Going green is cool. Sweet. Fly. Somethin’…

Kelli Rodda is staff writer for GMPRO and Nursery Management & Production.

Global warming, climate change -- whatever term you prefer -- it’s certainly the topic du jour. Think climate change is only corroborated by political analysts, academia and environmentalists? Nope. The MTV generation apparently is listening.

The stars of the network’s show “Pimp My Ride” will covert a 1965 Impala into an 800-horsepower biodiesel clean machine. For those of you furrowing your brow, go ask a teen what “Pimp My Ride” is all about. After they’ve completed a massive eye roll and deep sigh, you’ll come to understand it’s basically a before-and-after show that makes cars cool, sweet, fly, whatever the proper expression is these days.

This episode will air April 22, Earth Day, as part of the thinkMTV campaign called “Break the Addiction.” The campaign was designed to “engage, empower and educate” (MTV’s words) millions of young people “to make smart, everyday choices that both improve their life and help to curb the impact of climate change and improve the environment.”

What does this have to do with garden retailing? Well, plants improve the impact of climate change, and young people need to hear this message. Everyone needs to hear this message, according to Nick Lawyer, of Lawyer Nursery in Plains, Mont. He wants growers and retailers to build a massive marketing campaign detailing how plants are a vital part of the solution. Try it on a small scale in your store and let us know how your customers respond.

-- Kelli Rodda