Landscape – Page 3

Chickenshititis

March 10, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 4 Comments

Chickenshititis, that condition that, from time to time, I’ve gotta believe we all suffer from. Even the most courageous and well intentioned of us, manage to find ourselves not quite living up to our standards for personal integrity and/or doing as we said we would. The topic, and word chickenshit, is very much a term that most Americans can relate to. I know this because I can Google the word “Chickenshit” and Merriam’s got a definition right there for me to read:

chickenshit

adjective chick-en-shit \chi-ken-shit\

Definition of Chickenshit

1. usually vulgar: petty, insignificant

2. usually vulgar: lacking courage, manliness, or effectiveness

My reasoning behind using this offensive word was due to the fact that I experience being chickenshit; and I also tend to recognize when others seemingly fall into this rut as well. Hey, it happens! It’s okay, it’s natural and normal. Yet, it’s also something, that with clarity and awareness, we can rise above in order to improve our lives and the way we relate with others.

So I recently had an experience where a male client and I consulted. I visited his property and we discussed various options and ideas for making improvements. Mind you he’d already had another contractor over to do this same thing too, though the other contractor focused primarily on what his specific trade was. None the less, both of us contractors had different opinions as to the process and direction we’d have my client go. This became a mental conflict for him. As a result, he somehow fabricated in his mind that I would be disappointed and he didn’t want to disappoint me. So what’d he do… nothing!

No call, no text, no NOTHING! He was experiencing what I call Chickenshititis, also known as fear. Fear is a huge factor in so many of our lives. It hinders our creativity, and causes us to live lives where we unknowingly limit ourselves and cause more drama than we ever imagined. Rather than continue to succumb to this condition that I’ve just defined and pointed out, I’d like to share just a few ways in which you might over come and cure yourself of chickenshititis. Living life courageously is how we overcome Chickenshititis.

Operating from the standpoint of love keeps you smiling.

1. First you might wanna consider that there are really only 2 emotions that exist, Love and Fear. All other emotions stem from these 2 cerebral sides of our brain. While fear is a good and legitimate emotion that ‘s necessary for our safety and survival, it’s also something made from our memory; and we often confuse this made up reality with what’s real. The solution is to ask yourself,

“Am I thinking and acting out of FEAR or LOVE?”

The more often you can choose love, the better your results and outcome will be. A great resource for this is one I touched on in last week’s blog post. Dr. Jerry Jampolsky’s book, Love is Letting Go of Fear, is a must read. Check it out.

Invest in People

2. Let your intention be your guide. That is, of course, when your intention is loving, rather than fear filled. Our intentions are the back up documents and rationale for what we do. They are the “WHY”. I am in no way saying that your intentions will be understood by others. That is never a guarantee. But I will say that when your intentions are loving, and you allow these loving intentions to guide and direct your actions, you’re bound to experience a more pleasant response from, and with, others. That link will take you to an interview with Brother Ishmael Tetteh. His book “The Way Forward” is an awesome read.

Go for it!

3. Be willing to act immediately. Whether it’s as simple as making a phone call to inform someone you’re going to be late, or delivering what you know and anticipate someone might take as unwanted or bad news. Be willing to honestly, share immediately, and deliver this information. The longer you sit and flip flop this unwanted news in your head, the larger, and more seemingly dreadful, it becomes. So be courageous, don’t allow the chickenshit mindset to consume you. Act NOW and act expeditiously. In time you’ll get even better at doing this.

My reasoning behind sharing as I do is because I love humankind. I live and learn, then seek to teach what I have learned in life. My hope is that we will evolve in such a way that our lives, our relationships with others, and ourselves grow even deeper in love, and prosperous development.
Thanks for reading and sharing.

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Say Yes

March 3, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 3 Comments

The awesome power that comes from saying yes. I do, I will, I can, and yes! All action words. Each willing to step out and live or stand, rather than crawl or stay put. Last week I was asked, “why Ahmed?” Why are you helping this little girl, Daniella Collazo? Why her? Of all the people, and through all of the years that I’ve been known as a TV host, I’ve now been asked why did I say yes?

So here’s what I said….

“I chose to simply say yes!” was Ahmed Hassan’s response to his agreeing and assisting Mystic Force Foundation’s request for Daniella Collazo’s backyard play space.

Ahmed did, admittedly, have some internal doubts after his initial reaction passed and “how” was the biggest query of all. Once the initial angst went away, he recalled the role models he grew up wanting to emulate; the regular everyday heroes in society. He intuitively knew he must follow what was in his heart, the right thing. Against all odds.

“It’s just time and money. Daniella doesn’t have any time and I do. She can’t help herself, but I can. I needed to grasp a hold of my courage to help her. This project is a gift from myself, and others like me, that are grateful to live lives where we stand and sometimes step into “bad ass” mode when we need to. In this instance, I must be a bad ass for sweet Daniella who cannot be one for herself.” We all have this power and there’s nothing we can’t do if we simply believe and act on that belief.”

There’s an incredible power that comes from saying yes. It’s the power that comes when we decide to go for it!
It’s the power that comes from being willing to act in spite of the fear; to run towards our fears and conquer them.

This is a REAL BIG DEAL!

