The James City Clean County Commission is proud to announce Coleman Nursery, located at 3000 Ironbound Road, as the winner of the 2016 2nd Quarter Clean Business Award. Nursery Owner, Randy Coleman, was presented with the Award on May 25 at the Virginia Peninsula Clean Business Forum for his efforts in converting a historic dump site into a sustainable nursery.
When Coleman initially purchased the land he knew that he was taking on the removal of a large trash pile but as he continued to dig he found it to be much larger than initially anticipated. Although the property is still being cleaned, over 200,000 pounds of debris from the 1960s and 1970s as well as 2300 tires have been removed and the land has been regraded with 77,000 tons of soil.
In addition to his cleanup efforts, Coleman is incorporating creative methods to ensure sustainable operations. He currently recycles 500 pounds of cardboard a month. He recycles egg cartons from the Farmer’s Market in the front and plant containers from plant sales by asking customers to return them when they are finished. He sustains the landscaping through onsite mulching, composting old vegetables, and planting native plants in the flowerbeds. Customers will be able to cut their own wildflowers from flowerbeds on site. Customers will be provided with reusable containers for potting soil that they can bring back and have refilled each time they need to purchase potting soil. This is an environmentally friendly alternative to the use of potting soil that typically comes in plastic bags.
The finished establishment will include a production nursery, agricultural pond and an office building. The agricultural pond serves as a storm runoff reservoir that will be used for field irrigation in addition to the rain barrels that are used onsite for watering potted plants. The completed office building will house a classroom that will offer classes for the local residents to learn more about horticulture and gardening.
The Clean County Commission would like to hear about other local businesses that are doing good things for the environment. For more information about the Clean Business Awards visit http://jamescitycountyva.gov/609/Clean-Business-Awards.
Media Contact: John Horne, General Services Director
757-259-4127 john.horne@jamescitycountyva.gov