green landscaping

Ohhhhhhhh this off grid zero energy prefab house is never going to be done.
Ohhhhhhhh I'm exhausted (but excited).

Ohhhhhhhh. Wait a second: Once the prefab house kit is done, there's more to do:
The Land.

Ohhhhhhhh.

Well, thanks to the sustainable landscape architect Heather Barber of Topos LLC, our sustainable land management plan has been expanded beyond crop tree release and bush hogging.

And if you thought it took long to build the prefab house, wait until we journey years to gently shape the land to function more sustainably.

Great. I just set myself up with decades of more work. ; ) And we have no money.
But the landscape architecture plan by Topos is delicious.

And I mean that literally: There's blueberries and a root cellar in them thar plans!

So, c'mon, what are you waiting for? Let's check it out!

From Heather, the landscape architect of Topos LLC:

"casa-ti is a remarkable example of how far prefab residential architecture has come. this greenmodernkits kit home is located on 55 acres in a heritage area in the western portion of virginia. the most exciting yet challenging thing about the casa ti project is that it contradicts any idea that the landscape is a stayed design, or an anchor for the architecture. we are taking a very historical site contextually speaking and turning it on its ear...creating a post modern design that connects the home with it’s expansive environs. i think the opportunity to design a functionally sustainable, yet whimsical site plan for casa ti is a true honor and an evolutionary process. we are talking about the first kit / prefab modern home that is completely ‘off-grid’ / fully sustainable in the state of virginia.* this shows that the greenmodernkit home can translate anywhere, in any capacity. it is my job and again, opportunity, to create that threshold between the prefab sustainable home and the environs in which the owners choose to site it. this is a luxury for me. i can take a very simple form of architecture, which has it’s own inherent beauty in that it’s simple, and connect it to it’s site through the landscape architecture. whether it is urban, sub-urban, or farmland, the modern pre-fabricated homes that are greenmodernkit homes do, in fact speak the language of their location. and it’s a language that is very sensitive to the people living in it as well as the environment."

[ *Heather said we're the first off grid prefab in Virginia, I haven't heard of any others, but I don't know for sure if that's true... will research, but no, I haven't heard of any other modern prefabs that are off grid here... ]

Wow, Heather, I'm honored by your words! When Topos originally inquired into what our landscape architecture would be, I laughed and replied, "Um... a bush hogg, Handsome Husband and a shovel?"

I thank Topos immeasurably for giving OUR FAMILY the opportunity, through their experience, to turn an abandoned, briar-filled plot into, one day, a sustainable farm.

So... let's go through it:

• Starting with field #1, Topos created a figure 8 access road which allows us to easily navigate the drive, house, and shed while maintaining the field. This eight acre field was previously farmed. By bush hogging it regularly we have been reducing the briars which had cropped up before we bought it, and will start planting cover crops to enrich the soil this fall. Wildlife such as quail will be encouraged through allowing patches to not be mowed but to create the habitat quail, turkey, and rabbits enjoy.
• I also envision field #1 being used to grow potatoes and garlic...
• Field #2 is downhill from the house kit. Rainwater will easily help irrigate it.

The area around the prefab house is geared for high traffic and fun...
more on that in a minute!

• Back to Field #2: Being downhill, rainwater will naturally run towards this plot, and if you can look closely Topos has created furrows and a collection area for water- which is the way they used to irrigate fields in times past.
• Not only will we be using that existing field for crops but it will also harbor fruit and nut trees, and a berry hedge.
• This area is surrounded by woods that had been cut-over twenty-ish years ago. Lots of pine, cedar, but a surprising amount of diversity in the trees- poplar, birch, hickory, walnut...

Ok, let's get to the prefab house kit area:

• Pavers made with recycled fly ash for high-traffic areas in poor soil areas
• Cisterns for rainwater collection
• Baffle (you always wanted to know what a baffle was, didn't you?)
• Root Cellar
• Terrace for High Traffic Areas
• Retention Pool (more on what this does later...)
• Blueberry Hedge
• Berm to lounge against while watching Casa Blanca projected onto the side of the prefab house like David Day always wanted to do with a bunch o' friends
• ...and more...

I will go into this, and more, later, but in the meantime need to pack up for another camping weekend in the prefab house kit! In the meantime, check out Topos, a modern landscape architecture firm!

Ironic though it seems, nurturing your own habitat can start with fences.The right kind of fences of course.

Fences are a historic landscaping means to create a border, for privacy, and to keep out animals, or for security in general.

"Choosing softscape" fencing means uses plants and trees as a barrier, adding a natural aesthetic that is consider by many to be much more appealing visually. In many ways softscape fencing offers the privacy and security that is generally implied with hardscape fencing. In some ways it is actually more secure, with trees that grow in excess of the typical fence height of three to five feet. In addition, these plants and trees can be so dense that they are comparable to hardscape fencing in keeping out uninvited guests, like skunks and raccoons, etc. okay, some people too.

Trees and plants do so much more than just look good, maintain privacy, and provide security, they also help to restore the ecological surroundings. The plants and trees are natural insulators and can reduce the noise absorbing the sounds in your area. Once roots are embedded into the land where they are planted, the topsoil surrounding them increases in nutrients and creates a land lock for the nutrients to not be washed away.

In fact, Botanist Phung Tuu Boi introduced the plant, Gleditschia austalis as a fencing in areas where Agent Orange poisoned the land -- see www.nytimes.com/2007.  Gleditschia austalis was particularly chosen because for it's prickly cactus features. The land was given a chance to restore itself by keeping animals and people off of it, as well as for creating healthier topsoil and land lock.

www.fast-growingtrees.com has a greet display and description of fast growing trees that includes the height, growing zones and appearance. They even tell you what's popular if you have trouble making a decision over what will look good, and of course you can purchase them on their web-site. Some variations include The Holly Tree, which has look like a green hedge, the Chinese Privet which has a white color, and the Wichita Blue Juniper which has a blue color. Note that checking the zoning charts will let you know which plants will survive in your climate. the chart will also help you to determine if taller trees make better borders for you, as in windy or colder climates. And finally, a nursery will help you to find the native plants to your area.  

It's spring time-- go mend fences!

The ThinkDwell Blog's Pro Advice Q&A Session has had some great response from readers, with the following questions shedding light on some common issues that puzzle home owners trying to go green:

Q: Wood Frame vs. Straw Bale Home Construction: Which is More Sustainable?
Q: How Can I Go Green in My Garden? Sustainable/Green Landscaping
Q: What is LEED Exactly?
Q: Re: Chemical-Free Mold Remediation, Why is Bleach Safe to Use?
Q: How Much Does a Green Home Cost?

Follow the links to read more on these subjects in the ThinkDwell Blog. Everyone is invited to participate and receive answers that help you go green at home today.You can ask a question by placing a comment under a relevant post, under the Q&A Session post, or by emailing ThinkDwell at pubs@thinkdwell.com.

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