There are people that say no all the time, and it’s not because they’re incapable. It’s because they’re afraid. There is no love in fear. In fact, according to Dr. Jerry Lee Jampolsky, love is letting go of fear. Indeed Dr. Jampolsky wrote a book titled the same. I read this book many years ago and I’m still practicing, still walking thru my fears. I spend a lot of my life’s time acknowledging, and discovering my fears. In the last several years I’ve been actively pursuing getting over them, and learning to simply say yes to living life.

Consider this…

The sunrise says yes.

The sun rises each and everyday; nature is NOT afraid.

The tree doesn’t up root itself at the threat of a storm. It merely weathers it and continues growing, branches bending, developing even more roots in order that it might fair even better for the next storm.

Nature says YES and persists.

Spiritually, I work daily on saying YES to that spirit within me that causes life’s growth and expansion, NO MATTER the fear.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed hassan with his daughter

I say Yes to being an influence for my kids

My dad was my HERO. I only hope and aspire to be the same for my children.
Not only for my youngest here depicted with me, Camille Hassan, but also for others like Daniella Collazo.

Pema Chodron wrote another book that I’m reading called “The Places That Scare You, A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”. If you ask me, life is filled with difficult times. It is filled with all sorts of daily opportunities to stay put, to stay inside, to stay small and small-minded.

Yes You Can!

But I’ll tell you my philosphy. I say, we only live once. When we die, there’s no more. No more saying yes, no more having a choice. No more can we say, “I wish I’d done this or that”. So instead, do it now! Whatever it is that you think you can’t, prove to yourself like the little engine that could. Say, I THINK I CAN, then go one step further with, I know I can. Then do like Michael Jordan and Malcolm X put together… Just do It. By any means necessary.
Say yes!

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest! #GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV #DoItForDaniella

Evolution

February 24, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

It’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s merely our reality and evolution. Humankind’s impact on the planet is largely responsible for the climatic changes we’re experiencing back east and out west. Flooding and drought conditions are just a few of the causes and effects that we have going on in our ecosystem. This is nothing to be alarmed about or freaked out about. I mean really…

AHLS at your service

When has your freaking out ever helped bring about sustainable solutions for change? As for me, I choose to take responsibility into my own hands. As a professional landscaper, former TV host, and Celebrity Landscaper, I travel the country spreading knowledge, goodwill, and what I know to be good horticultural practices. Locally, around the greater Sacramento, California area, I continue to offer landscaping services via my small business… Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services (AHLS). I love what I do and plan on doing it for a long, long time.

My own prediction is that for the next decade or more, I will continue to be solicited, and encourage best management practices while assisting folks with creating drought tolerant/friendly, and ecologically friendly landscapes, at home and abroad. Take a look at these two examples to give you an idea of what I mean. Here is a before and after of my client Annie Tran’s Yard

Ahmed Hassan Trans Home Before and After

Drought tolerant plants make for easy maintenance

And another example… the Hughes’ Lawn Before and After Transformation

Hughes Project by AHLS Ahmad Hassan Landscaping Services

Here we transformed the lawn into a dry creek bed

In order to keep the cost down in both instances we used lots of small plant material. Most folks have more time than money. As the plants grow, the boulders and rock work will diminish, as the garden and greenery take center stage. At the end of the day, my goal was to be ecologically sustainable, as well as create something for both of them that presents well aesthetically. This is my obligation to the planet, and a commitment I make to myself and the human race. I get a real kick out of being a role model for change.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan loves being a role model for change.

This guy wants to be a role model for change

I intentionally plan to leave my mark on the planet with my life and impact the world in my own small way.

Ahmed Hassanpresenting at a home and garden conference

Educating people on sustainability

Television allowed me to grow my popularity, and because of this, I am committed to returning to TV in order to become the next Anthony Bourdain of the environmental industry. Bourdain is best known for his ability to communicate and share folks experiences around food, wine, and culture. He loves what he does and it definitely shows through in the programming. This is why he has been so successful.

My interests lie more within our local and global environment. I seek to give people an expanded awareness of what’s going on in both their own backyards, and the local community, and beyond. I enjoy creating these outdoor living spaces and giving my clients and fans the tools that they need in order to make a positive impact during our evolutionary period. It’s all about educating and then putting that education to use if we’re going to make a difference. I believe most people will do whatever is necessary to live in a sustainable manner if they just knew what to do. My job is to teach them those very things.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan often calls himself the big mouth landscaper

Watch out… big mouth landscaper coming through!

I don’t claim to be an expert in all things environmental, but I do understand soil, plants, water management, and how water is utilized by plants. I also understand our need for plants as a part of our human diet and overall nutritional health. I’m a nerd in case you haven’t noticed… A garden nerd who gets by with the title of “Gardener”. I’m ok with that. I often introduce myself to people and call myself the “big mouth landscaper” because it’s true!

It’s this big mouth that let’s me bring about awareness within the Green Industry and affect sustainability. It also helps me affect positive change. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease because the squeaky wheel gets things done. Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the director of sustainability at Ewing Irrigation to discuss having me join their team of speakers and teachers on that subject.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan at Ewing Irrigation in Phoenix, Arizona

Partnering with Ewing Irrigation to make a difference!

