It is our belief that humans are part of nature, not separated from it, and that by nurturing our ties with the natural world and choosing to build abundant health in our lives and environment, we will naturally counteract many of the problems we are experiencing. It is not something that can be accomplished by one individual or one company, but we are encouraged by the growing community of people that shares our outlook, and a growing awareness in general about the need to do many things in a way which will not have an adverse effect on future generations or on our current family, friends, neighbors, pets, and wild companions. We believe that it is important for each of us to make whatever small efforts we can when we can towards these goals, in the belief that our combined actions will have a positive effect.
In the area of landscape design, we seek approaches which will actually save money and time while being sensitive to the environment and to our family's health. Some of the approaches we are using and developing include
- Reduction of water pollution by using plants which require less fertilizer to thrive, and by using rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs, and buffer zones to slow runoff.
- Reduction of water use and plant replacement by using plants adapted to specific soil and growing conditions.
- Reduction of pesticide use by choosing pest-resistant plants.
- Reduction of pesticide use by maintaining plant health and resistance - developing a maintenance plan based on organic methods such as composting, and creating habitat attractive to beneficial insects and pest-consuming wildlife.
- Reducing pesticide pollution and health risks by creating ecosystem-based plant designs incorporating beneficial insects and adopting an approach which employs only organic pest controls and only as a last resort, and then timing applications based on sound knowledge of pest lifecycles and host plants.
- Preserving natural habitat by avoiding and eliminating invasive plant species
- Enhancing natural habitat and strengthening native populations by incorporating native plants into the ornamental landscape.
- Reducing gas expense, fertilizer pollution, water consumption, and maintenance time by replacing areas of lawn with alternate groundcovers or various natural-style garden beds.
- Reducing your heating and cooling costs (and your carbon footprint) by placing trees and hedges to control sun and wind exposure in both summer and winter.
- Reducing our carbon footprint while increasing economic opportunity by using human power instead of industrial machinery whenever possible.
- Supporting the local economy and reducing our carbon footprint by favoring the use of local building and landscaping materials over distant imports.
We are also accredited members of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) and follow the NOFA standards for organic landcare.
FernCreek Design *
Accord, NY 12404
(585) 309 - 2397 *
info@FernCreekDesign.org
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Serving the Catskills, Shawangunks, and Hudson Valley including Ulster County, Dutchess County, Sullivan County, Ellenville, Kingston, New Paltz, Woodstock, Phonecia, Wawarsing, Accord, Naponach, Spring Glen, High Falls, Rosendale, Stone Ridge, Tillson, Gardiner, Wurtsboro, Hurley, Shokan, Rhinebeck, Rondout, Port Ewen, Hillside, Lincoln Park, Connelly, Eddyville, Bloomington, Esopus, Pine Bush, and surroundng areas.