Ahmed Hassan TV

Consultation · Design · Nursery · Build

No Easier, Softer Way

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It’s what we all want. Yes I, like you, wish there was a can of “Easier Softer Way” sold at my local hardware store. This way I could just buy it and spray a lil of it on those tougher than ever jobs that always seem to crop up in my
life. Talk about a popular item for retail sales everywhere!

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I first heard “No easier softer way” from my dad.

I first heard this term spoken by my dad. Dad was one of the first persons in our family to go through and experience a 12 step program. He was one of the first to start reading daily affirmations, and he was also one of the first family members I know of to commit suicide. While his death was legally deemed “accidental” by the coroner, he and I were best friends and I knew intimately what he was going through.

The anniversary of my dads death is December 14th 1994. As the years go by, I continually learn to accept his death, primarily because he taught and gave me so much while he was here. Even in his passing, I’ve been educated on what works, and what doesn’t, in life. I decided to do a word search on “No Easier Softer Way,” just to see what comes up. I’m not surprised that it’s a quote that stems from AA.

Twelve step programs are a rigorous step by step process for reprogramming ones life, learning to be honest and ideally improve personal health, well being and relationships. Whether you’re seeking to do that, or your merely someone who appreciates doing interpersonal work on yourself, you’ll at some point find that there’s really no easier softer way when it comes to truly making something right.
This is true when it comes to washing dirty dishes, fixing something mechanical or designing your outdoor living.

The way to have the qualitative, sustainable and long lasting results you’re no doubt looking for, is to do the quality work you know to do. That, or hire a professional like myself to consult, design and work with you. Most entrepreneurs, artists and small business owners know this and are constantly torn between their exquisite craft and being able to sell their services and make an honest living. It’s limiting for me to be the guy that’s sometimes out there working in the trenches trying to physically make things happen the right way, and balance out the other side as the flamboyant Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper.

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No easier way means planning and working through a design with clients.

It’s still kinda cute when I come across an employee or client of mine looking for an easier softer way to handle a situation. There they are, trying real hard to get out of doing something or spending the right amount of time and money to make something truly nice because they’re looking for that quick and simple path to cheap and easy. The path of least resistance, in my opinion, is typically downhill. Either that, or it’s when we’re coasting on the momentum we’ve already worked hard for and created.

When we’re building and striving for our biggest and best dreams, life is going to be challenging. When it’s time to cultivate, plow the fields and start a whole new crop, this is where the work and struggle takes place. I don’t care how philosophical you wanna be, landscaping, gardening, and construction all take work and lot’s of it.

The beauty of gardening, though, is that we’re working with nature and her magnificent power of growth. All we’ve gotta do is get things started and do the initial work well. We don’t have to grow the tree. We’ve just gotta plant it in the right location and offer it the essential elements and minimal maintenance it requires.

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No shortcuts means taking the necessary time to do the hard work and do it right.

Ideally we select the appropriate species for the particular climate zone and we provide for it’s water, soil and exposure needs accordingly. If as a young tree its branches and trunk are developed correctly, a central leader is established and maintained, we’ll be successful with a tree that can withstand quite a bit, year after year. We will have one that will provide ample benefits to our home and family, as well as our landscape and garden areas.

The moral to the story is that learning what works and what doesn’t is what life affords us all. We have ample opportunities to try and try again, until we get it right. In everything we do we get to choose. We can spend copious amounts of time looking for the easier or softer way out, or we can just settle on the fact that most things in life are simply going to take plenty of time and work, to give us the kind of results that we want. So whatever it is that you’re trying to rush, force and label as simple…

I challenge you to consider, what kind of end results you actually want. Then use this vision to direct and determine how you move forward.

Thank you for caring and sharing.

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Ignorance is Bliss

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As a public figure and student of horticulture, one of the most challenging things I often deal with is folks wanting and expecting me to give simplistic answers, tips and solutions to things, that aren’t nearly as simple as one might think.” The state of not knowing is far more simple than having all of the information and deciding what’s best. While I love variety, I often find myself having to simplify in order to calm my anxiety and still make progress.

For instance, Ive got this new way of ordering food. I scan the menu and hone in on the first thing that inspires me. “Ooh that sounds deelish!” I stop right there, no matter how long the menu is. Why continue to look and give myself the challenges that come with other options? If I like something, I should just go for it!

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Looked good to me!