A little later this year you’ll have an opportunity to learn even more about what I’ve been doing over the past year with another irrigation manufacturer, Hunter Industries. I feel like all of us humans, landscapers, gardeners or not, need to take responsibility for ourselves and this planet. We don’t have another planet to move to and if we did, we’d likely throw that one out of balance as well. Learning what we need to, in order to improve and make living conditions better, is a real trial and error process. It took us many years to get to where we’re at. I only hope that we can expedite our learning curve so we can enjoy the years we have left and create something sustainable for our children, and their children, to enjoy.

Thank you for reading and sharing and caring.

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#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV

Badassery

February 19, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 3 Comments

“Badassery”… it’s the stuff that hero’s are made of.

The Avengers know this well

It’s true! I believe in being a show off! I believe in knowing how to do something so well that you can entertain others with your magnificence. There’s something magical about the confidence that each one of us has around those things we know how to do well. Others are awestruck at the mere sight of our performance.

Most folks know me simply as the guy that hosted that HGTV or DIY Network show “Yard Crashers”.

How is this for a #TBT pic?!!

What you’d also know, if you’re truly familiar with the show, is that once I was removed and replaced as host, the show never quite appealed to people in the same vein. This is because of one simple fact that the network nor the production company ever took into account. Yard Crashers was not a “gardening” show, and it was hardly a show to teach people about landscaping. It was a show about Outdoor Living and Badassery!

It was a show that brought millions of viewers the latest and greatest on backyard bling. It was also a show where I worked with various other badasses in order for us to collaborate, and create some of the most impressive backyards that the average man or woman could ever imagine. My team and I get to take the credit for these Outdoor creations. This was not simply Ahmed designing and installing each one these fabulous, flamboyant yards. Before we went to work on crashing the yards, I would work with my young, dynamic, and ambitious producers; Tiffany Cascio and Kristel Devries, in order to develop our plan of what we simply thought would be cool, different, and most appealing to the homeowners, viewers, and ourselves. We also had a pretty dynamic dude that worked as program director for Scripps Networks by the name of Ross Babbit. Ross was the final shot caller for all intents and purposes. He would send us love notes letting us know what he/the network liked or disliked. In other words, what they wanted more of or less of.

When I was hired as a TV host for DIY Network, what the network liked most about me was that I was a real, and authentic, landscape professional. This was what the network was all about; having real life professionals, not just a pretty face TV host. Of course, having a pretty face can only help.

Who could resist this face, right?

What the network also appreciated about me was my vein of arrogance. I have been doing outside work in landscaping most of my life. The only other thing I’ve been doing as long as landscaping is roller skating as many of you know. Roller skating and landscaping are my 2 favorite hobbies.

Me lacing up my skates!

I want you to know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a show off. We should actually aspire to being a little more pride filled in all of the things that we do. Taking pride in how we carry ourselves is what I learned from growing up, and being exposed to the Nation of Islam as a child. I was taught etiquette, to speak properly and carry myself in such a manner of respect and royalty, so that others would learn to treat me with respect in turn.

This is somewhat of a social psychological game where a person creates a socially acceptable way in which they are perceived in order to manipulate another person so that they respond to you according to the perception of your choosing. There are of course times to play the humble and meek roles like both the Buddhist and Christian philosophies teach, but there’s also a time and place in which we must stand tall and lead by example. In order to get people’s attention we must do this in an impressive way.

Mystic Force Director Sylvia Vanni and Daniella Collazo

The reason I share this information with you is because yesterday I posted and utilized the word Badass all day long. I actually put out a call to my fellow Badasses and invited you all to unite with me around the plight of sweet little Daniella Collazo.

She is a 2 yr old little girl living with stage IV Neuroblastoma. Daniella was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when she was just a baby. She is living a life that is already challenged beyond any sort of what we might call fairness. Cancer isn’t fair. The survival rate for children living with Stage IV Neuroblastoma is 30%. Life isn’t fair. Neither is Neuroblastoma. It merely is what it is, a degenerative disease that attacks the immune system and literally takes lives. Now I’m not trying to save the world and cure all of it’s problems, yet I am seeking to stand tall and lead by example. I strive to not just be “the best”. I want to do my personal best. In order to do that I’ve gotta dig my heels in, clarify my internal self talk and create, then maintain a sense of urgency and determination like an Olympic athlete.

Heroes for Positive Change

Badassery is the name of the game folks. It’s time we all focus a bit more on our Badassness and do it for the most noble of causes. Be a hero for positive change like the people pictured here…. Stand firm and be committed to creating a beauty filled life for yourself and those around you. Be a conscious warrior for our generation and leave your mark as all good Badasses do. I thank you for your time and contemplation in doing so.

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10 Interesting Tree Facts!

February 3, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

Yesterday’s pictures and Facebook post led me to thinking I should share 10 interesting facts about trees with my peeps. That’d be you if you’re reading this! So here they are in no particular order. I assume I can even come up with 10, if not I might just wing it and make up some stuff (kidding).

1. Did you know that trees are quite different than all other plant species? Unlike herbaceous plants, trees develop a large wooden structure that rises high above the ground. This allows the tree’s canopy (it’s leaves that actually feed the plant and keep it alive), to reach high above other plants, and receive the necessary light it needs in order to survive.

