DOWNEY — When it comes to water conservation and ecology, Steve Perez talks the talk, walks the walk and rides a tricycle.
“I haven’t used more than a gallon of gas in the past nine months,” said Perez, 52, a landscaper known as the Green Gardener, based at his home, 7646 Third St.
He uses his three-wheeled, adult-sized vehicle to pull a cart containing his landscaping and gardening equipment. The gasoline used is for a power tool. “I don’t like pushing a lawn mower,” he said.
During the past two years, he has focused on landscaping with native, drought-resistant grass and plants. A vegan — “I don’t eat anything with a father or mother including dairy products” — Perez is planning to move into vegetable production.
“I plan to grow a vegetable garden on part of my front lawn,” he said, adding he believes there would be no problem with city zoning codes if the garden is kept neat.
“I would like to see a community garden. We have lots of vacant land but Downey is the only area city without one.”
Perez said his decision to live a vegan lifestyle was strengthened by an online video called “Forks Over Knives,” meaning you should eat only with a fork and not need to cut meat, which he says can be unhealthy if it takes up more than five percent of one’s diet.
“If we didn’t eat meat there would be no cancer or diabetes,” he said.
Although his landscaping business is about two years old, Perez says he has been conservation minded since his childhood.
He moved to Downey with his family in 1972 from and graduated from the former Pius X High School (now St. Matthias) in Downey. He attended Loyola Marymount University and earned a degree in business administration and Spanish.
For years he participated in the family’s real estate business, primarily in the Downey area.
“I found that landscaping with eco-friendly plants which use little water increased the value of a house and made them easier to sell,” he said. “Native plants are the big thing. I also like to make the different plants as harmonious as possible.”
He gets around Downey on his three-wheeled vehicle or by walking, saying “If I can get there on a bike, I will.”
He admits to owning a 1970 Volkswagen bus for long drives, such as a recent trip to Malibu to discuss landscaping on an estate there.
Despite his interest in plants, Perez is not from a farming area.
“We are Cuban refugees and were dirt poor,” he said. “We lived in a house on the beach which had a dirt floor. If we didn’t catch fish, we didn’t eat. We had no toys but on my 4th birthday, my grandfather gave me a broken machete,” he said, adding that started his interest in plant growth and care.
The family came to the United States in 1967. Perez, who is divorced, resides with his mother, Adita, in Downey, who loves to garden.
“She has been one of my mentors. She has an amazing green thumb and a very large front yard,” Perez said.
He has planted native grasses on part of his lawn and has regular grass on the other side to show the difference between the two, noting the native grass needs very little watering, mowing or fertilizer.
“Regular grass takes a lot of water and cutting,” he said. “I want to show people they don’t have to stay with regular grass. That’s just a cultural thing.”
Perez does not spend all of his time gardening. “I try to visit my five kids and granddaughter as much as possible,” he said, also noting that a teenage son, Nick, has “moods but finds landscaping therapeutic.”
He also has membership in several civic groups such as the Downey Kiwanis, the Knights of Columbus and several business networking groups.
His newest organization is the city’s Green Task Force, created to advise the City Council on matters of conservation, ecology and related programs and activities. He was appointed by Mayor Pro Tem Dave Gafin .
“My focus on the task force is twofold — water conservation with drought-resistant landscaping and community gardens. I want to push for those.”
He said he would also like to see events such as conducted by the Los Angeles-based group CicLAvia, which promotes closing down streets to vehicle traffic and opening them for use by bicyclists and pedestrians.
“I have approached the Chamber of Commerce about allowing youngsters on bicycles, roller skates and skateboards to take part in their Christmas Parade, with appropriate [safety] apparel and decorated bikes.
“They seemed receptive and referred me to the company which organizes the parade,” he said.
His Christmas card last year showed him dressed as Santa Claus on a decorated bike instead of a sleigh.
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