Water, Air Soil Restoration Champion Nominees
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
November 2004

• Jean Loria
• Alec McClennan *winner*

Champion: Jean Loria – CJ Waterworks
(Nominated by: Gary Cole - Wiring Services)
Jean Loria is owner of CJ Waterworks. She has chosen to apply her biology degree to development of sustainable ground, and pond and natural swimming pools. She has installed a swimming pool that uses no chemicals to sterilize the water only plants and fish are used. She understands the relationship between ground and water as it applies to natural landscape design.

*winner* Champion: Alec McClennan – Good Nature, Organic Lawn Care *winner*
(Nominated by: Tori Mills - The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes)
Since founding his company in 1999, Alec McClennan remains the only organic lawn care business in Northeast Ohio. While isolated incidences do arise in which Good Nature must use chemical treatments, they are usually one-time applications to set the stage for on-going organic and natural treatments.
Chemical lawn treatments, which often include known and probable carcinogens, are an attack on soil, water, and air. Indeed, the Laudable Lawn and Home Habitat project at the Nature Center was created after excessive levels of fertilizer and nutrients were found in the Doan Brook and Lake Erie, contributing to the decline of aquatic species and an increased cost of providing healthy drinking water. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been proven to weaken on our soil’s biological community, the very agents that provide nutrients, air and water to growing plants. Synthetic chemicals encourage lush growth at first, but at the expense of developing vigorous root systems, actually leaving plants more susceptible to pests and disease. More chemicals are then needed to address problem lawns, creating a downward spiral of costly chemical dependency.
The Good Nature System focuses on plant health, not sickness. They use organic materials, usually food grade, that increase a plant’s natural defense system and encourage diverse soil life, working with not against nature. When considering the aggregate of residences across northeast Ohio, we understand how important healthy backyards can be to improving air, water and soil quality. Alec McClennan and Good Nature possess the invaluable, technical understanding needed to encourage sustainable living in our backyards.
In addition to running his business, Alec is very active in education and advocacy. Every plea for help that I’ve thrown his way, has been answered with knowledge, responsiveness and a genuine desire to motivate sustainability in the region. All of the knowledge and time that has become the backbone of our Laudable Lawn and Home Habitat project was given gratis.
We at Shaker Lakes have been trying to increase local capacity to provide professional, alternative lawn care. Instead of viewing this effort as a threat, Alec has assisted us and welcomes the growth of a new lawn care ethic, despite the potential for competition to his business. In true entrepreneurial spirit, Alec is sanguine that Good Nature will always provide top-notch lawn care. He’s a modest and tireless contributor.