Stacie Crooks is nationally-recognized in the world of landscape design. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she was accustomed to the unique requirements of gardening in the glacial till of the Cascades. So when an epic project located just north of Seattle came her way, Stacie was prepared.
Eight acres of sweeping views, meadows, wildlife habitat, and sustainable gardens – this is a premiere example of working with what nature has provided.
A new client reached out to Stacie, asking her to put her skills to the test on an 8.5 acre property on Whidbey Island at the northern end of Puget Sound. The client request was a transformation with a gentle touch. There were to be no fences and nothing which felt out of place in this land. Over four thoughtfully planned-out years, a sanctuary for human and wild visitors alike was born.
Although it receives no water throughout the summer months, the surroundings here remain colorful and lush with little to no maintenance. Tranquil meadow spaces provide shelter and food for deer and a wide array of birds and other beneficial creatures. This embodiment of sustainable landscape design isn’t just another project. It’s a living example of important lessons which can be applied in a property of any size.
Home gardens large and small and in any region can benefit from these fundamental design principles. Come along for this exploration of what is possible when you work with what nature provides.
Placing the right plants in the right place will save resources, time and the need for most (if not all) chemicals.
Additional Resources
The joe gardener Show Episode 053: Waterwise Gardening With Nan Sterman
The joe gardener Show Episode 072: Creating an Eco-friendly Garden & Landscape: 7 Key Tenets
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
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What an inspirational episode! My climate zone in Oregon is the same as Whidbey island. As I’ve been trying to formulate landscape designs for my new property (complete with adjacent meadow), I’ve been studying the same plants that Stacie favors. She has given me fresh ideas about how to incorporate them into something beautiful and sustainable.
Thanks for the feedback, Shari!