I know what you’re thinking! “But what if there’s something better, more nutritious, more appealing, or simply more delicious for me to choose?” The truth is there’s likely always something that we might like better; always something that will bump that initial “ooh I want that” with an “Oh no I want that instead”. The trick to maintaining that state of bliss is to simply decide. Ignorance is the opposite of Intelligence. Intelligence is just a fancy word for knowing, it is the capacity of understanding truths. But remember, we’re talking about ignorance being blissful, not intelligence.

It’s been said on more than one occasion that gardening is calming and therapeutic, and while I completely agree with this, I’ll also have you know that what I specialize in is blitz style landscape makeovers. I’m a horticulturally trained landscape contractor that takes gardening, shoots it up on steroids and slams outdoor living makeovers in such a way that anyone observing is blown away at just how fast and how aesthetically pleasing this intensely laborious work can be executed. The only thing that’s blissful about what I do is seeing the final end product.

Landscaping for someone like myself is both fun, challenging and highly conscientious work. I’m charged with the responsibility of managing what already exists on each property and how I will modify, recycle and re-use what’s there to cost effectively create a space that’s lovely, serene and will weather well. There’s a lot more to this than just picking pretty plants or deciding on the right fabrics to give that perfect pop of color. It’s not all bliss! I won’t bore you and go into all of what’s involved in regards to determining proper exposure, and/or workability of amended soil. I won’t bore you with the technical conversations involved with horticultural yard manifestation (landscaping).

You know, conversations like the one I had with my brother yesterday where we talked about whether or not the process of scoring the rootball on new plants was necessary or helpful. We spent at least 10 minutes on the phone, and had barely scratched the surface with whether or not this action, that I was taught in 1995, was truly helpful to the establishment and overall health of a new plant. I know I’m wrong for not inquiring about your own thoughts on this topic, but there is only so much time I have on any given day. Besides, if ignorance is bliss, why should I ruin your day?

Proper Rootball Care is Not All Bliss

I can tell you this though. Roots only know what they are exposed to. Genetically, they only do a few things. Primarily, they elongate through the soil, taking up water and nutrients. Ripping, or scoring them, doesn’t actually facilitate that process. Watering, and preparing their new living environment in such a way that the soil around the roots is properly loosened up and ideally improved (what we call amended) can help.

There are so many other factors involved to see that your plants establish a healthy, hearty root zone that scoring the rootball isn’t necessary, in my opinion. It’s likely more damaging. Here is what you should do instead. If your container plant is not rootbound and generally healthy, simply squeeze the container, pop it out, and put it in the ground. Always be sure to dig a nice wide hole, almost twice the size of the rootball hole, and amend this hole with 40-50% organic compost when possible.

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Amending soil is so important for overall rootball health.

Mixing and amending soil is important. Digging a hole, dumping compost into it and sticking your new plant inside, is not going to net you positive results. You want to mix your native soil with compost so that what you end up with is an almost equal blend of this improved loosened soil. It is more closely related to the potting soil that your plant is already accustomed too. The additional spacing around the soil (because you dug your hole nice and wide) ensures that drainage is slowed and soil water will puddle allowing plant roots the opportunity to lengthen and absorb the moisture and nutrients.

Trees are different though. DO NOT AMEND THE HOLE WHEN PLANTING TREES AS THEY NEED A STURDY FOUNDATION AND ROOT SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE GROWN IN WELL LOOSENED, FRACTURED NATIVE SOIL.You should instead top dress your trees with soil amendment AFTER planting. Water and other micro organisms will leach the nutrients down into the root zone of the tree.

Back to Bliss

I’m going to stop there because I could go on and on with other details around other issues affecting the healthy establishment of plant roots, but I’m beginning to feel that blissful feeling start to fade. The more you know, you can’t act like you don’t know, and this my friends, is what being intelligent is all about. Thanks!

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Searching for Inspiration

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The California sun can be brutal, but I am thankful nonetheless

Temperatures are suppose to hit 109 today here in Northern California. Finding the inspiration to work outside in this heat is…Well… Yesterday I fasted for most of the day. I’m no Muslim, but I do know that we’re in the middle of Ramadan and I figured I’d participate and fast for the health benefits and mental clarity. Then, by the time I did finally eat something, I had to take a nap, and the heat was simply unbearable.

Today’s post is still swinging back and forth within my head. “Do I write something that’s more personable or do I write something that’s gardening or landscaping related…” What to do, what to do! I think I’m more inspired to write about inspiration. Since I’m looking for a bit of it this morning. I, like you, have so very many things going on in my life. The stresses of everyday living here on planet earth, the responsibilities both financially and physically of raising and providing for my family, as well as running a small business, and seeking to maintain any kind of celebrity status with my career. All of life is an opportunity to learn and experience more or less of what we want. That’s going to determine how we feel.

