Ecological Landscaping & Pocket Forests

Support Your Ecosystem

I love adding support for pollinators, and creating  plantings that provide insect life to feed birds, habitat for other non-threatening wildlife, plus soil and water management to improve your garden's capacity to do all of the above. Much of this starts with the use of native plants and removal of invasives, but it does not end there. Trees are the backbone of this work:  they cool the air, hold water, support wildlife, and store carbon in the soil than any other plant, year after year!

Start with Native Plants

Native plants are a key part of resilient landscapes. They support local food webs, adapt well to our conditions, and often need less water and care. I don’t take a strict native-only approach. Many non-native plants add value by producing food, building soil, or adding seasonal interest. As long as they’re not invasive or harmful to the ecosystem, they can be part of a healthy design. I always include native species or suggest native alternatives, but I won’t ask you to give up a plant you love just because it isn’t native.

Plant Trees

Trees deliver all the benefits of native plants, but on a larger and more powerful scale. They offer shade, reduce urban heat, filter stormwater and pollution, store carbon, and help define a sense of place. When planted in groupings that mimic natural forest structure, their impact grows, creating layered habitat, increasing biodiversity, and amplifying ecological function. Learn more about pocket forests ›

Let Your Lansdscape Feed You!

With the right design, your yard can produce food in a garden that’s both functional and beautiful. Fruit trees, native berries, asparagus, herbs, and even tomatoes can be woven into screening hedges and beds using layered plantings inspired by permaculture’s food forest principles. These systems reduce inputs, build soil, and offer a small but meaningful alternative to the long supply chains behind most grocery store food.

Design for Resilience

I apply permaculture principles to create landscapes that thrive with less intervention. By choosing plants suited to our changing climate — including hotter, drier summers — and arranging them in layered, cooperative groupings according to soil conditions, light and water availability, I help gardens retain moisture, resist weeds, and adapt over time. These designs require less maintenance over time while a doing more ecological work. 

Design that Reflects Your Style

Native, ecosystem-supporting gardens don’t have to be messy or overgrown. They can be designed to suit a range of aesthetics, from structured and formal to loose and naturalistic. Supporting pollinators, building healthy soil, and managing water can all fit within a style that feels intentional. I can use quick visualization sketches to help imagine how everything will come together before committing to a plan.