Oakhurst Neighborhood Farm - City of Decatur, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

On an acre-plus of floodplain land owned by the City, we aim to operate production-based natural or organic growing. A CSA serving surrounding neighborhoods will be a primary means of reaching the community, as programs for work-trade for food will be fundamental. As well, apprenticeship positions and youth education programs are central in providing hands-on environmental experience, encouraging earth stewardship as means of livelihood. As well, future projects may include community stream restoration of two converging streams, currently cemented swales. The location is also being proposed as part of Decatur’s planned Greenway, another avenue of linking community.

Urban Agriculture is a solution to many ailments of city-dwelling including: lack of community, poor health, lack of environmental awareness, depression, violence, crime, inflated materialism and many ecological impacts. Food security is an increasing concern. In Georgia, it isn’t sensible nor secure that most of our organic produce is sourced from California! As well, a critical shift towards sustainable living is localizing economy. Producing food locally is, of course, central. We envision the Oakhurst farm, supported by the City of Decatur, to be a successful model of intensive, diversified agriculture that can be repeated in other Atlanta-area sites: urban farms as homeopathic remedies dotted throughout the city, eventually connecting our city in a pedestrian network of thriving garden-based economy.

City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management - Office Courtyard

This urban courtyard, servicing the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, was a complete redesign and involves sustainability on several levels, including: edible, drought-tolerant plants, salvaged materials such as cobblestone with local, historical relevance to the site, and an irrigation system fed entirely by rainwater harvested from 10,000 square feet of roof. The 2000 gallon cistern is wired to run a timed, drip system and includes manual watering options. Rain system designed and installed by Paul Morgan of the Rain Harvest Company. Progress can be viewed here: View Photo 1 View Photo 2

White Oak Pastures Edible Display Garden - South Georgia meat-packing site

Created for White Oak’s Beef packing plant, the design for this edible garden was originated through Geomantic process. We felt it necessary to reconcile the inherent paradox in aiming towards sustainability and raising animals for food. White Oak has been recognized for humane treatment of animals and measures of ecological stewardship, but it is important to note the considerable resource demands and pollution that consuming animals creates. As well, we are beginning to understand how ingesting meat impacts consciousness. If sustainability is about increasing awareness, becoming conscious of the significance of meat-eating is, though unpopular, certainly critical.

Southeast Clarke Park Wildlife Raingarden - Athens/Clarke County

The raingarden, designed to treat stormwater from the Park entrance and parking lot, is sited near a stream that serves as a wildlife corridor running through Clarke County. Adjacent to the forest, the garden and entrance were vegetated to support habitat for native fauna. A team of ecology, engineering and landscape architecture pioneers collaborated for this community-based venture.


Orme Park - Virginia Highland Neighborhood

On its way towards ecological restoration, this in-town Atlanta park still bears signs of its original Piedmont bioregion- an upland, mesic, riparian forest. Old Beech trees and understory Dogwoods populate the rich stream banks. Before pavement, this area now called Atlanta was Piedmont forest- one of the most diverse bioregions in the world. Methods attempting to restore, or at least reflect, this lush ecology include stream bank restoration, native plant establishment and encouraging nutrient cycling- tree leaves fall and decompose, feeding the forest floor. Friends of Orme Park have hosted several work days, involving hundreds of hands-on volunteers, designers and project managers to assist in restoration of the Park’s healthy ecological function and native flora.

Residential Edible Landscapes

From self-sustaining, urban homesteads to small vegetable plots worked into more traditional landscape plans, people are learning to reclaim empowerment around that which is most intimate to them: their food. Our food literally becomes us; choosing to be more connected to the source of our nourishment is one of the most joyous and impactful decisions we can make for our own health, evolution and for our planet.