Healed by Nature - October 2018 Newsletter

Did you know that green space heals us in surprising ways? This month, the Smart Yards team wants to share with you how our work supports our well being, including mental health and cognitive restoration. Transforming and sustaining our Yards into beautiful outdoor living spaces has many benefits. Read more in detail about how nature heals here.

Being exposed to nature can alleviate stress, depression, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The International Journal of Landscape Science, Planning and Design states that even spending a little bit of time among nature can reduce blood pressure. And in urban areas, people's mental health is improved when there is more green space. Click HERE if you want to learn more. This is another reason to work with us at Smart Yards. 

Imagine coming home from a hard working day in Silicon Valley and as soon as you see your garden with an array of beautiful plants you start relaxing. This is because plants have restorative properties and open up our cognitive senses. Some of the plants in your garden might include Salvia apiana, (White sage), which Native Americans used for their healing ceremonies. Others like Lavandula, (lavender), and Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) are used to make essential and scented oils. Hypericum Perforatum (Saint John's-wort), is often used to ease symptoms of depression. Salvia Spathacea is a magnet for hummingbirds hence it's name(Hummingbird Sage) and observing wildlife is joyful too. With a variety of plants for habitat, medicinal properties, visual stimulation, scents, consumables (fruits and veggies) we improve our well being. Let us know if you want to make a difference with us. Visit us here and send your request for your free consultation.

Urban Habitats

We are aware that urbanization poses a great strain on our fragile ecology and is rapidly consuming habitable lands from the wildlife. Our wastes and ways are not only polluting and contaminating our water, air and soil but also adversely affecting our ecosystem and human health. Moreover, most beneficial insects and pollinators are rapidly declining creating an imminent threat to our future food production

Recognizing our responsibility, we can create native, holistic and chemical-free gardens and landscapes in our homes to proactively participate in the healing and restoration process.

While urbanization may have contributed to loss of habitat, creating urban habitats with native plant and beauty is a viable solution to gradually bring back the natural balance and ensure the health and future of all species.

Why Use Native Plants

Evolution and Adaptation

Our region’s native flora and fauna have evolved to thrive in the local climate. Their  adaptation to the seasonal and cyclical weather patterns make them tolerant to both, flooding and drought. These plants not just add natural beauty to our yards but also draw in a variety of pollinators, birds and small mammals that have relied on these plants for food and refuge for thousands of years.

Non-Toxic

These wonderful native florae have much stronger defense mechanisms against many pests and diseases as they have evolved with a heightened resilience against these threats, eliminating the need to use pesticides in our gardens and creating a safer environment for our families and the eco-system.

In addition, native plants have evolved without artificial fertilizers and, in fact, do not require soil amendments. These synthetic amendments provide a nutrient boost to plants rushing some to grow at unsustainable speeds causing burnouts. A wiser solution is sheet mulching which discourages weed germination, retains moisture much longer and is an excellent breeding ground for beneficial bacteria and yeast colonies that slowly release nutrients back to the plants.

Ecology

Native wildlife prefers native plants for sustenance and shelter. Attracting pollinators, hummingbirds, beneficial insects and other wildlife to our gardens will not only boost its yield but also keep them free of mosquitoes, pests and harmful bugs.

Conservation

Once established, native plants require very little water. Many just rely on the seasonal rains to sustain them throughout the year as they go dormant during summer to conserve energy and withstand drought. This unique adaptation is not seen in non-native plants so many local gardeners take advantage of this feature to gain significant saving in water and energy usage. Moreover, any waste from the yard can be recycled into an organic matter and reapplied for a self-sustained fertility.

Low Management

Native gardens thrive on very little pruning and care. Their slower growth rates, stronger immunity and non-reliance to pesticides or fertilizers should give us enough incentive to make them an essential part of our landscapes.

Smart Yards employs all this wisdom and takes it a step further by creating very low maintenance landscapes by eliminating the need for any mowing or blowing. Homeowners can enjoy a noise and dust-free environment and save valuable resources, including time, effort and money. With a Sustainable Smart Yard you become a part of the solution, cultivate a safer and cleaner environment, support our fragile ecosystem and contribute to the health of our planet.

