After a successful Earth Week in Jackson Hole, this week presents a new opportunity to move forward with many of the insigts gained and initiatives covered. As spring in Jackson Hole approaches, one of the tasks on many residents “To Do” list is cleaning up the back yard and getting ready for a lush summer garden. One of the participants at Saturday’s Eco-Fair, Native Ecoscapes, was handing out seeds and spreading the good word of sustainable landscaping. Live Well, was able to get some thoughts from Native Ecoscapes owner Brandon Mansfield on how to approach the backyard this time of year, making sure it is truly as “green” as possible:
I hope everyone has had a great winter and is anticipating the arrival of spring in the valley. Being the owner of Native Ecoscapes, Inc. (www.nativeecoscapes.com), a sustainable landscape design and construction business, I certainly know that I am. As spring approaches, your thoughts will again likely drift to what lies under the snow, while you wait for the first leafy harbingers to emerge and reach for the sun. With the changing season, the snow shovels and ice melt will get put away and the lawnmower and string trimmer will make their way from the shed to the garage, staking a claim by the door for easy Saturday morning access. As you begin to venture out into the landscape this summer, whether it is for pleasure or routine maintenance, it might be a wise time to reevaluate your approach. To rethink your philosophy regarding the upkeep of your own personal Eden.
In light of the troubled economy, it might be time to reconsider how much time, energy and money you are willing to put into your landscape this summer, as this is an area where you can scale things back and still achieve gratifying and interesting results. Take a close look at your property and think about what aspects are most important to you, and to the general health of your land. Maybe there are some patches of lawn bordering a native area that rarely see their intended use, and you could neglect to mow those areas this year and “just see what happens.” In the end, you might just be rewarded for your lack of effort by a profusion of native wildflowers in an area that was previously sterile and boring, while saving time, energy and money in the process…
About Brandon Mansfield Visit: www.nativeecoscapes.com
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An avid plantsman and outdoor enthusiast, Brandon has a M.A. in Sustainable Landscape Design and Land Planning from the Conway School of Landscape Design and a B.S. in Biology from Whitman College. In addition, he was the recipient of the Walter Cudnohufsky Scholarship for continuing education in the field while studying at the Conway School of Landscape Design. With over twelve years of experience in landscape related professions, Brandon knows what is necessary to take your project from conception to reality. He has lived in the valley for seven years and is very familiar with the logistics of working in and around Jackson Hole, and has many close ties within the community.
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Lovely, indeed. So lovely, it’s hard to imagine legitimately cutting one of these down, yet this time of year many people do in the name of Christmas. Here in Jackson Hole locals typically obtain a permit, head into the woods with a saw and procure their own tree. Examining whether or not this is the most environmentally noble practice is certainly important. When doing so, however, it is important to consider the alternative.
