Design Philosophy
We are interested in ideas that usurp the hold private property has on our society; designs that emphasize our common interests and create space and meaning for the surrounding community, both human and non-human alike. We design for mobility and access for all people, taking these considerations first. We encourage design that allows for present or future food security – adding to soil fertility and resilience, sequestering carbon, and refusing to use chemicals or additives that could hinder a healthy ecosystem or the ability to grow food in the future.
We look around us to see what resources are readily available, renewable, or a waste product that has untapped potential. We follow the three R’s in order as we can- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Is concrete necessary? Or will crushed stone work? What do we already have on site? If we are cutting into the soil for a design element, we make sure to allow space for that soil to fill on site. Finally, what materials are we choosing? Will they last, will they biodegrade, or can we or someone else reuse them? We do not live in a disposable world. We consider the river, both physical and metaphorical, knowing that whatever harm happens upstream has compounding repercussions downstream.
We focus on listening to the essence of a site and the needs of a client. How can we design a space to reflect its natural beauty and intrigue that also fits seamlessly into the desires of its humans, without relying on heavy muscle and high price tags? We aren’t interested in building boxes and forcing a fit.
We design from the base of stewardship and maintenance, meaning, we create spaces that we expect will be taken care of, and help clients know their capacity and guide them in growth and understanding.
Planting Philosophy
We start from a base of native ecology and symbiosis among elements on site. We also recognize the idea of ‘native’ ecology is philosophically fraught. Furthermore, in the era of climate change, it is important to help certain plants, especially trees, establish in new zones as ecological realities shift. By planting trees from Zone 5 in a Zone 4 area that is shifting, we jumpstart a migration for that species that will happen more rapidly than ever before. We focus on what plants and plant combinations create the most ecological value and incorporate the wishes of the client. Sometimes this means using nativars (cultivars of native species), non-aggressive, or sterile species. We go beyond ‘do no harm’ and ask, ‘what would be most beneficial and beautiful?’
We believe maintenance is love. We design spaces that will be loved and cared for, and we help you be the best steward of your land as you can be. We don’t believe in forcing plants to grow. We believe in right plant, right place, and proper (which usually means as minimal as possible) maintenance.
We believe in biological diversity in our plantings and work with the symbiotic properties of plants and soil properties. We take cues from our other ecological partners, such as pollinators, fungi, and water, to guide what a planting should be.
