation for a minimum of five years and in regulatory compliance for the last three years.

    Agromin compost is USCC certified, meaning they have met the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe. As a participant in the USCC's Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) program, Agromin voluntarily tests its products to ensure their quality.

    "Everyone who disposes materials in their green recycling barrel each week is doing their part to close the recycling loop," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "Compost is made from the green materials and the soil products find their way back into landscapes and agricultural orchards and fields. Recycling is the one thing we can all do that's been proven to reduce waste and make our communities more sustainable."

    Agromin is one of the largest organics recyclers in California, recycling more than 300,000 tons of green materials in 2008. Agromin receives the green materials (i.e., leaves, grass clippings, brush, wood), and processes and composts the materials at its five facilities. It then produces 240 soil products including compost, bark and mulches for use by consumers, municipalities, agriculture and landscapers.

    For more information about Agromin, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Agromin Receives 2008 Environmental Business Journal Achievement Award - Friday, January 16, 2009 at 11:15 AM
  • Agromin, the green materials recycler for cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, received an Environmental Business Journal's 2008 Bronze Achievement Award for its work in waste and recycling services.

    Agromin was recognized for being one of the few green materials recyclers that specializes in the sustainable processing and recycling of materials. The company was singled out for using environmentally sound approaches to produce more than 240 soil amendment products for agricultural, public works and construction, landscaping and other applications. It was particularly credited with providing ag companies with a continual supply of compost and mulch for their orchards and crops, which helps farmers use less water, minimize erosion and cut down on the use of herbicides and pesticides.

    "At Agromin, our goal is to create innovative means to support and advance
    environmental sustainability," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CEO. "Our customers, whether farmers, landscapers or weekend gardeners, help us in these efforts by using products from recycled green materials. We're honored that the Environmental Business Journal recognized Agromin's efforts."

    An official awards ceremony honoring the award winners will take place at the Environmental Industry Summit in San Diego in February.

    For more information about green materials recycling, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • Christmas Trees Lead Productive Lives After The Holidays - Friday, December 12, 2008 at 3:41 PM
  • Big Wave Dave's Christmas Trees and green materials recycler Agromin are teaming up to spread the word, that with the help of Ventura and Santa Barbara County residents, Christmas trees will have a productive life long after the holidays.

    Approximately 70,000 to 100,000 cut Christmas trees are purchased from tree lots in the counties each year. After Christmas, the trees are collected from residences and recycled into soil products for use locally by agricultural operations, landscapers and consumers," says Bill Camarillo, CFO of Agromin, the green materials recycler for 19 Ventura and Santa Barbara cities. "In as little as 60 days, trees go from being the center of holiday festivities to mulch used on farmland and in gardens and landscapes."

    To help with the after-Christmas recycling effort, Camarillo says residents should be sure trees are free of ornaments, tinsel, nails and tree stands before placing them in green recycling bins. "Because of these efforts, your Christmas tree may be part of the mulch you use in your garden next spring or it may have helped grow lemons, avocados or strawberries on local farms," says Camarillo.

    Dave Lidren, owner of Big Wave Dave's Christmas Trees with lots in Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura, Moorpark and Santa Barbara, says the cut Christmas tree industry is part of the sustainable movement. "We receive our trees from Pacific Northwest farms so the natural forests are untouched," says Lidren. "For every tree harvested, growers plant one or more replacement trees."

    Lidren sees considerable green benefits of live Christmas trees when comparing them to artificial trees. "Live trees are all natural and are 100 percent biodegradable. Artificial trees are made of non-biodegradable plastics and metals," says Lidren. "While growing, live trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air; artificial trees are made of petroleum-based products that pollute the air. Live trees are recycled; artificial trees wind up in landfills and could take decades to decompose. Plus, live trees are a renewable resource while the petroleum used to make the plastic in artificial trees is a non-renewable resource."

    Lidren says any unsold trees from his lots are recycled. "Nothing goes to waste," says Lidren. An Agromin green recycling display will be at every lot, reminding shoppers that Christmas is just one stop in the trees' lifecycle.

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  • St. Rose of Lima School and Church Get Landscaping Facelift - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 4:51 PM

  • St. Rose of Lima School and Catholic Church in Simi Valley is enjoying a newly landscaped parking lot and play area courtesy of volunteers and more than 10 tons of donated mulch from Agromin.

    The church and school on Royal Avenue needed a parking lot makeover to repair cracks and potholes and to expand and improve the safety of the play area of its school facility. Once the hardscape was refurbished and planters were placed between the parking lot and playground, the church parishioners turned their sights on "greening" the area. "Families donated funds to pay for trees, flowers and groundcover," says Rick Casanova, who along with Pat Shaffer, volunteered to oversee the project. The items were purchased at a discount from Enchanted Way Nursery.

    Almost 500 plant products, including sycamore, amber and ginko trees, day lilies, lantana, viburnum and ground cover, were selected. "The vegetation will be easy to maintain and is drought tolerant," says Casanova.

    More than 125 volunteers dug trenches, ran irrigation lines and planted trees and plants over two days in September and October. The Knights of Columbus hosted a free barbeque lunch for the volunteers.


    "We put a high priority on the safety of our children," says the church pastor Father Joseph Shea, when explaining why the project was needed. "We also try to bring beauty into people's lives. We're now protecting our children from parking lot traffic with beautiful landscaping. Parish members all worked together to complete the project. It had been 20 year since we last upgraded the parking area and we're delighted with the results."

    "It's nice to see greenery we never had before," says Casanova. "We brought the site up to date. We are very grateful that Agromin donated the soil for the project."

    Each week, Agromin receives leaves, grass clippings, wood and other green materials from the recycling containers collected at curbside throughout the county. From there, the materials are composted and used to create soil products. These products are then returned to the community in the form of mulch, bark and soil amendments.

    "The green materials we received from Simi Valley residents could very well be in the 10 tons of mulch used at St. Rose," says Bill Camarillo, CFO of Agromin. "These kinds of landscaping projects are a great example of how the community can 'close the green recycling loop.' We're happy to help." One of Agromin's green materials recycling facilities is at the Simi Valley Landfill.

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