Our Approach

Our work is based on a European model of sustainability that includes five principles (or goals) as listed below.  We incorporate these goals into our planning and landscape work in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to): 

*  Incorporate a cooperative and colaborative working relationship with our client
*  Hire local under-represented labor and pay a living wage
*  Use locally produced materials, supplies and goods
*  Reducing the use of petroleum powered tools and equipment
*  Site buildings in harmonious arrangement with existing topography
*  Reduce runnoff with sustainable stormwater management plans
*  Emply IPM and organic maintenance techniques in the landscape
*  Use native plants and drip irrigation in the landscape
*  Use permeable surfaces instead of concrete or other impermeable surfaces
*  Support local businesses 

"Make no small [minded] plans"

__________________________

These five goals guide our planning and landscaping work.  We embrace the goals of social equity and political participation as essential to acheiving sustainability.  

5 Principles (goals) of Sustainability

• Resource Conservation:  To ensure the supply of natural resources for present and future generations through the efficient use of land, less wasteful use of non-renewable resources, their substitution by renewable resources wherever possible, and the maintenance of biological diversity.
• Built Development: To ensure that development and use of the built environment respects and is in harmony with the natural environment, and that the relationship between the two is designed to be one of balance and mutual enhancement. 
• Environmental Quality:  To prevent or reduce processes that degrade or pollute the environment, to protect the regenerative capacity of ecosystems, and to prevent developments that are detrimental to human health or that deminish the quality of life.
• Social Equity:  To prevent any development that increases the gap between rich and poor and to encourage development that reduces social inequality.
• Political Participation:  Change values, attitudes and behaviiour by increasing participation in political decisionmaking and in initiating environmental improvements at all levels from the local community upwards.