Two Habitat for Humanity homes receive the gift of green
The two Carpentersville homes that Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley rehabbed late last year – whose owners have occupied since then – needed just one more thing: landscaping. Now they have those green finishing touches, thanks to volunteers from Sebert Landscaping.
“The homes were finished late enough in the year that we weren't able to go back and clean up the mess the construction created before the winter set in,” said Bill Klaves, development director for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley. “They were both on our to-do list for spring. This saves us money, enables us to move ahead with our next set of houses and gives the homeowners and neighborhoods new, well-groomed front yards.”
Two Teams that Greened
Two Sebert Landscaping teams totaling more than 20 volunteers spent the better part of a cold, soggy Earth Day at the homes, installing approximately $6,000 worth of plants and other landscape materials that the company donated. One team was from the company's Bartlett headquarters, the other from its Elk Grove Village office.
The project was part of a nationwide PLANET (Professional Land Care Network) Day of Service, an opportunity for green industry professionals to unite to demonstrate environmental stewardship and humanitarianism by giving back to their communities.
These donations bring the total number of Habitat homes that Sebert has landscaped to six. All are in Carpentersville.
“We feel fortunate to be able to contribute to the quality of life for these Habitat homeowners by beautifying and greening their properties,” said Jeff Sebert, president of Sebert Landscaping. “Our people really get behind the cause, and go above and beyond in their commitment to the project.”
Eye on Low Maintenance
Sebert explained that the crews installed trees, shrubs and perennial flower beds at both homes. “The goal is to keep the landscapes on the low-maintenance side for the owners,” he said. “And the perennials include some native plants, which are particularly eco-friendly because they're more tolerant of our weather extremes, so they require less water and no fertilization.”
“We're always impressed with what the teams accomplish in less than a day,” said Habitat's Bill Klaves. “And the owners will be so happy. All of our homeowners who have benefited from Sebert's landscape contributions in the past have been thrilled with the results.
“But not only do the projects beautify the residents' homes, they also beautify and improve the neighborhoods. And that's important to us.”
Sebert Landscaping (www.sebert.com) is a full-service commercial landscape contractor that has
provided conventional landscape services to thousands of clients in metropolitan Chicago for over 25
years. Sebert uses lean management strategies to beautify clients' properties while making them greener and potentially reducing their property-management costs. Based in Bartlett, IL – in a newly completed eco-friendly headquarters that is on track to be certified by the US Green Building Council – Sebert has branch offices in Elk Grove Village, Romeoville, Marengo, and Naperville. The Naperville office, called Great Impressions, designs, builds and maintains residential landscapes.