weeds grow through weed barrier
earthfriendly

Continuing the series Sheri and I  started a few podcasts ago, we address the question we hear the most in the classes we teach: 

“My lawn is brown now what?” or
“Are rocks, gravel and few cactus the only option?” or
“What if I just concrete it over?” or

“The alternatives are a lot more expensive, and I don’t have that money”

No matter where you live, today’s topic will apply to you.


In our last podcast we talked about how artificial turf is not the answer and the problems it creates, so the next thing people ask about is creating the typical ‘desert’ landscape of rock, gravel and a few plants. In this podcast we talk about the issues those kinds of gardens create, and we go on to discuss concrete and the problems it brings. We also talk about the misconception that ‘sustainable landscapes’ are much more expensive than ‘traditional landscapes’. 

Gravel and Weeds - webThe most important message is:  you don’t need to do it all at once. In our next podcast we will talk about some simple, cost effective steps you can take to remove your lawn and start out on the journey of creating a beautiful water wise landscape that is good for your pocket book and the environment

Resources

  • The County of Ventura’s Watershed Protection District worked with Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden program and G3 Green Gardens Group to create this flyer which has lots of examples of how to create opportunities for water to sink into your yard.
  • If you would like to learn more about Dr. Elaine Ingham , microbes and the Soil Food Web you can learn more on her website or even take her online courses.
  • Diane Kennedy over at Vegetariat and Finch Frolic Garden has written eloquently about the disadvantages of gravel in the landscape.
  • The City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment carried out a long term study to compare the relative costs of ‘sustainable landscapes’ compared to ‘traditional landscapes’, and their results are very convincing: sustainable landscapes require much less water and maintenance, and generate less green waste, than a traditional landscape. This is backed up by our own personal experience.

 

garden garden results

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earthfriendly

Diane Downey and Sheri Menelli specialize in earth-friendly landscaping practices, including vegetable gardening, rainwater capture, soil health, native plants, and efficient irrigation. Diane is a professional landscape designer with over 10 years’ experience, and Sheri is a certified permaculture designer with a six-year-old food forest in her backyard. Combined, they have over two decades of teaching experience. Their classes are taught to the public in the classroom, in the field, and via one-on-one garden coaching sessions.
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