On April 7th, 2009  Sustainable Fairfax & Permaculture Marin
presented:
Sustainable Landscaping:
A Visionary Look at the Future of Gardens
A Book-Signing & Talk with Owen Dell
author of Sustainable Landscape for Dummies
The word sustainable is everywhere these days, but just what makes a sustainable landscape and why does it matter?
Participants joined Owen Dell, author of the newly published book Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies, on April 7th, at 7pm, for a talk and book-signing event at the Drake High School Theater in San Anselmo. Dell is the smart man behind the Dummies title, who shares more than 38 years of knowledge and experience as a landscape architect and contractor with a passion for good design that makes sense for the homeowner and the environment.
Part of the phenomenally successful "Dummies" book series, with its give me the facts, make me smarter format that have made them so popular, Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies provides hands-on, how-to instructions for the novice and expert alike. From creating abundant edible landscapes, to making your home safe in wildfires, to making the most of rainfall that falls on your land, the book describes processes that don't just make things less bad, they make them a lot better.
A long time "guru" for sustainable landscaping, Dell suggests we can mimic nature for best design. Humorously describing traditional landscape design as an "environmental train wreck", he seriously notes these practices destroy native habitats, consume natural resources, cause strip mining and forest clear cutting, and annually poison nearly 70 million birds with pesticides.
Working since the 1970s with his first landscape design business, Dell found a niche designing beautiful and functional gardens using native plants. Later, taking inspiration from natural disasters he created "firescapes" for the fire ecology of southern California, and water-wise gardens, that responded to drought conditions in the 1980s. More recently he developed the concept of "fossil free" landscapes, noting the need for less fossil fuel (oil) powered equipment used in our gardens, and has incorporated many permaculture design ideas as well.
Owen Dell is an award-winning California-licensed landscape architect and contractor, and the owner of County Landscape and Design in Santa Barbara, California. He is one of the founders of the Firescape Demonstration Garden in Santa Barbara, which was the first of its kind in the nation. He has been a contributor to Sunset Magazine, Pacific Horticulture and many other publications. Dell is the co-star of “Garden Wise Guys,” a sitcom about sustainable landscaping. He has presented workshops and lectures for homeowners and professional audiences at botanic gardens, colleges and universities, and conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and overseas.
On Friday, March 20, Owen Dell was interviewed on Sustainable World Radio on KCSB 91.9 FM PST
To listen to a podcast of the interview, click here.
Visit www.owendell.com for updates on his book tour in California.
Copies of Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies will be available for sale at the event, and will be signed by the author.
Owen Dell's other books – Green Living All-In-One for Dummies and How to Start a Home-Based Landscaping Business (5th Edition) will also be available for purchase.
|
Good Earth Natural Foods