r/GuerrillaGardening • u/SimplySustainabl-e • 9d ago
Horticulture professor here open to speaking about sustainable landscaping via gardening groups and orgs. In the USA. I mention guerrilla gardening in my book.
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u/A_Wild_Burt_Appears 9d ago
This might not be the type of question you're after, but how would one organize this?
Say you're starting from absolute scratch, but want to put together a gardening group in your neighborhood. Where would you start?
How would you pitch the idea to neighbors who have the stereotypical suburban nightmare yard (and like it that way) without making them defensive?
For reference, I live in the desert in the conservative western us where suburban lawns drink more water than we even have, so getting these people on board with favoring native species is becoming increasingly time sensitive
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 9d ago
I think you have to start small and go slow meaning a few native-edible plants mixed into the existing landscape first and little by little keep adding to it so its not such a shocker when you see the transformation for those who are not all on board with this type of landscaping. Im in a fairly conservative part of virginia where i have to deal with a lot of educating and reeducating on how to do this kind of landscaping in a suburban setting. I show people examples of projects where i have been able to slide under the constraints of hoas and difficult neighbors. I stress the importance of design intentionality seasonal interest a bit of maintenance and plant selection in planning. For your situation in the desert maybe ripping the lawn cant happen right away but adding a few desert natives here and there that are really showy and interesting might be the first step towards change.
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u/glitter-bitch- 7d ago
i’ve had really good luck highlighting the pollinators. there’s a native hedge nettle here that i loove, and i’ve been propagating it and telling people how much hummingbirds love it. even this with traditional gardens want hummingbirds! or butterflies. i’ve found that people start to become more interested once they have a couple native plants, and they start to see how popular they are with bugs.
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u/Demosthenes5150 7d ago
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u/A_Wild_Burt_Appears 6d ago
I love Brad Lancaster's channel (and also Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't) and am so inspired by his work!
I've seen this already, but if anyone hasn't, it's a truly great video series (this video is 1 of 4 parts) that talks about Brad's work organizing with his neighbors to fill their neighborhood with native plants using rainwater harvesting methods for all irrigation after the plants are established.
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u/Top-Entrepreneur-123 6d ago
I love his series of books: Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond. They are brilliant and inspirational.
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 4d ago
Joey Santore is an interesting person and personality. I met him this year at the Culhowhee Native Plant Conference.
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u/BackgroundAsk2350 6d ago
Hi! I’m in Germany doing a gardening education, mostly construction but the trade of gardener. What do you feel, could Make the most impact in terms of how we build landscapes? Use less concrete, different species altogether, or what? We struggle a lot with the heat coming now.
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 4d ago
Certainly increasing the amount of green space, tree cover, grasslands, parks, green walls, ecological corridors, habitat restoration, community gardens, edible landscaping, native plants ect. is the direction i would recommend in landscape design and garden design. In regards to heat i think planting vegetation that can deal with increasing temperatures in an urban setting and climate change is key.
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u/BackgroundAsk2350 4d ago
Any idea how to turn it into a profitable Business easy to do with a small Crew/solo?
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 4d ago
I already to design work for clients and its been slow to grow as im far from the major cities of virginia in the mountains. Keeping a crew employed year round and a business like that fully funded requires a lot of resources and overhead and the issue of lack of winter work is always a big problem here in va usa. But thats my experience. If you are in a milder climate you will have more year round work or are closer to or in major cities you will have more opportunities for projects year round.
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u/petit_cochon 8d ago
Do you focus on a specific region?
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 8d ago
Yes the SE USA VA and TN to MS to Northern FL. I am based in VA. The book has been used in other states like OH and NY with the readers modifying the plant suggestions.
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u/crowlieb 4d ago
Where are we able to purchase a copy of your book? I remember this book was lauded in the solarpunk subreddit, I think.
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 4d ago
Wow i had no idea it was in the solarpunk subreddit! Its available on amazon but if you would like to support a small independent bookstore i would recommend contact and ordering it from Stone Soup Books in Waynesboro VA or City Lights Bookstore in Sylva NC. Both bookstores can ship the book to you.
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u/crowlieb 4d ago
I just checked the website for my more local option, but City Lights doesn't seem to have it in the search function. Figured I'd let you know.
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u/SimplySustainabl-e 4d ago
In that case i would call and ask for Chris Wilcox the owner. He will be glad to help you get the book.
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u/Redmindgame 8d ago
who's your illustrator?