Within The Home Depot, there is a large contingency of eco-conscious associates. They call themselves the Sustainability Squad, and they are living proof that Eco Actions make a difference. They are living a DIY sustainability lifestyle.
Each month, we sit down with members of the Sustainability Squad to learn more about their inspiration and motivation and the individual Eco Actions. This month, we’re talking to Christopher Kelley, an Asset Protection Auditor at the Perris, CA, Direct Fulfillment Center and a member of The Home Depot community for nearly six years.
Recently, the Eco Actions social media community featured Christopher’s posts about his home succulent garden as part of The Home Depot’s Sustainability Squad’s Earth Day celebrations. We sat down with Christopher to talk about sustainability and succulents.
EA: Hi, Christopher! How did you get involved with the Sustainability Squad?
CK: I believe it was on Yammer. I love participating in the community and sharing where I’ve incorporated the values [of The Home Depot] into my life. I was just in the midst of changing my home’s entire landscape with succulents to help better the environment. I’ve seen a lot of individuals posting on Eco Action’s Yammer community, showing how they were doing things to help and sustain our environment. I wanted to join in and do my part as a Home Depot associate, just living our values.
EA: Why succulents?
CK: I chose succulent plants like aloe vera because they grow very easily and quickly, and they’re easy to obtain. They don’t use a lot of water, so we don’t have to water them every single day. And you still have a nice-looking yard.
EA: Do you have any tips for succulent planters? What should people know before they get into succulents?
CK: I would recommend going to Home Depot and getting aloe vera plants. As they grow, you can replant them in a bigger area. After my plants outgrew their pot, I planted them in the ground, and they expanded from there. All the aloe vera plants I have currently came from four small, one-liter plant boxes. Here’s my pro tip: If you need plant food, you can use spoiled milk once a month. If I have milk that’s going bad, instead of throwing it out, I add water to it and pour it on the plant, and it turns into plant food.
EA: What a great way to reuse! How many plants do you have now?
CK: I have over 32 succulents in total, but I believe at least 20 are aloe vera alone.
EA: That’s incredible. Did the Sustainability Squad help encourage you in your succulent plant journey?
CK: The Sustainability Squad made me want to do more. In my backyard, I have a couple of roses and several birds of paradise, but I actually want to create a bigger space to plant more succulents in the backyard.
EA: Do you have any advice for associates and customers who want to become more involved in sustainability but aren’t sure how to start?
CK: I would say do a lot of research and a lot of reading and ask a lot of questions. That way, you’ll learn how to help others be better at what they’re doing and help yourself as an individual. It’ll help you expand. Just start making those everyday lifestyle changes, one person at a time. As you start to do those things in your home, let a friend or family member know about those changes. Let them know the benefits, and then that person can adapt to those changes. One person at a time, we can start creating a healthier environment and a better place to live and work.