2. In the plant world, trees are the tallest members, the most prominent, and the most permanent. While I wouldn’t say that they are the most important, I will say they add value to your property because they are considered a permanent structure. Of course they must be healthy, in the right location, and have been properly and aesthetically maintained to be of value.

Trees add value to your property when maintained properly.

3. Because of their height, trees nurse smaller plants beneath them. Smaller plants benefit from the micro climate-controlled area created by the trees. They also benefit from fallen leaves that decompose, and recycled nutrients around the base of the tree. One more thing, the trees canopy drips for hours after rainfall. This continues to moisten the soil around it’s base, not only benefiting the tree’s roots, but the neighboring plant roots of other lower canopy plants.

4. Trees are typically sold…

ball and burlap

bare root during dormancy

pot or container

5. Leaves have evolved from needles and other appendage like structures that are attached to the wooden scaffold/branches of the tree. Earlier trees that existed were more closely related to our current coniferous species. Trees have evolved and adapted to their environment. In colder, more severe weather areas, trees began shedding their leaves during times of drought, and during the winter. Once the snow melts and weather begins to warm, leaves reemerge enough to resume regular growth rates and development of the tree.

6. Trees in the nursery are sold in several forms.
Street Tree: Typically tall with first limbs up around 6ft or higher
Standard: This one is very common. The term means that the tree looks somewhat like a lollipop or the way that a child draws a tree, with trunk and a head.
Multi Stem: Means just what it says. The tree has a single trunk then splits into typically 3, sometimes more trunks, fairly low from the ground.
Low Branching: Is when the tree develops it’s first branches fairly close to the ground. A tree can have multiple trunks and also be low branching. Conifers are typically sold this way. If the low branches get in the way of the landscape design, they are just sawn or lopped off.

7. Many shrubs and grasses are grown as trees and are often thought of as trees even though they are technically shrubs or grasses. A few examples are Citrus, Crape Myrtle, Palms, and Manzanita just to name a few.

8. The primary difference concerning the use of trees and shrubs in your residential landscape is as follows. Trees should be planted and given space from your house foundation, sidewalks, etc., whereas shrubs can be planted much closer. They will do less damage because their roots don’t grow as large in size. They are far less likely to damage your hardscaping by pushing it up.

9. When trees come from the nursery they are shipped with a nursery stake. This stake aids the nursery grower in shipping the tree. You can and most often should remove this stake once the tree is planted. Otherwise it’s likely to do more damage than good by rubbing against the trunk and preventing branches from developing where the stake is. Proper staking techniques can be found in this YouTube video. I approve of what he’s doing, but might need to shoot my own video soon.

10. Wow! I’m already at #10 and I’m just getting warmed up! So the last couple of things I’ll tell you about trees is that once the tree has reached the same size, or is larger in caliper (trunk thickness) than the stakes, feel free to remove them. The tree will actually sway in the wind a bit, but that’s okay. Every time it sways, the roots are gently stimulated. They will respond by growing even more roots, thereby increasing the foundation and stability of the tree helping it to weather the next storm.

10.5 Sorry, I couldn’t help myself! Whenever you find a fallen or leaning tree, only straighten it and lift it into position once. Gather your guy wire, tree stakes, and straps. Then fix the tree once, remembering not to make the stake or bracing so tight that the tree can’t sway a bit. Think of it like a brace or cast on your leg. If you wore your brace too long and too tight, you’d never become a strong track runner. Your tree needs to sway and be challenged a bit in the wind in order to develop it’s root system in the same way that your body needs movement to develop your muscles. The stakes or braces are merely to keep it from being toppled completely.

So there you have it, 10.5 great facts about trees you can use the next time you consider planting or staking your tree. The weather will warm up in the next few months and you’ll likely be able to put this information to good use. One final thank you to my photographer and friend Tim Engle for the feature image on this post. This is just one of many amazing outdoor images he has collected. Don’t just take my word for it though, click the link and see for yourself.

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#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAHmedTV

Shifting Towards Sustainability

January 29, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

Sustainability involves death. You might be thinking that is a bit counter intuitive. When we hear the word sustainability we most often think about something lasting. However, that is just one aspect; true sustainability involves so much more. Nature teaches us that nothing truly can last forever in a single form.

Consider how things change…

We have 4 seasons each year.
The weather continues to shift and change as it pleases.
The water and waves wash onto the shore only to be swept back into the sea.
The sun rises in the east each morning then sets along the western skyline.

About the only thing that is truly permanent is change and the cycles of life! I’ve never had a “new” anything that kept it’s “newness”. I’ve never visited any place that didn’t look different with the passing of time each time I returned.

So what does it really mean to be, and live, sustainably?

In my opinion it takes an understanding that the earth is alive. It takes respecting the fact that products and inventions are created, and they (just like nature), will deteriorate and return to the earth. It is not something that MIGHT happen, it is something that WILL happen.

