Did you know that even the careful use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides may cause illness in some people or their pets? By using organic methods of landscaping, you can reduce the health risk to you and your loved ones, save money and contribute to the well being of your local ecosystem/environment.

Organic gardening protects all of us

Here are five organic techniques you can use on your lawn and in your garden.

1. Wherever possible, use native plants or plants from similar environmental conditions, to make organic gardening easier.  Natives frequently require less water, fertilizer, and care than non-native, exotic plants. Click herefor more benefits while gardening with natives.
   

   California native front yard garden

2. To keep your lawn healthy and resistant to weeds, use organic methods to care for the soil and the grass. Organic fertilizers, compost materials, and worm castings may be more expensive to purchase than chemical fertilizers, but they do not need to be applied to lawns as frequently, making the actual costs even out over the long term. Using the appropriate amount of water by staggering your watering intervals, will also keep your lawn healthy and stimulate long root growth.
3. Use aeration, a technique of punching small holes in the lawn, to allow air, water and nutrients to reach more deeply into the lawn’s root system. Not only will your lawn be more beautiful, a healthy lawn will be weed and pest free. You can also use a 50:50 mix of sand and organic compost spread in a thin layer over your lawn as top dressing to strengthen your lawn.
4. Collect leaves, pine needles and weed-free plant clippings to create compost that you can use on your lawn and your other plantings. Leaves have an appropriate name because it’s ok to actually ‘leave’ them where they land in your yard.  For example, oak leaves make excellent mulch around the base.
   

   Fallen leaves look natural in this lawn-free front yard

5. Hire a landscape maintenance company who also practices organic methods. Again, the initial expense may be higher than your typical mow-blow-and-go type service, but it’s not worth it to have you or your garden’s health compromised.

Practicing organic gardening techniques can save you money, reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, and improve the planet.

Creating a garden that stimulates all of your senses using water-wise plants, can be very rewarding.  Enjoying not only the sights and smells of your garden, but hearing, touching and tasting it is a matter of choosing just the right plant and locating it where it will deliver the most enjoyment to your senses.

Touch A garden pathway is an ideal place to locate touchable plants such as New Zealand Wind Grass, Stipa arundinacea or native Deer Grass such as Muhlenbergia ngens.  They invite visitors to linger while gently passing the foliage or flower over their hand.  Using walk-able ground covers such as Yarrow, Achillea tomentosa on pathways instead of stone or grass will provide your feet with unexpected sensation.  Kids love the deceptively soft foliage of Lambs Ears, Stachys byzantina; it’s like having a petting zoo in their own backyard.

Stachys bizantina, Stipa arundinacea, Rosmarinus prostratus

Sound Instead of depending upon wind chimes to add sound to your garden, add trees or shrubs that attract song birds or humming birds to bring in natural sounds.   Nectar producing shrubs such as Ava’s Hummingbird Mint, Agastache ‘Ava’ attract hummingbirds.  To enjoy the gurgling sound of water slowly running over stones, add a water feature or a pond-less urn-style fountain.   Capture the sound of the breeze rustling through the grass by adding tall clumping Feather Reed Grass, Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster.’

Water feature surrounded by edible strawberries designed by Julia Konye, Green Willow Gardens

Smell By spreading roses throughout the garden rather than grouping them all in one area, visitors enjoy their intoxicating scent repeatedly. Heirloom roses, found at specialty stores like Roses of Yesterday and Today, have the best fragrance.  Adding plants that have scented foliage such as Cleveland Sage, Salvia clevelandii and Lemon thyme, Thymus citriodorus to areas around pathways, smell wonderful when brushed against.  Consider growing perfumed vines to add even more fragrance.  While the Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ is a popular choice for its sweet perfume that can fill a garden, remember that it is also toxic to pets.

Sit on the bench and enjoy the fragrant apple blossoms and lavender. Design by Julie Orr.

Taste You can look beyond your vegetable garden for edible plants, your ornamental garden can offer its own tasty delights. New varieties of artichokes, cabbage and lettuce offer distinctive foliage colors and textures that fit well with perennials.  Edible flowers such as nasturtiums and pansies can be added to salads or used as garnish.  Culinary herbs such as oregano, sage, or rosemary can be mixed with perennials.

Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea; Delta Sunflower, Helianthus annuus, attract pollinators. Garden design Julie Orr

Sight Creating a pleasing visual picture can be done by varying the height, form, color and texture of your plantings.  Placing ground covers in contrasting colors under taller perennials will add sparkle.  Adding outdoor lighting will illuminate your garden at night. Use a neighbor’s tree or other element as a center of visual interest for creating a frame of your own. An element of mystery can be added by having garden pathways disappear behind larger plantings.