Tips to prepare for El-Niño

California is already enjoying the full onset of El Niño and many may not know that this cool, wet season is an excellent time for a sustainable garden facelift.

Here are some tips from Smart Yards Landscape Expert - Elizabeth Sarmiento to help you prepare and make the most of this bounty!

Mulching To The Rescue – Brown lawns may end up muddy and weedy as rainwater collects over dead vegetation. A thick layer of mulch will keep the mud and weeds away. Sheet mulch using cardboard, newspaper or burlap and then cover with wood chips.California Natives – El Niño gives you an excellent opportunity to start a new garden. California Natives are naturally adapted to the local weather conditions and seasonal changes. The best time to plant them is winter as they are primed to grow in the moist cool seasons of winter and spring. Native plants slowdown in growth or go dormant in summer to conserve water, planting them in summer makes them seasonally confused as the heat makes them dormant and irrigation water tells them to grow.

Stabilize Your Slopes – Plant some drought-tolerant natives to your steep hills and slopes to stabilize the soil, avoid erosion and runoffs from your landscapes. The cool, wet season is ideal to establish these wonderful plants as they develop a healthy root system, grow and store energy for the hot, dry months when they start going dormant. Use native seeds on your slopes for immediate and maximum coverage.

Winter Vegetables & Succulents – In winter your succulents and winter vegetable may drown or rot with the heavy rains. Plant them on raised beds or elevated rows and focus on drainage. If the water percolates down rapidly, your plants will be able to handle heavy downpours. Mix small rocks and perlite into your soil to improve drainage.

Rain Gardens – Infiltrate more water into your landscapes by installing dry swales, dry well or a rain garden. Instead of having runoffs, these simple techniques will let water infiltrate into the ground and sustain trees, shrubs and other long-rooted plants well into the dry season.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Press Release - October 21, 2015

Smart Yards Co-op Will Conserve Water and Empower Employees

October 19 was the first day of operation of the Smart Yards Cooperative, an innovative new enterprise based in San Jose to conserve water by replacing existing lawns with California native and drought-tolerant plants.  

“Smart Yards is a holistic solution that saves on water, energy, time, maintenance, pollution, and costs for the homeowner”, states Project Director and co-op founder Elizabeth Sarmiento. Elizabeth and her husband, homeowners in Willow Glen replaced their front and back lawn into sustainable landscapes in 2008 which significantly reduced their water consumption.

Elected officials including Senator Jim Beall and San Jose City Council member Ash Kalra recently helped launch Smart Yards, highlighting the urgency of water conservation and sustainable landscaping practices.

Senator Beall stressed: “I think it’s very important to tell people to rip out their lawns. This is not a lawn-type area, especially now that we have global warming going on.”  He added, “I’m going to do as much as I can to get money in the state budget to fund the rebates for communities, especially for cooperatives.” 

Homeowners may be eligible for a rebate from their local water district to help convert their lawns into sustainable landscaping.

San Jose City Council member Ash Kalra also expressed his support: “This truly is the solution for long term sustainability where it comes to water conservation in a way in which the employees and those that own the coop are empowered.”

Smart Yards is set up to create healthy, bio-diverse yards by using intelligent landscaping designs, permaculture principles, non-toxic and reusable materials, native and drought-tolerant plants that are children and pet friendly, Zen and rainwater gardens, edible food and herb gardens, greywater installations, and amenities such as raised beds, chicken coops, fruit trees, composting, and spaces for fun and relaxation.

“The landscapes don’t require mowing or blowing, which cuts down on dust allergies, noise pollution, and maintenance costs”, states Sarmiento. 

Smart Yards is being incubated by the non-profit Human Agenda, with its values of “promoting democracy, equality, cooperation, kindness, and sustainability”, says Executive Director Richard Hobbs. “Smart Yards meets all of these criteria.”

The Smart Yards Cooperative can be reached at408-665-2621, smartyardscoop@gmail.com, orsmartyardscoop.com.