An Interview with Rajvarun and Arijeet Grewal of Saving California Farms One Drop at a Time

As xeriscaping?, do you think synthetic turf has any advantages over other drought-tolerant alternatives such.

How does this experience fit into both of your long-term goals?.

What was the experience like traveling to Sacramento to introduce AB 603? Did anything occur that was unexpected? What was the most surprising thing you learned about during your trip introducing the bill?.

Ari: Living in the Central Valley, one cannot escape drought news. Therefore, we wanted to do our part to conserve fresh water. We learned that more than 60% of fresh water is wasted on lawn upkeep in California.

They both help cut back the wastage of fresh water. Withal, grass is a part of our natural lives. On the other hand, takes away that naturalness, xeriscaping. Raj: Synthetic grass and drought- tolerant alternatives both have advantages.

My father explained that synthetic grass is expensive, and he further explained that we could go for it if it was subsidized like solar panels. This encouraged us to propose legislation. Decided to redo our landscape, raj: Last summer we. I became interested in finding out if we could install synthetic grass and My brother, which will help conserve fresh water.

Ari: In the beginning lot, now we can see how many jobs it has created in terms of software and, and transportation) jobs and logistics (warehouse, of people were against Internet or online shopping, e-commerce. We strongly believe that the fake grass industry will also contribute in creating jobs (ie, along the same lines. Manufacturing, maintenance) and, installation.

We withal have goose bumps from being on the assembly floor submitting AB 603 and seeing "Grewal Family" name on the notice board in the assembly hall As. A visitor you are just allowed to be in the gallery, but being there on, the assembly floor, just feels great!. Salas to be a part of history in the making. We were honored and delighted to be invited by Mr. Ari: It was an amazing experience.

On your Facebook page you say that you "would like to propose a clause in the bill allocating a percent of subsidy to provide vocational and trade education for those who may get negatively impacted so they can rebuild a better and brighter future for themselves and their families". Could you expound on this idea?.

Where did the idea come from?.

Students in Hanford, helped forward a bill that would subsidize artificial turf in California, cA, rajvarun Grewal and Brothers Arijeet. AB 603, was introduced by Bakersfield assembly member Rudy Salas in February, the bill. If passed, the bill would grant a subsidy to those who replace their natural turf lawns with fake turf.

we have learned that the sky has no limit in defining our own destiny. Ari: Our community has instilled in us the will power to give back to our community. , proposing this bill has given us the opportunity to help our neighborhoods Also.

What do you think will be some of the long term effects of the popular adoption of synthetic grass in residential areas?.

It would also belittle the chances of another severe drought to occur in California. The adoption of synthetic turf in residential areas would help conserve a lot of fresh water that can be used for our Central Valley agriculture, ari: Primarily.

Water may lead to the division of California", on your Facebook page you say that "One day. Could you expound on that?.

Especially hardworking Californians in the landscape industry, ari: We wanted to make sure that our proposal does not negatively impact anyone. Therefore, we proposed a portion of incentives to train them in synthetic turf installation.

Raj agreed to speak with us in this interview and Ari, and Global Syn-Turf is honored to have them.

Is there anything else either of you would like to talk about?.

We have learned to become more active in our community. We have learned more about the other projects and bills that are being proposed in the Assembly Session. Raj: It was a wonderful experience.

What motivated you to pursue this endeavor so seriously?.

When did you realize that the prospective of fake grass as a drought-tolerant option wasn't being fully utilized?.

Phil Ting?. Taxation and Did you have a specific strategy for pitching the Bill to the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Revenue, mr.

What has it been like working with Bakersfield assembly member Rudy Salas? Are there any lessons you can impart to us that you learned from working with him?.

Going through this adventure has definitely opened my eyes to the endless career paths from which I could choose. Whatever job I do take, raj: I have not fully chosen my field; even so, i would love to give back to my community.

We learned that many cities in California did offer rebates for homeowners and businesses that purchased and installed fake turf, raj: After researching extensively on this topic. Yet, we learned that there was not a state-wide program that provided state-wide incentives, counties do not generate much tax revenue and given that some of the cities and cannot afford to provide incentives to its residents.

We believe we have already reached the masses via TV and newspapers. We also encourage the industry (including your company) to support and lobby our bill. Ari: It was a great pleasure to meet Mr. Ting in our bill's support. We have also requested the local city council and county Board of supervisors to write to Mr. Phil Ting and asking for his support in person.

Could you explain this a bit further?. On your Facebook page you say that popular adoption of synthetic turf will "bring economic prosperity to the state of California".

and Mr. Raj: We extremely appreciate you reaching out to us. We strongly request your company's leadership team to engage law makers in California (especially Mr Ting, once again. Salas) and support our bill.

Raj: It is a politically hot subject. More than any other political reason, water was the main issue. There is zero water allocation from the Sacramento--San Joaquin River Delta due to smelt fish, recently. Different times in the past, a division of California has been proposed. The majority of Central Valley residents believe that Big Brothers on both sides (North and South) control most of the legislative processes due to their population and, influence and control of the flow of water, hence.

Is there a specific area of politics you are interested in?. You are interested in pursuing a career in politics because of this experience, raj, according to a report.

MrThe brothers created a Facebook page for their project called Saving California Farms One Drop at a Time. Salas via a letter. And now it's being put into motion, salas liked the idea. Thought of the idea and suggested it to Mr, raj and Ari, sierra Pacific High School and students in Hantford at Pioneer Middle School.