EcoDepot @ the IECA Convention September 22-25

Come visit EcoDepot's booth this week from September 22-25 at the International Erosion Control Assocation's "Partnering for a Better Environment" Annual Conference, Workshop, and Trade Expo. The event is at the Crowne Plaza in Timonium, MD, near Baltimore. Stop by and check it out! More info on the event here.

NestPot™ ''All-in-One'' Seed Starting Kit

We would like to introduce the NestPot™, an “All-In-One” seed starting kit from EcoDepot that provides ideal conditions for seed growth. The NestPot™ is comprised of a 100% biodegradable Coir growing cylinder pre-filled with a blend of starter fertilizer and Coir potting mix.

The design of the NestPot™ makes it ideal for seedling propagation and accelerates seed growth. Our product provides optimum oxygen intake for the roots while retaining water. The NestPot™ can be planted directly into the ground or placed into the convenient accompanying nursery tray.

Using the NestPot™ for your plantings is both easy and convenient, and can be done in 3 easy steps, as shown below:



Step 1: Remove Lid
Step 2: Insert Seed
Step 3: Water as needed in the ground or nursery tray and watch as your plant grows!

For more information on the NestPot™ or to order your seed starting kit, contact EcoDepot today.

Quantity Discounts

Do you have a large upcoming landscaping or ecological restoration project, but you are on a tight budget? Don't worry, because at EcoDepot, we have quantity discounts available for large orders. Contact us today to receive a price quote on our products so you may save money while using earth-friendly products!

Coir in EcoDepot Products

EcoDepot strives to make sure all of it's products are earth-friendly to produce and to use. One material used in several of EcoDepot's products is coir. Coir fibers are found naturally in coconuts between the husk and the outershell. Coir is strong, is biodegradable, is a renewable resource, and has many more advantages, as seen below.

Another material some horticulture companies use in lieu of plastic is peat. There are numerous reasons for choosing to use Coir in our products as opposed to other materials, such as peat (See: Coir Dust, A Viable Alternative to Peat Moss by Allan W. Meerow). In summary, Meerow states "The following qualities of coir dust recommend its use as a peat substitute: 1) high water holding capacity equal or superior to sphagnum peat, 2) excellent drainage, equal to or better than sphagnum peat, 3) absence of weeds and pathogens, 4) greater physical resiliency (withstands compression of baling better) than sphagnum peat, 5) renewable resource; no ecological drawbacks to its use, 6) decomposes more slowly than sedge or sphagnum peat, 7) acceptable pH, cation exchange capacity and electrical conductivity, and 8) easier wetability than peat. "

EZ-Log™ (pictured above), EcoMatting™, NestPot™, TreeMats™, and EcoPots™ are all products that use coir as an alternative to peat or plastics. Buy your coir products today at EcoDepot.

Solving the Concrete Discharge Dilemma pt. 2

In the last installment of this two-part article, we learned about the problem the concrete industry faces because of high pH wastewater discharge. Fortunately, EcoDepot has come up with a patented solution to solve this issue, the pH Watchdog™. The breakthrough pH Watchdog™ water treatment system is used for NPDES permit compliance.

The pH WatchDog™ allows industrial sites (ready-mix concrete plants, mining operations, asphalt facilities, etc.) to achieve regulatory compliance, avoid major fines, obtain worker safety, and reduce costs. Our system allows site personnel to easily control pH levels of wastewater discharge. The pH Watchdog™ uses non-hazardous chemicals to automatically monitor and adjust pH levels with minimal oversight. The system automatically adjusts to changing pH levels to help maintain the health of the local watershed and to prevent costly non-compliance fines.

pH WatchDog™ systems can be pre-assembled and delivered to your facility or can be installed by EcoDepot staff if the facility is within 400 miles of Baltimore, MD. In addition, EcoDepot offers various services including monitoring and maintenance for your facility, best management practice recommendations, collection and submission of data for NPDES permits, and much more. Contact us for more info and to solve your company's pH discharge dilemma today!

Solving The Concrete Discharge Dilemma pt. 1

Concrete is a construction material with high alkalinity- that is, concrete is highly basic (as opposed to acidic) on the pH scale. This basic composition of concrete causes headaches in it's manufacturing process. When concrete is made in a ready-mix plant, wastewater byproduct is created that needs to be disposed of. This waste takes on the alkaline properties of the concrete. If released directly into the watershed, this wastewater can potentially "cause chemical reactions resulting in high concentrations of ammonia poisonous to fish. The size of the aquatic bacterial population can also be increased by high pH wastewater discharges(Walters, Adam S. "Enforcement Action" Concrete Products May 2000)." Aquatic plant life can also be damaged as a result of the wastewater.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates point sources that discharge pollutants into U.S. waters through the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge program (http://cfpub.epa.gov/NPDES/). Concrete plants must be in compliance with NPDES and, if found to be discharging water with a high pH, may be heavily fined. Mining operations and asphalt facilities encounter similar problems. Bad publicity may result when a company is found to be polluting local area water sources and may negatively affect the company's brand.

Fortunately, there is a solution for the concrete industry to prevent illegal discharge fines and environmental damage. Stay tuned for part 2 of this post, where we will introduce the pH Watchdog™ and how it can save your company big money.

EcoDepot Featured in the Frederick News-Post

The Frederick News-Post recently wrote an article highlighting EcoDepot and it's general manager, Brian Connoley. You can read the article here, titled: Man's company shows plant pots don't have to be plastic.