Sustainable Landscape Design is the process of meeting our clients’ needs while also meeting the needs of Nature. We constantly look for ways for people and Nature to co-exist harmoniously. When you step into your garden we want you to find a place of healing for your body and mind, a place of recreation for your family and pets, and a place that encourages wildlife to visit often.
Creating a garden that you want to spend time in is our goal. Of course, we want your garden as healthy for you as it is for your plants and the birds, butterflies and bees. Putting the right plant into the right place, lowering your maintenance time, capturing and filtering water on site, and protecting the natural environment are just a few things that we look at. But just as important we want to give you a place to entertain and relax, kick a soccer ball, grow vegetables, and enjoy your feathered friends if you so desire.
Sustainable design naturally leads to low-impact construction and a diminishing need for maintenance. Our 3 service areas (Organic Lawn & Plant Care, Design, and Build) focus on eight guiding principles:
Protect and Conserve Soils
Conserve Water
Protect Water and Air Quality
Protect and Create Wildlife Habitat
Conserve Energy
Sustain Healthy Plants
Use Sustainable Methods and Materials
Protect and Enhance Human Health and Well‐being
Within each of these guiding principles is a myriad of decisions to be made with people and Nature in mind. These decisions lead to a convergence of people and Nature sharing a healthy relationship with your property.
BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY IS PERMACULTURE
Another design field that's emerging is called “Permaculture”. In essence, permaculture is the meeting of human needs through ecological and regenerative design. The word permaculture was coined in the 1970’s by combining the words “permanent” and “culture.” While the early adopters of permaculture focused on self-sustaining and holistic agricultural practices, it is applicable across many disciplines.
We employ permaculture because design decisions are first made on ethics and then incorporate the logic of natural systems. When we mimic Nature’s patterns we develop systems that require fewer resources as the landscape matures. We think this is good not only for the person managing the landscape but also for Nature.
OTHER PHILOSOPHICAL DESIGN STANDARDS
Of course, we also pull from the philosophical work of those that walked the garden path before us. Nobody is more dear to our heart than the original Landscape Architect, Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903). In a wonderful essay, writer Matt Linderman summaries Olmsted’s design philosophies into 10 parts and is well worth reading. To Olmsted, as well as us, all design work starts with “the genius of a place,” a belief that every site has ecologically and spiritually unique qualities. Combining your needs with the needs of Nature and recognizing that each property holds a unique quality of “place,” truly creates very special garden spaces.
All design work is custom tailored to meet the needs of those that inhabit and visit the landscape. Give us a call to see if we may be a good fit to re-envision a very special outdoor living place for you.
Recent Blog Posts
Check out our recent topical blog posts for tips on organic gardening and environmental issues.
