by Shannon Dry and Abrah Jordan Dresdale Permaculture can be explained as a two-step practice: 1) observing the beneficial relationships, patterns, and processes found in ecosystems, and then, 2) mimicking…
Book Review: The Resilient Farm and Homestead
Written by Ben Falk Published by Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013 Reviewed by Kerry O’Kelly Another title for the The Resilient Farm and Homestead by Ben Falk could be “Permaculture in…
Patty Laughlin Integrates Edibles into Every Project
by Kathy Litchfield A version of this article first appeared as a post on the NOFA AOLCP website. Every landscape Patty Laughlin plants has at least one low-bush blueberry. She…
2014 Community Project: Arcola Park Rehab
Tucked away off a side street in the Hyde Park Square area of Jamaica Plain, Arcola Park was a rough-cut gem until July 22nd when the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA),…
ELA Hosts Ecological Dialog on LinkedIn
Whether you are located in the area of ELA’s upcoming events or in some distant landscape, you are invited to participate in ELA collaborations and discussions by joining the Ecological…
“Don’t Treat Soil Like Dirt!” or “Is Your Soil Healthy?”
by Thomas J. Akin I originally wrote this article for an ELA newsletter a little over 10 years ago; today I would call the article, “Is Your Soil Healthy?” Let’s…
Humic Substances: Markers of a Healthy Soil
by Dr. Elham A. Ghabbour and Dr. Geoffrey Davies Natural landscaping depends to a large extent on healthy soil. In this context ‘healthy’ means that the soil is carbon- and…
Soil as Carbon Storehouse: New Weapon in Climate Fight?
This article first appeared in Yale Environment 360. by Judith D. Schwartz In the 19th century, as land-hungry pioneers steered their wagon trains westward across the United States, they encountered a…
Checking In: ELA Lays Plans for 2014-15
Annual Meeting 2014 ELA held its annual meeting on July 15, 2014 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA to review ongoing initiatives and chart new collaborations. Each year…
Sustainable SITES Releases v2 Standards
by Toby Wolf and Nyssa Gyorgy The systems that promote and support ecological landscape practices have just taken another stride forward. The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) has released the SITES…
Making Magic with Mosses
by Annie Martin aka Mossin’ Annie Moss landscapes offer a magical appeal with verdant expanses that seem to encapsulate our spirits with a sense of serenity. Yet, the environmental advantages…
A Cornucopia of Experiences: Teaching Gardens in the Schoolyard
by Marilyn Wyzga With watering can in hand, a first grader earnestly speed-walks across the grass, finds a pepper plant in need of a drink, and slowly drains her can…