A healthy, sustainable, living landscape is an outdoor environment thoughtfully designed and managed to support the well-being of people, wildlife, and the planet. It harmoniously blends ecological balance, resource efficiency, and aesthetic appeal, resulting in a space that thrives now and for generations to come. A healthy, sustainable, living landscape is more than just an attractive yard—it is a dynamic, living system that balances human needs with those of the environment, creating a space that preserves and nourishes life and preserves resources for future generations.
Every yard and every place are unique, but all healthy landscapes share some common attributes and focus on some key principles and features which include:
· Diverse Native Plantings: The landscape features a wide variety of native plants, trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers planted densely and in layers to mimic natural spaces. Native species support the web of life, require less water and maintenance, and are naturally adapted to local climate and soil conditions.
· A Reduction in Turf Grass Areas: Conventional turf grass is an ecological dead zone and often requires many harmful inputs to maintain. Living landscapes minimize turf areas, maintaining only those areas of lawn that are actively and productively used with other areas converted to biodiverse plantings of native vegetation.
· Soil Health: Healthy soil is the foundation of a sustainable landscape. Practices such as plentiful planting, composting and avoiding chemical fertilizers nurture beneficial soil organisms, improve structure, and increase fertility.
· Water Conservation: Efficient irrigation methods like drip systems and rainwater harvesting, as well as drought-tolerant plantings, minimize water usage. Rain gardens and permeable surfaces help manage stormwater and recharge groundwater.
· Wildlife Habitat & Boost to Biodiversity: The landscape provides shelter, food, and water for birds, pollinators, and small mammals. Features like trees, native hedgerows, pollinator gardens, and natural brush piles promote biodiversity.
· Minimal or No Chemical Use: Pest and weed management relies on integrated, natural methods. The absence of synthetic pesticides and herbicides protects health, soil, water, and non-target species.
· Energy Efficiency & Pollution Mitigation: Shade trees and strategic plantings help provide cooling to the site. There is minimal or no use of gas powered lawn equipment with manual or battery powered equipment prioritized whenever possible.
· Waste Reduction: Leaves & brush are left on site to benefit pollinators, songbirds, and other overwintering creatures and to recycle organic matter back into the site thus improving soil health. These practices also red waste in landfill. Hardscapes use recycled or locally sourced materials to minimize environmental impact and are pervious in nature helping mitigate stormwater runoff.
· Wellness: Sustainable landscapes positively impact communities - they enhance mental and physical well-being and foster a sense of connection to nature.
Click on the image above, or the link right HERE to access the article. Read it all - beginning to end. Then read it again. Trigger alert, some are going to get a scooch offended or at least uncomfortable. And spoiler alert, some of you will be cheering aloud with every single cathartic line that so eloquently says things that need to be said more often, and with more conviction if we are to make real progress in returning health to our landscapes! We should all have the clarity and courage to say them.
“Messy is the eroded, muddy, polluted, streams in our watersheds, contaminated by the fertilizers and pesticides used to maintain tens of millions of acres of turf grass across the continent…”
Brought to you by the team at the Perfect Earth Project, the Global Ground Rules are goals that every person and every landscape can aspire to for the health of people, pets and the planet!
Founded by iconic landscape designer Edwina von Gal, Perfect Earth Project aims to educate, engage and inspire homeowners, land care professional, and decision makers to adopt land care practices that are toxic free, nature b and climate responsible.
Healthy Yards promotes the growth of landscaping practices that are sustainable and good for the environment and for you. Explore their work and rich library of resources.
New Directions in the American Landscape was founded by Larry Weaner, a talented, well known ecological landscape designer. Throughout the year you can sign up for workshops and courses to help you up your resilient landscaping game. Click on the image above to visit the site.
Many of you may know Bristol resident Heather Evans who along with her daughter Zoe created Design Your Wild. Through the website which can be accessed by clicking the image above you can sign up for her informative and inspirational newsletters, read articles, explore resources and sign up for DIY courses. Prickly Ed's Customers receive a discount on the subscription fee by using the discount code https://www.designyourwild.com/pricklyeds
This is the website of Benjamin Vogt ("Milk the Weed" / "New Garden Ethic"). The site is full of how to guides, online courses, tools and resources to help you plan an ecologically sound garden. Click on the image above to visit the site.
Now that you have planted the perfect pollinator paradise be sure to nurture your new habitat in a way that also nurtures life. Learn more about Leaving the Leaves and Saving the Stems from the Xerces Society at the link below.
Learn more about the harmful effects of pesticides at the link below. Many of these pesticides are lurking in commonly used lawn and garden products, please use extra caution when caring for your pollinator patch.