8/22/2023 0 Comments California landscape designWhen I see my clients spending more time outside, enjoying their spaces and connecting to plants, it makes me happy.Ī: It was probably the moment I felt confident charging money for my time. It’s a lot of problem solving, and plants are simply amazing. Ultimately, I decided I really like being a landscape designer. The work of landscape designers/architects like Scott Shrader take my breath away-OMG YES! I also love California so much-it’s a special place and so dang challenging to design for. I feel so fortunate to have many mentors (both in gardening and design) and support from friends in our tight community here in the Bay Area. Working for a couple of landscape design/build/maintain companies rounded things out, particularly my role as a designer/project manager on properties that involved building permits tied to MWELO. I have way more experience as a fine gardener than a landscape designer, having learned a lot from my internships at a few gardens and being part of the gardening staff at Gamble Garden. Growing up in pretty urban area of So Cal did not give me much exposure to plants or nature. I felt better… renewed? To learn something new and unfamiliar to me. This led me to learn more about horticulture, both at Foothill College & Merritt College. Feeling burnout, I thought, “I’m going to take a sabbatical for a month!” During that break, I wanted to disconnect from technology, the computer, social media, etc., and I joined a vegetable gardening class to get my mind off of work. Previously, I was working as a designer for digital experiences and products for ad agencies and tech companies. I’ve made tons of mistakes and did all sorts of gimmicky things as an amateur home gardener before seriously considering a landscaping career. It’s kind of been a short but long journey for me that led me into landscape design. Native bees are better pollinators than honeybees and their presence improves the quality and quantity of urban farm produce. And of course, choosing the right native plants will bring many species of native bees to the garden. Locating native plants near food crops is a key strategy for integrated pest management for organic gardening because natives attract beneficial insects that prey on insects that damage crops. One of my main goals is to integrate these two components in a way that creates a long-term healthy, productive, and water use efficient environment for the people who use the space as well as key wildlife species such as our native bees. And so I began designing landscapes consisting only of California native plants and/or areas to grow fruits and vegetables. My own garden has been featured many times since 2011. In May 2020, my new landscape design business was announced during the virtual Bringing Back the Natives Tour, a tour of native gardens in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. That we may encourage, inspire, be inspired by that New Generation and in some way, fully be a part of it as well.ĭuring the early onset of the pandemic, I decided to end my career as an environmental scientist working in private consulting and start my second career pursing my longtime passion for California native plants and urban farming. In a way, I wish that we all, as we grow in our practice, will remain young at heart, open to the changing issues, adaptable, growing with the needs of our times. I find that APLD offers great opportunities to both educate and be educated.įrom one point of view, a great mix of the old and the new. In a way, we are always beginners, constantly adapting to a changing world, a changing climate, a growing industry. There are so many things to learn, to become proficient in. One of the things that inspires me about our industry is that learning seems to be endless. The topic of ‘the next generation’ is quite diverse and interesting. I encourage you once again to make the most of your membership by staying connected and engaged, wherever and whenever you are able to. We do need and appreciate your help, at any level. Please see the Advocacy article in this Newsletter to find out more about all that we are doing and, hopefully, if you find yourself inspired and interested, to find a way to support the development of this program. The Chapter Advocacy Committee is working on a modified version of our original plan to develop an educational program that will help build the APLD brand and help support all that we advocate for in the industry. Half of the year has gone, and with the help of our incredible and highly dedicated group of volunteers throughout the state, we continue to accomplish many great things.
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