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M1111,1111111.1111, 14111311111,111,1111111.11_ 1111111111111 <br /> EUGENE ��� i�� Ll!2 I Ale 1 -i" <br /> .411111111111111111111111111111 <br /> October 23, 2002 <br /> CONTACT: <br /> • Bruce Newhouse, Native Plant Society, 343-2364 <br /> • Michael Robert, Head Gardener, Hendricks Park, 682-5324 <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY AND CITY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE DIVISION RECOGNIZE <br /> DOWN TO EARTH GARDEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP <br /> On Thursday, October 24, at 3 p.m., Down to Earth will receive the Native Habitat <br /> Stewardship Award from the Emerald Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon and City of <br /> Eugene Parks and Open Space Division. The award will be presented by Bruce Newhouse of <br /> the Native Plant Society, Parks Maintenance Manager Tim Rhay, and Hendricks Park Head <br /> Gardener Michael Robert at Down to Earth's downtown store at 532 Olive Street in the Farmers <br /> Union Building. <br /> The Eugene-based gardening store was selected for this award because of its efforts to <br /> help protect sensitive natural ecosystems. Down to Earth recently demonstrated its <br /> commitment to environmental stewardship by voluntarily removing from the store's inventory all <br /> plants appearing on the Native Plant Society's list of invasive gardening and landscaping plants <br /> of the southern Willamette Valley. <br /> The plant society publishes a list of non-native, invasive species annually as a way to <br /> educate the public about plants that can cause significant damage to the area's natural <br /> ecosystem. Down to Earth's response to the most recent edition of the list, published in June, <br /> was unexpected, but welcomed by the City and the Native Plant Society, who have both <br /> launched campaigns to control the spread of invasive species. "We are putting a lot of energy <br /> and resources into the management of invasive plants on City land," says Rhay. "It is <br /> enormously helpful to have this sort of preventive action taken by a local business." <br /> "Down to Earth's decision shows that a successful business model can include <br /> environmental stewardship," adds Heiko Koester, member of the Native Plant Society. <br /> For more information about the City's efforts to control invasive plants, call 682-4824. <br /> For more information about the Native Plant Society's list of invasive gardening and <br /> landscaping plants, visit www.emeraldnpso.org or call 343-2364. <br /> ### <br />