Yosef Kerendian, founder of Spray Green and Save Green, an exciting new start-up specializing in lawn painting, speaks to Tamar Levy about his innovative company. Motivated by water usage limits in California. Spray Green and Save Green uses 100% safe and biodegradable plant based dye to turn brown, scraggly lawns into lush, vibrant ones — all in under one hour.
The Observer: How did you come up with the name?
Yosef Kerendian: After gathering all the required supplies needed to start the company, I knew I had to come up with a unique and catchy name that not only stands out, but conveys a message, as well. After some thought and crossed out note pages ‘Spray Green & Save Green!’ was born.
O: How exactly does the technology work?
YK: Lawn paint is made from non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients that cling to grass blades. Most lawn paint is made from pulverized kaolin (a soft stone), mixed with decayed and recycled plants. Lawn paint is harmless to humans and pets, is colorfast when dry and won’t contaminate the watershed. It’ll last for two to three months, depending on how quickly your lawn grows and how often you mow it.
O: How did you come up with this idea/why were you inspired to start this business?
YK: If you drive down any given street in Los Angeles, you’re guaranteed to find a handful of homes with brown or yellowish lawns, due to the fact that lawns are not watered properly. This became the reality after Governor Jerry Brown ordered the state to cut water usage by at least 25%. Additionally, after interning at Kerendian Properties Inc., I came to a realization that many homes on the market were selling for much less than their original listing price because of the homes’ poor curb appeal. For these two reasons I wanted to balance the need to save water with the desire for continued curb appeal for all Californians.
O: Do you have any long term goals?
YK: Honestly, I put my start-up company “Spray Green & Save Green!” on hold, as soon as I left Los Angeles this past August, in order to earn degrees in Finance and Accounting at Yeshiva University. So, I can’t tell you exactly were the company is headed, but I can tell you that I want to make an impact in the future, and make the world a better place!
O: How can college students like ourselves get involved in this company?
YK: I would like to start a movement to drive positive change with the help of students, faculty and staff as a team together in order to conserve water throughout the buildings of Yeshiva University. Let’s share the same purpose, and better the environment around us; Be a Pro, Save H2O!