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Camille’s cure for boredom involves helping dad. She loves it!

The other day my youngest daughter Camille was pouting and walking around the backyard complaining about how bored she was. “There’s nothing to do!” She wanted this and wanted that and life was just so horrible in this instance as far as she was concerned. I immediately thought of what my dad taught me when I was maybe 14 or so. He taught me to give thanks and spend some time in appreciation for what I had. He would invite me to write a list of what I was thankful for, from the very big things in life, to the essential items that we often take for granted, like having toothpaste, toilet paper and running water. I suppose this is also one of the primary purposes of Ramadan in the first place. It’s a time to reflect, have compassion and to relate to those that do not have.

So today I invite you to analyze your life, rather than mentally delve into all that you owe the IRS, or what’s so wrong in your relationship. Spend a little time in thanksgiving. Create your own list, mentally or physically. Begin to look around and notice just how abundant you are. There are people all over this planet that don’t have the gifts, opportunities or the physical/mental capabilities that you do. It’s a true fact that whatever we think about is what’s both monumental and having an impact on us in the present.

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Time to suit up for the day

So notice what’s good in life! Acknowledge how much you do have. Truly give thanks for this wonderful life that’s likely going to get better because of the lessons you’re learning and applying right now. Little by little things will start to get better. None of us are 10 years old like my sweet Camille. We all know that there’s so much to do, and so much to be thankful for. Your life is what you make of it!

So continue to dream up whatever it is that you want. Always, always, always remember that there are likely thousands of individuals at any given moment, that not only have far less than you, but would kill to have just a few of life’s luxuries that both you and I often take for granted. Thanks for sharing and reading my morning’s inspiration lecture to myself. Now it’s time for me to plan and get ready for the sweltering day today and give thanks for my ice chest, my sun screen, my white long sleeve shirt and large brimmed sun hat. I also give thanks for having work that I love and I get to finally finish Chelle Henderson’s backyard so that next weeks blog post will consummate the whole process. For those who don’t know. Here’s some history on this work… and a little more.

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Water Bottles, Water Bottles, and Recycled Water Bottles

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Recycle, Reuse, Repeat
We Americans are particularly blessed with abundance. We live and exist in a land where items are given away and discarded with leisure. We don’t think twice about throwing something away. In fact, we tend to believe we are doing the right thing. I think this has a lot to do with how we were brought up. Remember those “anti-litter” campaigns that various states did when we were younger? They were prolific for a while.

They made quite an impact too. Texas particularly, did a good job with their campaign and had quite noticeable results. It seems like we got control of our litter problem as a nation. Now we live in the age of Recycle and Reuse. For a few years, those terms turned into buzzwords that were hijacked by companies and politicians. This may or may not have cheapened the movement as a whole, but recycling and reusing is nothing new. Our grandparents recycled and reused. They were either poor, or perhaps children (possibly even grandchildren), of the Great Depression.

Yet I think now we live in a different time and place. We understand the importance of recycling and reusing so our landfills are not overburdened and our waste does not destroy the environment. If you distill the concepts down to a single phrase, they become quite simple. When it comes to recycling and reusing, it’s merely a case of being conscientious and not wasting.

I will say/write that again because it bears repeating. When it comes to recycling and reusing, it’s merely a case of being conscientious and not wasting.

When we respect nature by only taking and using what’s needed, we not only lessen our carbon footprint; but stand to save time, money, and energy as well. You see, it is my opinion that we have a duty to be mindful of our natural resources. By resources I simply mean the local resources we rely on and have become accustomed to having as a part of our daily lives.

To that end, Seasonally, I’ll share certain blog topics that will give simple and useful directions on how we can live in harmony with nature. Think of these as idea think tanks. Draw on them for creativity then, turn them into action.

Conscious Conservation
So let’s talk a bit about recycling and conservation by revisiting a blurb from my Facebook and Twitter post last week. In touching on the drought in my home state of California, I mentioned harvesting rain water as a means to water your plants at home; thereby saving drinking water.

Seems like a great idea right? That’s because it is! Rain water is much more beneficial to your plants in terms of nutrients and purity. Some states, particularly Oklahoma and Texas, encourage rainwater harvesting. They view this as an assistance to drought prevention and good citizenship overall. Here is the ironic thing though, some states have outlawed it altogether. That’s right! Utah, Washington, and Colorado make the claim that the rain actually belongs to someone else. Rain that would normally run off into their very valuable streams and rivers is essentially “hijacked” by people using rain barrels.

