Business consultant Nita Charlton-Gomes is the owner of HB Business Consulting Services & Solutions in Huntington Beach, California. In this capacity, she handles everything from preparing financial statements and fulfilling accounting needs to coordinating marketing. In her free time, Nita Charlton-Gomes participates in beach cleanups with her local Surfrider Foundation chapter.
Committed to protecting oceans and beaches around the world, the Surfrider Foundation maintains numerous programs, including its Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) Program. Many individuals are unaware that water runoff is the top source of pollution in urban areas and contributes to wasting water. To combat this problem, OFG teaches property owners about how different landscapes and hardscapes play a role in preventing water pollution. OFG is a volunteer-run training and advocacy program.
The program is carried out by local chapters and applies the ideas of conservation, permeability, and retention to landscapes and streets. Rather than allowing excess water to run into the ocean, ocean-friendly gardens allow a landscape’s soil to absorb extra water. This attribute not only protects local water supplies but also reduces flooding and creates wildlife habitats. It also allows for more efficient irrigation and promotes the use of climate-appropriate plants. Over the years, these same principles have become recognized around the country as an imprtant part of the watershed approach to landscaping.
