Sustainable Technologies specializes in site restoration by creating areas of recreation and beauty to enhance the quality of life. Our personnel have studied ecosystem interactions and management for more than a decade. As a group, we possess a variety of restoration skills to ensure quality service. Our associates are trained permaculturists who study the development of a sustainable culture regarding the natural environment.

We install riparian habitats, mixed evergreen forest, and chaparral ecosystems by planting native species grown from naturalized or wildcrafted seeds. In erosion control projects, we use precursor species, pelletized seeding, terracing, dykes, gabions and rock walls for soil stabilization. Where water runoff is a problem, swales, mulching, terracing, and plantings could be utilized.

We have planted hills, amassed seed collections, maintained a native plant nursery, designed and carried out weed control projects, including the construction of treatment ponds. We have also designed and planted gardens for residential dwellings and commercial buildings.

Erosion Control
Our company can design and install erosion control systems. From native plant installations to swale construction and surface water run-off strategies, we offer advice on a variety of methods to naturally control erosion. We have successfully healed gullies with structural improvements and in-filling with erosion tolerant vegetation.

Runoff Water management
Sustainable Technologies creates marshes, swales, and canals throughout any site to catch and treat storm drain runoff. Marsh vegetation could treat the surface water from your site and be harvested for mulch and green manure. By treating the storm drain water before it enters a creek, the turbidity and water quality of the creek is improved by the reduction of contaminants and siltation. Treatment marshes could be used for large site developments such as residential subdivisions or commercial buildings. Hydrocarbons and metals are effectively removed from site runoff before it reaches a creek or bay

Natural Weed Management
Sustainable Technologies has successfully controlled Spanish oats and other non-native annuals in the Santa Cruz Mountains by introducing native perennial bunch grasses and California wild flowers. We have controlled the exotic non-native Scotch Broom and Pampas Grass species by mechanical removal and native plant reintroduction. By reintroduction of native species and managing the land to favor their growth, is our key to natural weed management. ST is also qualified in the use of common herbicides.

Composting and Mulching
We offer consultation in the design of composting facilities for your specific organic waste. We have designed , built and operated composting systems from family units, community gardens and farm facilities. We have successfully designed a program to collect organic materials from a neighborhood and processesd the material into three tons of compost per week. Vermiculture composting is another strategy ST uses to convert waste into humus. Mulching is a simple yet very crucial strategy for soil protection and conditioning. We could design systems for mulch production or show where and how much mulch may be needed.