Finally someone is taking the initiative to do something worthwhile in helping our environment and trying to find ways to not only beautify our lifes but to create what is lost in any city of any size (especially in the more commerical/industrial settings) --- our connection to the planet that we live one. With so many roofs -- it is amazing that there are so few green roofs out there - especially here in San Diego. Kudos to Jim Mumford for pioneering something so important.

Bravo to Jim Mumford for having the foresight to install this greenroof in virtually plant-less Kearny Mesa! I'm hopeful that it will encourage more businesses to do similar roofs to help improve the environment - a first step towards a more eco-friendly community.

Jim has worked hard to make this project a success for others to emulate and make a difference. After looking over the other good (yet traditional) candidates, I kept coming back to the beauty of the result achieved and feel it deserves my vote this time around. Now, as long as we get approval to irrigate these green roofs with greywater (which I recommend), then we can round out the concept in the most sustainable manner.

I commend Jim Mumford for having the courage, leadership, perseverance, foresight and wisdom to start the first business green roof (on his own dime) and advancing the need for increased sustainability and greening of San Diego.

I am very excited about the concept of green roofs and am glad that someone in San Diego has decided to implement such a roof at their place of business. In these days when most fields are being turned into astro turf it is nice to know that there will always be a space that natural flowers, plants and even grass can grow allowing all the insect and bird lives to have a safe haven.

Thank goodness for Jim Mumford and for his forsight. Up until recently green roofs were unknown to me in a practical sense and if asked, the first thing that would come to mind were the green roofs in fables that I read as a child such as Heidi. However, as I got to know Jim, my eyes were opened to green roofs and what great benefits they bring not only to our society, our lives but more importantly to the environment. Although it makes sense that cities produce a lot of heat -- once I began to understand more about green roofs --- the problems that our environment is facing hit me head on. You hear about it -- but you don't truly comprehend what is going on. Kudos to Jim for taking the giant step of creating a green roof in a desert environment. It is easy to keep a green roof where the air is moist and is not scorched by the sun on a daily basis. But to do so in such a harsh environment takes gutts and the willingness to pioneer something that has not been done before. We must always support those who venture and think outside the box because that is were most of our best ideas and creations have come from. The green roof atop Jim's building at the Good Earth Plant Company is a sight to behold where flowers bloom and inhabitants such as birds and butterfly's return after being gone far too long.

Very very nice!

As a local landscape designer interested in the Green Roof concept, I met Jim Mumford while taking classes through Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. One of the nicest guys around and truly passionate about his idea, I couldn't be happier for the success of this project. I'm proud to have helped in a small way and will continue to spread the word and promote his business. Jim is now a great resource for all things "green roof".

I worked with Jim on a few occassions and realize the effort and dogged determination it took to complete the green roof project. Jim continues to improve the roof and study the subject, this is not just a PR gimmick. Good job Jim, can't wait to see the next one.

Reading about this puts a smile on my face and gives me a renewed sense of hope for our future. One small step for mankind, one big step for mother earth! It's wonderful that there are people out there who go the extra mile to promote change and do the "undoable". Kudos to Jim; the impact of his innovation will have a lasting impact for generations to come. It's simply wonderful!

Someday, most new private and public buildings in San Diego will have green roofs---it just won't make sense to do otherwise. But change comes slowly: Orchids to Jim Mumford for starting the process.

To the previous comment, keep in mind that this is a business, one that is required to provide parking for customers and their own vehicles, and needs space to display their wares (they also sell large pottery and have a shaded area in the back for growing plants for pots). Jim has done as much as he can with ways to soften the rest of the hardscape and building, potted plants wherever he can and by using green-screens for vines on the side of the building which is in the photo. The green roof is at least a start and I think someday many will look back on these humble beginnings and see how bold a move this was, especially for all the resistance he got to do it in the first place. If you find out more about the story you might be a little more understanding.

This is really not a green roof or building. Look at their asphalt and concrete site landscaping, very sad. Great p.r. effort but little ecological benefit.

I saw the roof at the "christining" and really questioned whether this pilot project would work in a hot, arid enviroment. Seeing the results now validate Jim Mumford's vision and hard work. This is a beautiful garden now, befitting the Good Earth Company and demonstrating to anyone who sees it that green roofs are viable in southern California. A hearty "well done" to Jim, a leader in saving energy AND making things more beautiful.

Thank you Jim Mumford for taking a leadership role in helping our community be more green conscious and investing in our children's future. I love the idea of a home for bees, birds and a place to hang our on a beautiful spring day. Looking forward to leanring more. I visited your blog at http://www.goodearthplants.com/blog/ and see your are havng a number of speaking engangements and a plant sale and garden tour as part of Earthworks GreenBuilt Tour on Saturday, October 4. Hope to see you there. Maggie Pound

The other day I flew into San Diego and as I looked at all the grey, black, and blah rooftops, I thought how beautiful it would be to fly in to San Diego and look down upon a garden of roof tops. What a wonderful concept. Kudos to Jim for getting it started.