I tell people this…

“The only thing live plants need in order to survive is the decomposition of dead plants,

aka organic matter or compost. “

In the beginning there was nothing and everything. Mankind figured out how to build and create. Stone, then straw and wood. Being a Landscaper was not my initial goal. As a kid I remember wanting to be a carpenter. I wanted to build and create. Landscaping was what I settled into because I learned from my dad how to work outside. I discovered how to improve the aesthetics around my home and yard. I digress; let me get back to the issue of sustainability.

Wood, as dimensional lumber, is still hugely popular as a building material and I assume that it will be for some time to come. It is sustainable. We grow trees for harvesting. Once harvested, the wood is milled and utilized for a multitude of purposes. Those uses have evolved over the years as sustainability practices have improved.

First we have pressure treated wood. This evolved from our desire to slow the natural deterioration process. The chemicals used are harmful to the so called “pests” that feed on the wood. This makes the wood last longer and slows the need for harvesting more natural resources.

Some is used for composite decking. This was developed as a means to give a bit of permanence to wood. Much of today’s composite decking is actually made from recycled plastic bags and a blend of recycled wood pulp. It assists us with not having the need to develop, grow and or exploit new raw materials and other goods. It is sustainable!

There are also several other inventions like PVC decking, bamboo decking and unique products like Nyloboard. These boards are made from recycled carpet fibers. Pretty neat stuff!

From carpet to concrete, we have been loving our floors for a long time!

When I was a kid growing up here in the states, everyone had carpet in their homes. Wall to wall carpet was the norm. These days many folks are more interested in hardwood floors, or laminate, if not concrete and tile.

My point in all of this is to say that there is no ultimate evil when it comes to manufacturing. As mankind evolves we are merely seeking to develop and create sustainable products that will both suffice for whatever the intended purpose is as well as generate the capital needed to maintain and build businesses, while also supporting the global economy.

Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper- Dollar Signs

Our innovation creates capital for global sustainability.

In the United States we’ve become accustom to recycling, reusing, and manufacturing our new products with formerly used products (our waste). Our sustainability, and global health, require us to do this. We must continue to seek out better ways to create a greener environment, and do less damage in the process. My hope is that every person reading this blog will begin using the word “sustainability” in your regular vocabulary.

Then put that word to use by taking action on the following questions:

1. How can I personally assist nature and be a part of the natural solution?

2. How can I relate to others and build relationships that are sustainable?

3. How do the products that I buy and use support our local, regional and global sustainability?

You will begin to notice your life moving in cycles is you do this. Recycling bottles, Reusing shopping bags at the grocery store, saving scraps for your compost pile, etc. That is completely normal. Remember that things come and go, it is what we do at the end of their life cycle that contributes to sustainability. After all, to quote myself…

“The thought of any product living and existing forever is scary and in no way sustainable.”

-Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper

For more info, and a LOT of landscaping ideas, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV

Balancing Kids, Family Life, Work, and Fame

January 15, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 4 Comments

This week’s Blog Topic was inspired and requested by none other than my Facebook friend Maria Strickland.

The week of Jan 12th has been quite a busy week indeed. I realized late on Wednesday that I had yet to write a blog for this week, so I put a post on my Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper page. I asked for inspiration for today’s blog post because this week’s project is very time and energy consuming.

Richie Rich was very different than me in many ways.

Maria offered a suggestion, and this morning I’m refreshed and ready to delve in head first! First of all, I want to acknowledge and share with so many of you that while you might see me as some big time celebrity, I waiver and waffle at this notion. I consider myself a regular guy. I know that I’m popular and all, but I’m in no way an “A List” celebrity. Here’s a funny story that I’ve rarely shared. When I was a kid growing up, I watched a cartoon character named “Richy Rich”. What fascinated me about this cartoon character was that he was so much different than I was. He was white, I was black. He was rich, I grew up poor. He had everything; I was taught by my dad, mom, and step mother Mabel, to appreciate everything I did have.

I actually remember stating to God or the Universe, “I don’t wanna be rich”. It was one of those prayer like affirmations that we sometimes make when we “claim” something. We’ve all heard that money is the root of all evil and I distinctively remember this Richie Rich character having so many challenges to deal with because he had so much money. I was like, “I just wanna be comfortable, but not rich”. It wasn’t until my 30’s that I realized that being comfortable in today’s society was considered being “rich” by the standards I was raised by.

You see, everything is relative. Some people might see me as some big time celebrity that’s got it made. In fact, I’m that same kid who’s been hustling, doing yard work all my life. I finally decided that I would be “ok” with being rich. Yet, I want to also be responsible and enjoy my life, family, and fame. I’m not rich now, but I am willing and wanting to experience the reality so I continue to prepare.

Ahmed Hassan- Power Partner Tiffanie Hassan

My Power Partner, Tiffanie Hassan!

You’re probably wondering, “So what about the balancing act that Maria asked about?”. When it comes to balancing and being there for my kids, I could not do it without Tiffanie. It’s Tiffanie who is the primary chauffeur, back to school mom, the one that pays the bills, and the one that creates most, if not all, of the structure that the Hassan’s have at home. Tiffanie and I are business partners, friends, lovers, and co parents. I often refer to us as “Power Partners”. We have teams of others that we work with in order to do all that we do, but it’s she and I that manage all things Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper, as well as Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services.

