Cultivating Sustainable Landscapes

This two-and-a-half-day workshop is an opportunity to dive into the principles and practice of gardening with, and not against, nature. Through guided hands-on practice, you will learn about increasing biodiversity in our cultivated landscapes, creating resilient landscapes that connect our yards to the wider ecosystems we are all a part of, and how to utilize simple active and passive water harvesting techniques.

You will learn about reading the landscape through an introductory discussion and a tour of the grounds around Canelo. You will use hand tools to install passive water harvesting features such as basins and swales and use rockwork to add structural stability and aesthetic beauty to the landscape. You will learn how to select appropriate native plants to provide resources for wildlife while cultivating year-round visual interest. Finally, you will learn about propagating native plants, including trees, shrubs, and cacti, by starting seeds in the hand-built Canelo greenhouse.

This is a workshop for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. Home gardeners or landscape professionals will gain knowledge and skills that can be applied to gardens anywhere in the world.

By the end of this course, participants will have constructed and planted a garden with water-harvesting features, irrigation, and native plants, and will have started various seeds. Participants will be able to take some seeds home to cultivate in their own landscape as well.