What sensory experience do you want to add to your garden?  A well designed sustainable sensory garden can provide long term enjoyment of earthly delights.

Thank you Maureen Decombe, Green Willow Gardens, for permission to use your pictures as design examples.

Test Your Worm IQ!

Written by guest Author Jerry Gach, also known as The Worm Dude, a professional worm breeder for  Santa Clara County, Alameda County and San Mateo County

The ancient Egyptians knew that soil loaded with earthworms was extremely fertile, as Earthworm’s were the barometer of soil health.  Lots of worms = Lots of crops.

Fast forward to the 21st century….Worms are more in vogue now than ever.  Classes on composting with worms (Vermicomposting) have become increasingly popular, as we realize that if we don’t start taking care of Mother Earth, she will not be able to take care of us.

Most of us think all worms are alike….and most of us would be wrong!

There are literally thousands of species of worms, but only a few are used commercially.

COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE WORMS AND THEIR SCIENTIFIC NAMES:

Canadian Nightcrawler:  Lumbricus Terrestris

Red Wiggler:  Eisenia Fetida

European Nightcrawler:  Eisenia Hortensis

African Nightcrawler: Eudrilus Eugeniae

Alabama Jumper:  Amynthas Gracilus

We’ve categorized these commercially available worms into three types, based on the performance of each species.  Some worms will fall into two categories, but we’re yet to see one multipurpose worm that can be used across all categories:

TYPES OF WORMS:

Fishing Worms

Composting Worms

Garden Aeration Worms

COMPOSTING WORMS:

Though all of the commercial worms can be used for fishing, not all of them make good composting worms.  Composting worms share the following qualities:

Surface dwellers:  Top 12 inches

Voracious:  Swarm Food

Fast Reproduction:  Can double in population every 3-4 months in optimum conditions

Ability to survive in captivity:  Very Good

Canadian Nightcrawlers are not considered composting worms.  If there was an anti composting category, these worms would set the standard.  Canadian Nightcrawlers are deep diggers, do not swarm food, are not particularly fast at reproducing, and are difficult to maintain.In captivity, keep them in the refrigerator.

Red Wigglers are the KINGS of composters, and are the most commonly used worms for Vermiculture and Vermicomposting in the world.   Red Wigglers set the standard for composting worms.

European Nightcrawlers are good composters, but a little less voracious than Red Wigglers.

African Nightcrawlers are every bit as voracious as Red Wigglers, but their cold temperature sensitivity reduces demand for these worms for all but the serious Vermiculturist.

Alabama Jumpers are considered very poor composters.  Preferring leaf litter to kitchen scraps,  these worms tend to prefer living in soil rich in organic matter.

Click here to buy composting worms.

GARDEN AERATION WORMS:

Canadian Nightcrawlers make poor aeration worms.  Their preference for living in a single deep hole eliminates them from this category.

Red Wigglers are sometimes advertised falsely as soil worms.  Their natural habitat is your local manure pile and/or compost pile.  Because their skin is relatively thin, and their strength marginal, these worms perform poorly at aerating soil.

European Nightcrawlers have similar characteristics as Red Wigglers, and as such, do not perform well in the dirt.

African Nightcrawlers are better suited for compost bins then dirt.   Their preference for warmer temps, and their relatively thin skin makes these worms best suited for a sheltered composting environment.

Alabama Jumpers are the KINGS when it comes to aerating the garden.  Their thick skin allows them to live in soil ranging from sandy to heavy clay.  With a preference for leaf litter or compost, these worms are easily propagated in the garden.

FISHING WORMS:

Canadian Nightcrawlers are the KING of fishing worms.  Why?  Because fisherman are convinced that bigger is better.  Canadians are BIG…about 100 per pound. Picked at night from Farms in the Northern United States and Canada, these worms are deep diggers, living in holes down to six feet.  Because of their preference for cool climates, Canadian Nightcrawlers are best kept under refrigeration.

Red Wigglers are commonly used for panfish bait.  Weighing in at about 1/10^th the weight of Canadian Nightcrawlers, these are the perfect size for small fish.

European Nightcrawlers are the larger cousins of the Red Wiggler.  At about 3x the size of the Red Wiggler, these mid sized worms are the trout fisherman’s dream.

African Nightcrawlers are longer than European Nightcrawlers, but thinner.  Unlike Canadian Nightcrawlers that like cool temps, these worms perform best at 70 degrees or more, making them the perfect fishing worm for warm waters.

Alabama Jumpers are the strongest of all of the commercial worms.  These are EXTREMELY active worms.  They also have the thickest skin of all the commercial worms, allowing them to stay on the hook for long periods of time.

