Green Gardener Spotlight
Helping Keep Santa Barbara Green – 
Ken Knight, Goleta Valley Beautiful.
Ken Knight is the dedicated Executive Director of Goleta Valley Beautiful. The Goleta Valley Beautiful Project focuses on planting trees in public areas such as street medians, urban areas, parks, and also conducts riparian restoration work. Ken Knight sights the primary goals of Goleta Valley Beautiful to be the planting of trees in public areas where habitat is provided for local wildlife and people can get the most enjoyment out of the planted areas. This respectable goal is accomplished by over 1000 dedicated volunteers throughout the year.
In 2007, volunteers planted 633 trees in the Goleta Valley area; all with the incorporation of Green Gardener principles. Ken Knight’s incorporation of Green Gardener methods in The Goleta Valley Beautiful Project ensures that the venture is an environmentally friendly and sustainable one.
Ken Knight utilized the Green Gardener Program as a way to expand on his educational process of running an environmentally sustainable organization. The practical methods taught in the Green Gardener Program that Ken Knight has incorporated into the organization has simply made running the operation easier; there is less care and maintenance necessary and plants are healthier and live longer.
The Green Gardener Program has equipped Ken with extensive knowledge on using California native plants that are more adapted to the local environment. Natives allow for a healthy plant to prosper with little to no supplemental water after establishment, little to no pesticide use, and are also adapted to localized stressors. Ken uses seeds local to the areas watershed for riparian restoration projects in order to restore local native functions and to provide natural habitat for local wildlife.
Ken also found that placing the “right plant in the right place” was an extremely beneficial lesson. By placing groups of plants in areas that have common needs in regards to water, light, and soil type, the plant will thrive, maintenance becomes minimal to non-existent, and resources are conserved. Furthermore, Ken does not use any pesticides that are harmful to the environment or human health. Alternative to harmful chemical use, Ken uses techniques taught in the Green Gardener Program such as hand picking the pests off and using biodegradable material such as corn based weed killer.
Ken has also found effective ways to avoid pest and disease problems by segregating plants while in the nursery to cease any potential disease in the soil from spreading to various plants. Nursery plants are also kept strong and healthy by attentive care, pruning, and choosing from a genetically strong stock. Once the trees are planted and established in public areas, extensive upkeep is not necessary because the Green Gardener practices and techniques have been utilized. The Goleta areas fragile water resource is conserved because supplemental watering after plant establishment is not necessary. Furthermore, pests are rarely a problem because the trees are California natives and therefore resistant to local pests. The “right plant right place” technique is also utilized ensuring that soil, water, and light needs are accommodated therefore promoting a healthy plant that will thrive. Ken Knight is dedicated to keeping “Goleta Valley Beautiful” with smart, responsible, and environmentally friendly nursery and planting techniques.
The Goleta Valley Beautiful Project is an admirable one with a dedicated staff and volunteer network. Ken Knight and Goleta Valley Beautiful have contributed to restoring and maintaining the natural beauty of the Goleta Valley and have done so in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. The planting of trees throughout the area not only contributes to the beauty of the Goleta Valley but also buffer storm water run-off, improve water and air quality, and provide habitat. By utilizing Green Gardener practices, Ken Knight has guaranteed that not only is the Goleta Valley kept beautiful but that it is also environmentally healthy. The residents, local wildlife, and the environment all benefit from the important and respectable work that the Goleta Valley Beautiful Project conducts.
You can find Ken on the Green Gardener list.