by mvchamber | Oct 16, 2024 |
The Redwoods, Mill Valley’s Community of Seniors, has been working to reduce its water usage through participation in Marin Water’s “Cash for Grass” program that offers rebates to homeowners and businesses that replace grass with drought tolerant landscapes. Since completing the project in August, The Redwoods, home to over 300 low- and moderate-income seniors, has achieved a reduction of water usage by a third over last year.
“It all started about a year ago, in the wake of California’s most recent drought, which decimated much of the property’s grass areas,” says Hunter Moore, CEO of The Redwoods. The senior community was faced with a choice: replace the turf or chart a different course. Taking advantage of Marin Water’s Cash for Grass Program, this summer, The Redwoods replaced 10,000 square feet of grass with drought tolerant plants in two highly visible portions of the grounds.
The program is widely supported by The Redwoods residents, as it not only is environmentally responsible but will enable the community to significantly reduce their water usage and save money that will be passed on to reduce rental fees. “People are excited about it,” said Taylor Kelly, Director of Facilities at The Redwoods. “It is different, but that is the direction we need to go in.”
The nonprofit community is located at the busy intersection of Miller Avenue and Camino Alto, across the street from Tam High School and close to the Mill Valley Middle School.
The Redwoods also received a grant from Marin County for a “Community Partners” grant to fund permanent signage illuminating the need for water conservation. Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters said she was happy to support this important project and hopes that others will be inspired to create similar projects at their own residences.
We have now set a new goal to reduce our outdoor water usage by 50%, and our domestic water use by 25%.“That is a lofty goal, and our philosophy at The Redwoods is—every drop counts.”
According to Moore, The Redwoods also has also been re-certified by Marin County as a Green Business. “The Redwoods residents, team and Board are committed to being good stewards of the environment, the residents, and our finances. This is another win-win-win in a long line of sustainability projects for our community,” Moore added.
Marin Water’s Cash for Grass program has allowed The Redwoods to save water and money, plus it will be a lasting model for others to follow.
For more information on Marin Water’s Cash for Grass program, visit www.marinwater.org/Cash4Grass. For more information on The Redwoods, visit www.theredwoods. org.
To schedule an interview, please contact Christian Mills, Director of Fund Development, at 415-383-1600 ext. 267 or cmills@theredwoods.org.