Now you understand why all worms are not created equal.  There is no “One best worm”.   There are only qualities in worms that we harness for our benefit.  Use the right worm for the job, and you’ll be very pleased with the outcome.

Still got questions? Email Jerry!

• Buy an electronic book (available on digital formats or CDs )
• Buy recycled-content products
• Gift certificates (example: restaurant, retail store, iTunes) – no wrapping required
• Tickets to sports events, theatrical or musical performances, or movies
• Museum or park memberships
• Nice cloth or linen napkins
• Mechanical pencils/refillable pens
• Homemade coupon (for dinner, a car wash, handyman service, or babysitting)
• For children: prepare a dress-up box filled with vintage clothes and jewelry.
• Homemade baked goods in a reusable tin
• Battery charger (Buy rechargeable batteries when giving an electronic gift)
• Transportation passes (for example, bus, CalTrain or BART)
• Reusable lunch bag or tote
• Reusable holiday wrapping bags

Reusable Holiday Gift Bags

When you think of landscape design, you think about plants, right? Yes, that is a huge part of the process to creating a wonderful outdoor space but there is much more that goes into the profession.

A landscape designer as someone who mixes both the science of horticulture along with the creativity of design to create an outdoor space.

In my own work as a landscape planner I strive to create beautiful, functional, stress-free gardens with an environmental approach that works in harmony with nature. I can only get to this space by taking a holistic approach. By considering everything, the whole living environment (both inside and outside) as well as your lifestyle, designers can combine science, art and sustainability for a win-win result.

For example, here are some specialties that I include in my service offering:

1. Using Local materials
2. Site-appropriate gardens (California native and water saving Mediterranean plants)
3. Rainwater harvesting and grey water advice
4. Organic vegetable gardens and orchards
5. Fragrant gardens
6. Butterfly and bird gardens
7. Permeable patios, walkways, decks
8. Driveways
9. Fences and gates
10. Arbors and trellises
11. Low voltage and LED lighting
12. Outdoor kitchens
13. Water features
14. Awnings, sunrooms, shade solutions
15. Greenhouses or potting benches
16. Garbage and recycling areas, additional storage
17. Meditation spaces
18. Labyrinths
19. Play areas for families with children
20. Petscapes for dogs and cats
21. Spas and pool/ pool removal
22. Container gardens
23. Retaining walls, seat walls
24. Art and furniture

So the next time you think about landscape design, of course consider the plants but also think ‘Big Picture’.

Who doesn’t want improved comfort in their home, a healthier living environment, and lower utility bills? As a sustainable landscape designer, I highly recommend this service as a starting point when you are ready to learn why your home gets too hot or too cold, why your utility bills are high, or what could be causing illness. Hiring an expert will also help you find ways remedy these issues and help you prioritize home improvement projects.

An energy audit is simple and easy. Most appointments are done in a few hours, complete with quick results and suggestions for repairs. Here are the steps to having your own home energy audit from the experts at Energy Beyond Design:

Gather Data

We learn about your home, including your concerns and goals, and details about its structure, systems and energy bills. During a 4-5 hour on-site analysis, our technicians use sophisticated equipment to measure the draftiness, insulation, electricity, fossil fuel use, and other factors that influence your home’s performance. We gather all the data necessary to diagnose the precise causes of energy loss, health problems, and discomfort in your home.

Data Analysis

By analyzing the data gathered on-site, we determine which repairs, upgrades, and other work will produce the best combination of comfort, air quality, energy efficiency, and affordability. We use computer modeling, extensive hands-on experience with Bay Area homes, and years of home performance training.

Action Plan

We will present you with an action plan including findings from the on-site analysis, and a prioritized series of steps that you can take to remedy your home’s performance issues.  The action plan projects the changes in your home’s performance that will be accomplished if the suggested repairs, upgrades, and replacements are implemented.

Customized for You

The specific improvement options for your home are unique because every home is different. There may be several ways to accomplish similar performance goals, and we will discuss these with you to develop the best plan for your home. The finalized plan will be custom tailored to your schedule, budget and other considerations.

Conducting the Retrofit

By this point, we thoroughly understand your home and are ready to conduct a performance retrofit. We coordinate our expert retrofit teams to complete the upgrades on time and on budget. Typical retrofit work includes air infiltration sealing, insulation installation, duct system improvement, crawl-space vapor barriers, system tune-ups and replacements, window replacement, and solar. Performance testing is conducted during and following the retrofit to make sure our efforts are creating an efficient, healthy, and comfortable home.

To make an appointment or for more information please contact Energy Beyond Design at 1-866-455-4154

When building new construction, it’s easiest to get a GreenPoint Rating when you plan it from the start. “Green homes” are home built correctly with quality, sustainable features and construction methods.

