Susan's Edible Garden & Permaculture Design

Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers

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Susan's Edible Garden & Permaculture Design

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Inspiration from Nature

Observing nature helps design sustainable landscapes. Permaculture teaches us to mimic natural ecosystems in our development of human settlement. And it shows us how to work with nature, understanding the intrinsic worth in all life and the environmental energy systems around us. To your landscape, I bring my communion with the coastal redwood forests, my respect for Grand Canyon, my awe of the Colorado Desert, my inspiration from the Ozark Mountains and my experience with various climates throughout the country.

Project Year: 2017

I like to hike in this redwood forest in Northern California. Observing nature helps design sustainable human settlements.

Redwood Forest in Arcata California

Hiking in Grand Canyon gives me perspective at various elevation. There is a drop of over 5000' from the south rim to the canyon floor. Consider that every 100' of elevation change is equivalent 1° change in latitude. Seasonal temperature fluctuation are more extreme at the higher elevation and...

Grand Canyon National Park

I grew up hiking in the ozark mountains of Missouri. This deciduous forest in winter shows leaves blanketing the earth. This is natural composting. Nutrients cycle from soil, through trees and return to the earth where decomposers make nutrients available once again. We can do this on our property...

Natural Composting

The sun influences every natural process on earth. It drives wether systems, wind patterns and ocean currents. We don't need solar panels to harvest solar energy. We can do it passively by orienting elements on our property to warm us in winter and cool us in summer.

Solar Energy

There is more life on the edges, between two different ecosystem types. This little bull likes the transitional area between forest and pasture. There is more fertility in these areas as nutrients are deposited here. There is opportunity in both directions from the edge. Human settlement could also...

Ecotones

California north coast has different vegetation from the south. These plants are thriving in salty wind conditions.

Pacific Coast, Trinadad California

Pacific Coast, Dana Point California

This is the aftermath of a 100 year flood event in the Los Padres National Forest near Goleta, California. While flood events will always happen, they are greatly mitigated with natural forests and native vegetation. But here, the forest was removed 200 years ago by smelting operations. Currently,...

Flood Zone

While rain rarely makes it over the San Jacinto Mountains, spring snow melt flows down the eastern side to recharge our aquifer. This waterfall is one of many in Indian Canyons near Palm Springs. Water is naturally collects underground. At home, we can also store water in the soil and in vegetation...

Coachella Valley Aquifer Recharge from San Jacinto Mountains

Look closely in the center of the photo to see endangered Big Horn Sheep. These animals are adapted to live in this extremely arid and rugged environment. But just to the right of this photo is a luxury housing development with landscaping plants that are toxic, the sheep eat them and they die. Our...

Santa Rosa Mountains, Palm Desert California

As the hot desert air rises, it pulls cooler coastal air throughout the San Gorgonio Pass creating a reliable wind source. At home, we can create cool breezes in our landscape by working with tree shading next to full sun exposure.

Palm Springs California Wind Power Project

Here you can see the rain shadow over Palm Springs, California. The San Jacinto mountains peak at 10,834' which is too high for rain to make it to the arid desert valley below. These clouds have blown in from the Pacific Ocean. As the warm humid air rises, it cools and condenses causing clouds to...

Rain Shadow