I actually run and maintain 4 businesses. I create and provide web video assets and content for my industry and national brands like Monrovia Nurseries, Hunter Industries, FX Luminaire, and Shindaiwa, just to name a few. I also do personal appearances at home, garden, and builder shows around the country. I continue to maintain and operate my own business in the greater Sacramento area, and in 2014 we began operating a couple of small nurseries in Shingle Springs where we live. The way I manage everything is with a little bit of patience, understanding, love, and inspiration. I’ve learned that being perfect is overrated, it’s merely a matter of being present.

Tiffanie helps keep the smiles on these faces!

I love my wife and kids. I love my fans and friends. I love my work and creating beautiful, functional, outdoor living spaces. I love teaching and inspiring others to find, explore, and exploit their passions. I continue to dream up new things and ideas because I’m in love with life. Truly I am! There’s absolutely no reason that Yard Crashers should have become as big a hit on television as it did except that it was a show with this crazy, energetic guy who was in love with what he was doing. He actually knew something about landscaping, building, creating, and gardening.

That brings us full circle to the work I have this week. I am going to design, build, create, and develop a new presentation for the Like Water Event at Free Flow Academy’s Rocklin, CA location. It’s a health and wellness event happening this weekend. I’ll be right there in the gorgeous space that my team and I are developing. Everything I do requires the help, assistance, and buy in from so many others. This weekend’s event is no different. This space is an area that a couple of Master Gardeners are going to use. I’ll be using it to host a workshop on Gardening, The Original Crossfit.

I’m tired and fatigued this week because I’m creating. I work within the metaphysical realm, designing, plotting and planning. Then I utilize all of my natural powers to communicate, explain, design, acquire, and create what it is that I see in my minds eye. It’s tiring work. It’s physically and mentally taxing. Yet it is what my life looks like and I’ll continue down this path. I love life and seek to do everything, and experience anything, I see as beautiful and worthy while I’m here. Thanks for this mornings inspiration Maria Strickland. Thank the rest of you all for reading.

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Understand You Might Be Misunderstood

December 30, 2014 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

When we say, “CHANGE your thinking, CHANGE your life,” we acknowledge the Power of language, of words, to affect us in this world. The combination of language plus image plus emotion is the builder of consciousness. Words trigger images, images trigger feelings, feelings have impact on our belief system. Words matter. Sometimes our word to another may be Powerful. That is, it may have more intention behind it than our word to ourselves.The capacity to keep one’s promises and agreements is paramount in a Spiritually mature person. When we use words loosely or without clear intention, we waste their Power. When you speak to yourself, mean what you say or do not say it. When you speak to others, do the same. If it is not your habit to do that now, then be with the discomfort inherent in making a worthwhile change. Do not lose anymore Power or Love in your Life.

— From The Science of the Mind Magazine

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan- Birmingham, AL Home and Garden Show

Me giving tips at the Home and Garden Show in Birmingham, Alabama 2013. I think they “understood” what I was talking about!

Yes words are powerful. They are also quite limiting, considering we use them with ourselves and others, who may have a very different understanding of the same words.

As a landscape contractor and creative entrepreneur, I use words all the time. Emails, contracts, and text messages are just a few of the ways in which I communicate and seek to clarify and define what’s intended. Descriptively, there are a slurry of words that I use to convey my intentions around any number of relationships between clients, workers, sub contractors and others. I draw upon my mental thesaurus and let ‘er rip!

I need always keep in mind that even though I feel like I’m speaking directly to what we might be crafting an agreement around, there is always room to be misunderstood. It can happen. Universally it DOES happen!

When it does, it tends to annoy us, piss us off, and can even lead to divorce or major catastrophe. We sit back and wonder why…

Look at Merriam’s definition of the word “Understand”

1. to perceive the INTENDED meaning
2. INFER something from information received.
3. to KNOW how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves

Now according to those three definitions, how could you truly know how someone thinks, feels or behaves? You can’t.

This is why in contracting I use my wonderful little “Landscape Design and Scaled Drawing”. This is nothing more than a visual tool. It assists me with describing what goes where. It also assists my female client, her husband, their neighbors, the attorney, and the judge; so that if there were ever any question, we can all see just what is or was expected and involved with their project. Of course, there’s also got to be a written description for the work and services that are to be included as part of any landscape and construction project. In this way, we can all be a little more clear with what’s expected, and agreeable with regards to time, money, and expectations.

When I hosted Yard Crashers, the homeowners paid for nothing out of pocket so a fiduciary contract was not required. The Network paid for the yards with their “Show budget” and the production company administered this expense by contracting out the various jobs and all of the work. It’s amazing how smooth things can go when you’re giving someone something for free. My team and I pretty much had free reign with being creative. Of course, because I’ve been doing landscaping and reading people for a long time, I always seek to truly appeal to my clients and what they’re really wanting and needing in their outdoor living space.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan - Yard Crashers Yard

A yard I crashed when I hosted the show. More pictures of crashed yards can be found by following the Yard Crashers link in this post!

