Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is edible landscaping? You mean like rows of corn in my front yard?
A: Only if that's what you want! We tend to focus on perennial (plants that live for several years) edibles, because who wants to have to plant again next year? We design attractive landscapes that blend into your neighborhood and more importantly, your regional landscape. Woody perennials (fruit trees, berries, vines, greens, etc.), California natives, and other drought-tolerant and climate-appropriate plants are substituted for typical landscaping plants. We employ deer fencing and other measures when necessary, and planting a diverse mix of species close together attracts beneficial predators to keep insect populations in check.
Q: Can your maintenance crew take all of my fallen leaves away?
A: Trees can drop so many leaves, which they do for several reasons. Among these are to protect the soil from drying out, suppressing weed competition, recycling their leaves into a slow-release fertilizer, and providing habitat for overwintering beneficial insects like lacewings, ground beetles, and ladybugs. So while we are happy to sweep or blow them off of your paved areas, we recommend leaving them in the planting areas (that's why we call them LEAVES!). Otherwise, we are robbing the soil of it's nutrients and will have to supplement that with external input over time.
What's with your logo?
The top half is a mushroom spore print, which we have used to create custom spawn for mushroom beds, upon request. The bottom half is the cross-section of a tree trunk, trees representing the cornerstone of an ecosystem, and food for the fungi. So the whole ecological cycle is represented here. Our ideal landscape is many layered, from the underground mycelia to the tops of the canopy and all of the vine, shrub, and herbaceous understory in between.
I've never had a landscape installed before, how does it work?
We usually start with a consultation and site assessment. Once we have good picuture of the starting point, we can create a design and estimate based on that. A design isn't completely necessary, but always recommended, especially as a project grows more complex. Once we have agreed on a plan, an agreement is written up with a fixed-cost, and a start date is scheduled.
I've heard that I can get paid to convert my lawn. What's that about?
Yes! EBMUD offers a rebate for converting your irrigated lawn into a drought-tolerant and even edible garden (because growing even thirsty edible plants is more water-efficient than most large-scale agriculture). This rebate can help you pay for the conversion: https://www.ebmud.com/water/conservation-and-rebates/rebates/lawn-conversion-rebate