Now it is not my place to offer an opinion on those state laws, but I do feel it is my duty to keep you informed. Remember what I said earlier about being conscientious and not wasting? Checking up on your local recycling and/or rainwater harvesting laws certainly falls into the “conscientious” part. The last thing you want to do is go off on a recycling kick and end up with a hefty fine! Yet, with a little research, you can come up with ways to conserve resources in your area that are legal, and in some cases actually encouraged with various tax benefits. I really believe we can move the needle on conservation if we all just do our own small part every day.

Recycling Begins with Awareness
If necessity is the mother of invention, then recycling is the mother of conscientiousness. Can you tell that recycling is another thing I am quite passionate about? The truth is, I reuse as often as I can. Take for instance my flight this past weekend. The flight attendant gave me a small white insulated coffee cup, as well as two small white napkins. They give away napkins every time they give you anything when you’re flying. Despite her asking me twice if I would like to have them thrown away I kept them and look forward to reusing them during my weekend travel. It’s a small thing, but I do make sure that I either use, or recycle them, because I genuinely believe it makes a difference.

In fact, every thing I can do makes a difference.  In 2014 I established the “Hassan Household Bottled Water Ban”. Quite simply, I made the decision to stop purchasing bottled water. Our family of five was going through at least one case of bottled water per week. That is a lot of empty plastic bottles being made, shipped, and sold to either clog up a landfill or recycling center. We have since switched to reusable glass jars , formerly sold to us filled with spaghetti sauce (yes, I recycle everything I can at home), as well as canteens, or water bottles like the one pictured below.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan- Reusable Water Bottle

My Reusable Water Bottle

It really is not hard to refill a water bottle, and we all rest easier at night knowing that 1,248 plastic bottles are not going to a landfill, or causing me or the garbage man to drive across town and recycle them for pennies on the dollar at the recycling plant. Again, it’s all about doing your part to make society more sustainable or “green”.

Just look around and you will see many other people already involved in the Green Movement. Conversation is where it’s at! The folks who made my little insulated coffee cup on that flight are doing their part to create a sustainable environment. A quick survey of our modern and savvy society will show you that many of us are making a difference. For example, did you know that Walmart now sells organic produce? This is because people like you and me demanded it and then, supported it. Walmart didn’t want stores like Whole Foods to be the only spot in town and so… you get the point. The more of these types of things we do, the more sustainable our society will become. The Green Movement will turn into a societal norm. You have to understand this is not just about preserving the world for our children and grandchildren. This is about paying it forward for generations we will never meet.

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Organic Seeds for Your Garden

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Carolyn Kenyon not only sells heirloom and organic seeds, but last year she decided to personally hand write the names on most of her seed packs.  I personally think that the hand written seed packs also keeps within the whole “Organic” feel and flavor of things.  My 2014 Landscape and garden will boast 24 or more different varieties of her heirloom and interesting plant choices.

 

Kenyon Organics - Seeds - Salt Lake City Utah

Kenyon Organics, is an urban backyard gardening business located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer the area’s most extensive line of heirloom plants, seeds, and amendments to the home gardener as well as the very tastiest varieties of home grown, well nurtured produce to private buyers or farmer’s market shoppers.

They are firm believers in growing wholesome food which has not been genetically modified and founded this business on organic growing principles, with a commitment to offering our gardening friends with the most diverse and pure food supply around.  No GMOs here either. Kenyon Organics has a passion for growing and SHARING heirloom and open-pollinated food options with all people and it is what prompted them to start their  “home-grown” business back in 2008.  “We too were frustrated with the lack of food diversity, not to mention veggies that tasted good, in our local grocery stores. Growing our own food was not enough. We wanted to teach our family, friends, and neighbors that there are much better, more wholesome food options than what we have become used to in our food supply, especially when kids are involved, or people who say they don’t like tomatoes. I was once that person too and now I just tell them “You haven’t tried my tomatoes, I can change your opinion!”   We focus on flavor, freshness, and nutritional value and have a passion for teaching organic, small space, season extending gardening techniques and food preserving and offer many workshops throughout the year. 

A huge part of our business is giving back to the community which we do in ways such as: donating entire gardens, plants, or seeds to senior centers, transitional homeless housing, family programs, community gardens, schools, colleges, and rehabilitation programs. We also have our own network of low income seniors that we donate fresh produce and canned goods to during the growing months.” You can purchase Kenyon Seeds by visiting Carolyn’s shop Kenyon Organics on Etsy

 

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