The other day I flew into San Diego and as I looked at all the grey, black, and blah rooftops, I thought how beautiful it would be to fly in to San Diego and look down upon a garden of roof tops. What a wonderful concept. Kudos to Jim for getting it started.

The implications of this project for San Diego go well beyond its obvious aesthetic appeal; it provides arid climes with a living laboratory that is no less than a literal model for living "green". Jim Mumford has gotten his hands dirty and brought sense and science together to give us all a heads-up on how resourceful we might be.

What a beautiful solution to the ever growing problem of urbanization! This genius garden offers a natural and organic compromise to the heartless, sterilized city.

Fantastic! This should be an option/requirement for all new city and county buildings and a retrofit for existing ones in need of a new roof. Can't wait for cleaner air and lower power consumption as this new product takes hold.

Brilliant! At first glance, one would not suspect the GOOD EARTH headquarters was hiding such a glorious roof top paradise. I was amazed to learn such a beautifully landscaped "secret garden" has such a positive effect on the environment. Your industrial neighbors should be thrilled to share in the benefits of GOOD EARTH's GREEN ROOF. Your green roof offers fresh air, countering the harmful emissions of Kearny Mesa's industry community. GOOD EARTH's GREEN ROOF is San Diego's answer to global warming. Every state should be offering tax incentives to companies with a GOOD EARTH GREEN ROOF. Great for the community, an oasis for employees, reduces energy consumption and reduces harmful emission...time for California to be more then the sunshine state...make it GREEN 'GOOD EARTH'!

The Good Earth's green roof is both practical and beautiful. I enjoyed seeing the pictures documenting the transformation of an ordinary roof into an extraordinary roof. Jim Mumford deserves kudos for demonstrating the engery conservation that can be accomplished even in an arid climate though thoughtful planning of a green roof. I hope more businesses and home owners will follow his example.

Jim Mumford, through his own commitment and initiative, has provided a powerful glimpse into a future design that will have a significant environmental impact on San Diego.

We really need these steps to show the way for more extensive return to a friendly birds-eye view of the San Diego landscape. Architecture is concerned with the whole of the "built-environment" so then this is an arrow pointing the way for a better result. Good signpost! The right direction for a "green" San Diego! DCoates

This demonstration project is only as impressive as Jim's committment to showing and sharing what he has learned with anyone and everyone interested. The time and effort spent should be applauded. Thank you, Jim.

If there was only one project that shows how one individual can contribute to reducing the climate change and carbon emission crisis on our planet it would be Jim Mumford's green roof that he installed at his company: Good Earth Plants Company in San Diego. Jim and his company deserve an Orchid for his enthusiam, perserverance and forward thinking for sustainability.

I was with Jim Mumford in New York when we visited the Earth Pledge Experimental Green Roofs and have watched his commitment to this sustainable method develop and grow. He has vigorously pursued course work and advice from the leading experts in the world on Green Roofs and now he shows us by example how we can utilize this important method in San Diego. I was aware of the benefits of reduced cooling costs, storm water run-off and heat island transfer, but did not think about the reduction of airplane noise that would result. These are real world benefits to an owner and the environment but all of us benefit from the beauty created by such projects. An orchid to Jim Mumford for having the belief and following his vision to become a leader in Green Roofs in San Diego. Christine Gaunt

It takes true commitment on the part of a small businessperson to take on challenges that most others avoid. This green roof provides San Diego with a critical laboratory that will ensure future success for future examples.

I've seen Good Earth's green roof during a garden tour and it was both fascinating and beautiful. Mumford deserves high praise for improving the environment in Kearny Mesa and setting a fine example for other businesses. Imagine how much more beautiful our city would be if there were green roofs everywhere, saving energy, reducing rainwater runoff, easing air pollution, and providing a much-needed environment for birds and insects. Bravo!

Jim Mumford deserves an Orchid for his green roof not only for the reasons already stated, but because despite being told repeatedly it wouldn't work and it wouldn't be practical, he pushed forward and proved it COULD work after all. It's easy now for us to applaud this wonderful projects, but understanding the context in which Jim made this green roof happen is important. He pioneered a type of green roof not seen before that's thriving in our Mediterranean climate. Jim is in demand as a resource and speaker because of his work. It's time his own home town recognized and honored him for his efforts.

Good Earth's green roof is the right thing at the right place. Good Earth lives up to it's name and more - uplifting good earth to the sky! This should be an inspiration to others to follow this pioneering effort. It's well-deserving of an orchid! Marti E Kranzberg

One has only to look at the startling difference that a patch of green can make in an otherwise intensely urban landscape to begin to understand the attraction of green roofs. A thin veneer of soil and plants can go a long way toward replacing the functional value (including human enjoyment of the landscape) that was lost when the road paving machinery and bulldozers arrived.