It’s like offering the hungry homeless person your leftovers while walking down street. If he’s truly hungry, he’s appreciative. It’s up to him what he wants to eat and/or discard. Yet, you take this same guy into a restaurant and have him pay for a meal, request no onions or salt, and it’s served to him with both onions and salt; he’ll likely return the whole damn plate! Or… he might simply decide to pick through the onions and deal with the salt. One can never say because choice is the privilege that each of us has.

Like the affirmation says, words trigger IMAGES, images trigger EMOTIONS, and emotions bring about CHANGE. As it relates to Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services, that change is either moving us closer towards what we’re agreeing on, or further away from what was mutually shared, discussed, understood, or misunderstood.

My day to day job is that of a designer. I design landscapes, my two retail nursery locations, my home, my yard, and so many other aspects of my livelihood. With each of these items I’m not alone. I live just like you do in a world filled with other beings that also view the world differently than me. Some like it hot, some like it cold. Some listen to Country music, while others prefer Reggae. I like tomatoes in my salad, my wife Tiffanie prefers cucumbers.

Each of us has our own unique view of life and everything in it. We’re as different as our finger prints.
It’s no wonder that we don’t agree on everything in life with a single person. How could we?
Integrity lies in doing what you said you would do. This must always start with YOU. Then expand outward.

To practice self love and respect, we’ve gotta learn how to forgive ourselves and give ourselves a break. Since we do this for other people that we love, it is essential that we take time to do the same for ourselves.

Not too long ago I made a social media post that stated, “Our birthright is to always maintain the right to say “YES, NO, MAYBE SO, & I’VE CHANGED MY MIND”.

The reason I state this and continue to tell this to folks that I am close to is because we all need to learn how to love ourselves. We live in a society where we are taught to do for others and love others. Yet concepts such as “self love, self respect, and taking care of our mental, emotional and physical self” isn’t necessarily understood so well or applied.

I encourage you to utilize your words, your print(type) and your intentions for good.

Do your best to clearly and courageously communicate but don’t get stuck thinking that everyone else must understand.

You’ll likely always be somewhat misunderstood. You’re unique! I thought you knew. 😉 Uniquely you!

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The Season of Abundance

December 23, 2014 By Ahmed Hassan 7 Comments

Everything in life is cyclical. As a gardener, I know this oh so well. Just yesterday my general contractor buddy William Rogers was asking me about the difference between annuals and perennials. I explained that Annuals grow from seed, are established, and live their entire life cycle in a single year. Sometimes they’ll weather over and last for several years. When that happens it is primarily because those plants aren’t true annuals. They are perennials disguised as annuals.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan Bedding Plants

Me giving a demonstration on different bedding plants

Perennial plants, on the other hand, are plants that typically grow, and last, for a minimum of 3 years. They bloom for a season, then survive a couple of more seasons doing minimally okay, but they do last. These are the kinds of plants we typically do our ornamental landscaping with.

Then there are biennial plants. These plants take an entire year to develop, then they bloom only every other year. Plants like Fox Gloves, Trillium and Holly Hocks are all biennial. You might also like to know that cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, carrots, and even celery are biennials. We typically harvest these plants and eat them in their first season, which is why we never see their flowers.

I share this with you because as a gardening philosopher I see all of life as cyclical. Our moods and feelings shift just like the weather. I once remember Tiffanie saying that Oregon, with it’s gloomy, wet, foggy, and overcast weather, was the suicide capitol of the US. I thought , yeah, I could see that! Then I Googled it and found this was not actually the case. Oregon was merely number 12, not number 1. How could that be? All of the rain and overcast gloom, there has to be something to it right? There must be some connection between depression and the weather. As it turns out, there is. Take a look at this information from Wikipedia…

“Environment variables, such as the amount of sunlight, occurrence of natural disasters, and the inability to protect and shelter oneself, can result in suicidal behaviors”. Parasuicide, which is the strongest known indicator for a future successful suicide attempt, is known to have a strong association with weather patterns. As noted by Barker in their 1994 article on seasonal and weather factors in parasuicide, “A major finding of this study was…the greatest mean daily number of parasuicide episodes in late spring/early summer and a trough in December/January”. Their approach involved developing a linear model to accurately separate any “seasonal effects and seasonally-related weather effects”. Climate factors affect parasuicide differently in women and men. The data indicated that the meteorological factors to account for large parasuicidal effects in women were maximum temperature, rainfall, and cloud cover. On the other hand, rain, cloud cover, poor visibility, and windy days were the most important meteorological factors in men. These findings state that elevated levels of environmental heat have been known to “produce thermal stress causing physiological and behavioral change, which may predispose a person to parasuicidal behavior, or precipitate parasuicide in someone already considering it”.

Translation… weather does affect our mood. Throw in the holiday season and it is affected even more. We need to find a way deal with those feelings. I spend a lot of time thinking. It’s one of the reasons I so enjoy gardening. For me, gardening is a moving and productive meditation. It allows me to float, and allows my thoughts to remain fluid, drifting in and out as they please. It also allows me to move and keep my endorphin production going. I’ve used gardening and landscaping as my medicine when I first lost my dad 20 years ago.

My last blog talked about him and I paid homage in my own way to his memory and legacy. My topic for this week is the season of abundance and I’m talking about how things are cyclical because It’s what I notice in both nature and society. Duhh, we’re all from nature and we all make up this society. I share my thoughts so that others can also relate and know that they are not alone.

