California is in a drought, and it looks like this is not going to be a rare event going forward. So we’re getting selective.
This means losing potential clients, who may not share these values.
“I don’t want your values in my backyard!”
anonymus caller
No, that did not go well.
Never mind that they’re not our values. They’re shared values, ideally between our clients and ourselves, moving in the same direction. It’s that whole “be kind to the Earth” thing.
It’s just common sense for an arid climate. Besides, sustainable design is fun and looks great when it’s done well.
Ask anyone involved in sustainable design and you’ll likely hear the same things:
- plant water conserving plants
- encourage life in your garden: pollinators, small birds, butterflies… they’re fun to watch, too!
- grow your own food – vegetables, herbs or both
- balance high water use features (like pools) with low water use features
- capture runoff water on site so it sinks into the earth, as much as feasible
- eliminate toxic substances (good for you and your pets, too!).
- find alternate ways to maintain lawns – plant lower water use grass blends, use less or non-polluting electric mowers or hand mowers, alternate plants that work like lawn (kurapia, for example). Use efficient irrigation systems (already mandated by the State of California).
- follow sustainable design principles, or at least adapt them to each project. There are a lot of them: Earth Friendly, Permaculture, Sustainable Design, River Friendly Design, Bay Friendly Design – and it seems like people create more every month!
The ironic thing perhaps is that being kind to the planet mainly involves planting design. And that does not mean native plants, either. Any plant that thrives in our climate without a lot of supplemental water can work, as long as it’s not invasive. That’s a lot of plants, in a lot of shapes, colors and sizes! And this means we can almost always create a look that fits your lifestyle.
Everyone still gets their stuff
Patios, pools and paved spaces stay about the same (although we may suggest pervious paving that captures water for the landscape). A shade structure is still a shade structure, a patio a patio, a walk, a wall, a trellis – all the same.
If the drought gets really bad, the landscape survives
After spending all that time designing and installing a landscape, who wants to see it deteriorate when the water gets cut or becomes too expensive to use for irrigation?
What do you think?
Are we crazy, throwing away a fortune? (not that we ever made a fortune). Or is following your conscience to turn down business a good thing? Maybe it’s because the pandemic has polarized everything so much that it was time to choose sides between helping the environment or fighting it. But… the environment always wins, sooner or later.
Please let us know in the comments!