According to Build It Green, many people talk about having a green home but aren’t sure where to start.

GreenPoint Rated removes the guesswork by having a Certified GreenPoint Rater evaluate a home’s green features allowing homes to be compared on a level playing field. GreenPoint Rated rewards building professionals and homeowners who create green homes by allowing them to brand their products with a recognizable, trustworthy seal of approval.

The quality home builder, Schiller Construction, hired Julie Orr Design, just after they began the house framing. This gave me the opportunity to review the architect’s plans and make additional suggestions. Tip for homeowners: Hire your landscape designer at the same time you hire your architect. When the two trades work together, you avoid fees for needless revisions.

To begin the process, I reviewed Build It Green’s guidelines and worked together with my landscape contractor at eni-ko to create a sustainable landscape design. To get the most points possible on this project, we addressed the following:

• Permeable hardscape was selected. Stormwater stays onsite, eliminating erosion and contamination while also recharging aquifers.
• Planted non-invasive species that won’t out-compete the native and water-wise plantings.
• No plants require hedging. Plants were chosen and spaced out to allow to optimal growth and natural appearance.
• 75% of plants will be drought tolerant once established (excluding turf). Irrigation may be drastically reduced by 2011.
• Turf is less than 33% of landscape area to conserve water.
• MP rotator spray heads use less irrigation on turf because the rate of application is slower thereby avoiding runoff.
• Shade trees were planted to increase passive cooling to save energy.
• Plants were grouped by hydrozone (similar irrigation requirements) to save water and prevent runoff.
• Efficient drip irrigation used in planter beds.
• Compost added to improve plant health, soil texture, and drainage.
• Wood mulch added: protects plants from moisture loss, adds organic matter to the soil and suppresses weeds.

While the project you envision may not include a GreenPoint rating, this checklist will become the norm in future landscaping. With the growing concern to conserve natural resources, governing agencies like the State of California, are looking at new water model ordinances to make conservation a reality. Although new landscaping regulations will be encouraged and enforced slowly, the time to change our habits is now. Many cities like Portola Valley, CA have already adopted these types of landscape measures.

Green is here to stay. For a green point rated landscape consultation click here.

Sheet mulching (or Lasagna Composting) is an effective way to not only get rid of pesky weeds (or unused lawns) but it also a great way to build organic matter up in your soil. I like to think about it as the lazy person’s answer to better soil, healthier plants and a weed-free garden all done in one task. If that does sound good enough to make you a believer, what if I told you that you could get most of the materials needed for sheet mulching for free or for very little money?

1. Manure/Compost.
   1. Depending on how adventurous you are feeling, you can get manure for free (stable manure from a horse ranch is great). Call your local feed store for free manure ideas or ads on Craigslist/Freecycle.
   2. You can also save time by purchasing steer, chicken or other manure in bags or bulk (preferred) from your garden center.
   3. Cardboard
      1. For free cardboard try places that sell appliances like refrigerators and ask if you can have any leftover boxes.
      2. Place an ad on Craigslist/Freecycle.
      3. Ask local retail stores in your neighborhood if they would save boxes for you for one week- most people are happy to help since they usually get recycled anyways.
      4. You can also save time by purchasing cardboard in rolls from a packing company. Do a Google search ‘corrugated roll’.
      5. Water
         1. I know it sounds counter intuitive to use water when you are removing a lawn in order to save water but this is a step you can’t skip. Think of keeping your lawn at a moisture level similar to wrung out wet sponge.
         2. Mulch.
            1. This is the top dressing that you get to look at for a couple of months while your weeds or lawn are decomposing, so if you care, choose wisely. I like to call local tree trimming companies and ask if they can delivery free ‘arbor mulch’ directly to my driveway. The only down-side to this free method is that you don’t have a lot of quality control over what tree parts you get (expect a lot of green leaves with the brown wood). You can ask your arborist to avoid delivering mulch from Eucalyptus, Walnut or other allopathic trees that will inhibit future plant growth.
            2. Again the only way to guarantee your results is to purchase mulch at local garden materials site like Lyngso.

The hardest part of this process is gathering up all the materials. But once you have everything at the ready, you can sheet mulch your lawn in one day with a little help from family or friends.

Going clockwise from the top left, these landscaping lectures cover sustainable topics such as:

1. How to make your  garden more green without breaking the bank

2. How to landscape for the typical suburban sized lot

3. Take the water-wise IQ test. How to turn your water thirsty lawn into a low maintenance, drought resistant garden

4. What does a ecologically designed  garden look like? There is a drought but I don’t want a dry-looking yard so what are my options?