While 83% of California has finally lifted their drought status, Santa Barbara is still clinging to conservation efforts. Residents have been turning to the passionate people at EcoLawn to make sure their grass stays green, even without the water. Chloe Kirk, co-owner of EcoLawn, says, “We are environmentalists at heart and want to save water in any way we can.”

Jessica Girard, co-founder of EcoLawn, is a passionate environmental and sustainable business advocate. Beau Schmidt, another EcoLawn co-founder, hopes to help homeowners with the rising cost of water bills with each installation of artificial grass.

EcoLawn recently installed 3,300 sq ft. of Diamond Pro Spring, as well as a 300 sq ft. putting green using Nylon Putt 2-tone on a Mediterranean estate in Santa Barbara. The homeowners recently moved from the East Coast, where they were used to having a green lawn without the high water bill. They replaced their browning, dead grass with synthetic grass, a growing trend among Santa Barbara residents. “We had to walk up and down ten flights of stairs to complete this job,” Kirk says. “But now the family can enjoy outdoor time spent with their kids while practicing their golf game.”

EcoLawn loves turf, but they weren’t always artificial grass landscapers. “We have been a general contractor in Santa Barbara for 17 years. Since 2014, when EcoLawn began, we’ve installed over 300 water-free grass lawns. We now do everything from design to installation, offering synthetic grass, hardscaping, and more.”

They have seen tremendous growth in the past year and their focus has been shifting from primarily residential work to more commercial and school applications. “We approach every job from a water conservation and environmental standpoint. We work hard to optimize water savings, reduce runoff, increase drainage as well as create an aesthetically beautiful project,” Kirk said.