Professional Practice
Applying Ecological Design: Gardens and Permaculture
Permaculture / Image credit: Irene Kightley on Flickr CC via Landscape Architects NetworkThe United Nations estimates that by 2050, . In urban and suburban areas, residents can grow their own food on their property or in community plots for themselves or local consumption in order to boost nutrition, save money, and build community connections. Edible gardens enable homeowners to grow food in the ground, raised beds, pots, or trellises and produce fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
However, fertilizers used in home gardens can pollute local watersheds through runoff. To avoid contaminating watersheds and damaging local ecosystems, homeowners growing productive landscapes should practice ecological gardening by using productive plants native to their environment and limit the use of chemicals.
By employing concepts of , or agriculture ecosystems that , homeowners can ensure food production and garden systems are integrated with the natural environment. Landscape architects can help site agricultural practices to minimize ecological impact and enhance the community benefits of local food sources by increasing connectivity to shared productive landscapes.
Local governments work with communities to expand the growth of urban and residential farming schemes, community vegetable gardens, and home-based garden plots through policy, tax incentives, and including urban agriculture in the planning process. In 2013, Boston adopted a that allows for traditional and rooftop gardening, community gardens, hydro and aquaponics, beekeeping, chicken raising, and farmers' markets.
Many municipal and local governments offer grants and other forms of support to community groups starting productive gardens in residential areas. For example, , which went into effect in 2014, allows county board supervisors to designate ¡°urban agriculture incentive zones,¡± for privately owned, vacant land where the landowner can commit their land to agriculture in exchange for a property tax reduction.
Sources: ¡°,¡± David Satterthwaite, Gordon McGranahan, Cecila Tacoli, The Royal Society Publishing, 2010; , Sustainable Cities Initiative
Organizations
Resources
, HowStuffWorks.com
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, The Dirt, American Society of Landscape Architects
, Backyard Gardener
, Environmental Protection Agency
, United States Department of Agriculture
Research
¡°Practical Permaculture for Home Landscapes, Your Community, and the Whole Earth,¡± Jessi Bloom, Dave Boehnlein, Timber Press, 2015
¡°Farming the Woods: An Integrated Permaculture Approach to Growing Food and Medicinals in Temperate Forests,¡± Ken Mudge, Steve Gabriel, John F. Munsell, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2014
"," Will Allen, Diana Balmori, Rosalind Creasy, Fritz Haeg, Michael Pollan, Eric Sanderson, Lesley Stern, Metropolis Books, 2010
¡°The Resilient Farm and Homestead: An Innovative Permaculture and Whole Systems Design Approach,¡± Ben Falk, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013
¡°,¡± Ivette Soler, Timber Press, 2011
¡°Western Garden Book of Edibles: The Complete A-Z Guide to Growing Your Own Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits,¡± Editors of Sunset Magazine, Oxmoor House, 2010
¡°,¡± Rosalind Creasy, Counterpoint, 2010
¡°,¡± April Phillips, Wiley, 2013
Government Resources
, California
, Austin, Texas
, Boston, Massachusetts
, Chicago, Illinois
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
, Portland, Oregon
, Seattle, Washington
, Cleveland, Ohio
, State of New York
, Virginia
, Department of Parks & Recreation, New York City
, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Projects
City House in a Garden, Chicago, Illinois
McKay Landscape Architects
Carnegie Hill House, New York City
Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects
Maple Hill Residence, Westwood Massachusetts
Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects
Curran House, San Francisco, California
Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture
, Maplewood, New Jersey
Edible Estate, Southwark, London, England
, London (UK)
, Manhattan, New York