Just like the plants that I mentioned have various growth stages and cycles in which they produce , we as humans experience a similar shift according to our environment. I’m no meteorologist or psychologist but I do enjoy researching and learning about the ways in which nature affects us all. I spend most of my life teaching and creating in the realm of beautiful outdoor living spaces.

It has been said that cleanliness is next to godliness and I mean who doesn’t enjoy an aesthetically pleasing space? I know I feel best when things are clean, neat and organized. I also enjoy the process of designing, working, building, and creating so that we can get there. The journey is part of the fun.

So I encourage you in this season of Christmas and abundance.

Take note of what you’re thankful for.

Do something nice for someone else, something that contributes, something that “gives”.

I know it’s cold and snowy in some places, so give thanks that you have a warm and cozy house to call your home.

Maybe you have extra blankets and clothes that you can donate to the homeless or less fortunate. The best way to step up out of your depression during this holiday season is to give to others.

This has nothing to do with shopping at Target or buying people gifts. We all have an abundance. We need to merely skim off some of our excess and create balance with nature. There’s a cyclical time for everything, just look at her.

She is our greatest teacher.

Ahmed

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Life and Landscaping

November 18, 2014 By Ahmed Hassan 3 Comments

When I began thinking about this week’s blog “Everything in moderation” is what was floating around in my mind. It was Waldo Emerson who said “Moderation in all things”. Another of my most beloved quotes is by Thomas Jefferson: Focus being on the word “equal”. My friend and author, Marie Rhoades, knows that I really enjoy blending quotes.

I like taking Jefferson’s prose and adding another quote like this one from Malcolm X. It primarily resonates with me because it gives a call to action at the end when he states “By any means necessary.”

The duality in both of these speeches brings balance to my own understanding. Of course because I’m Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper I typically enjoy sharing information and analogies related to landscape and gardening. Yes I’m very much a philosopher, but let’s talk duality and focus on one of my favorite subjects, compost.

Compost is basically life filled, dead plant material. There’s microbial life, processing, eating, and consuming plant material that we consider dead. In actuality there’s no such thing as dead, what there is would better be termed as a shifting of energy. Death is merely the culmination of life. So a dead plant is not really dead at all. Plants are as complex, and in some respects, more complex than people.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan - Compost Cycle

composting as a balanced, organic cycle, transfers energy at each stage

While I could say that all plants worship the sun in order to live, there are those plants that dwell in caves and survive in low lit conditions too. Now I’m not talking about survival though. Survival is what we’re doing here in Sacramento right now as we press through our extended drought. I’m talking about growing and developing. My point is that without the right conditions plants will not grow.
Any mother will tell you that if her hormones were out of whack, she would not have gotten pregnant. Plants are very much the same. Everything in nature is about balance. Whether you’re in the business of growing plants or developing as a person, balance is essential everywhere.

Yesterday I was discussing compost with a lovely neighbor of mine here in Northern California. The day before I was having a phone conversation on the same with one of the #WinMonroviaPlants winners in North Dakota. Talk about extreme differences in weather conditions… Yet regardless of your location, there’s one thing I know that is absolutely essential to growing healthy plants everywhere.

Do you know what this is? If you guessed compost you’d be correct. It is the world wide essential ingredient used to grow healthy plants. Why? Well, it feeds the soil with microorganisms and recycled nutrients. This creates the environment that plants need in order to grow.

I’ve been taught that healthy compost develops in a numeric Ph range between 6 – 8. Since 7 is considered neutral, compost is well balanced organic matter. Here’s an article from Cornell that offers a bit more detail on the matter. Of course there are variances. For example plants such as Azaleas, Camellia’s and Rhododendrons all do well with more acidic soil. If these are the plants you’re most interested in growing check out this link to learn a lil more. Most plants prefer soil that has a neutral (aka balanced) Ph. So I say If it’s good enough for plants, it’s good enough for me.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan - Truckload of Compost

A load of fresh compost replenishes nutrients in the soil

Meaning a balanced diet and lifestyle is likely best for me. This means to avoid too much of anything in excess. About 14 years ago I got on this health kick and began reading a bunch of books about health. I started with the Vegan source book. Next I began reading The McDougall Plan, and others followed after that. What I learned from all of the books was that increasing fresh vegetation is best for optimal health. I understand the raw food benefit because I understand the way compost is developed through live microorganisms. (by the way, I am no longer a vegan or vegetarian. I am an omnivore and what I like to call a conscientious eater).

My point is to say that all of life seems to be about balance. The sun rises and it sets. There’s a season that’s hot and another when it’s cold. I sleep and then I’m awake. I require both fluids and solids. If I simply seek to live a happy and healthy life, I should seek to strike a balance and also expect that happiness must be balanced with it’s opposite, which I choose to call challenges. These challenges show up in your garden just like they show up in your day to day world.
You might refer to things as good or bad, God and the Devil and right or wrong. I simply call it all a Balanced LIFE.

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Shifting Towards Sustainability

Balancing Kids, Family Life, Work, and Fame

Understand You Might Be Misunderstood

The Season of Abundance

Life and Landscaping

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