Evan Wilke, Wilke Landscape Center, Columbus NE, says "Having the attitude of protecting the environment and doing things in an economic manner - they go hand-in-hand".

Wilke says the first step in "going green" is to compost all waste material. This includes sod scraps, trimmings from bushes in the nursery, plants and any material produced during cleanup at a landscape job. The business also asks customers to return any plastic plant containers 6 inches or larger for reuse.

Scrape metal is collected at each of the location and recycled.

Wilke not only uses drip irrigation in the field but also Integrated Pest Management which is a term for using chemicals only when needed.

Congratulations to all the Wilke family. A job well done.