Does DIY = Sustainable?

There’s a lot of romance to the idea of DIY. The rugged individualist is part of our national culture, part of how we see ourselves and our role in the universe. Not that everyone aspires to that goal, but it holds enough sway to merit an entire television network in its honor, plus countless books, tv shows, and courses at local community education programs. How many of us don’t devote weekends now and then to cherished projects we’ve been dreaming up for months, planning every last detail and searching for just the right materials?

DIY carries with it that romantic aura, and the impression that its somehow more wholesome. Better for the earth, if you will. But does DIY equal sustainable? It can – depending on intentionality and understanding. It’s like any other decision we face as individuals. We have to put in the effort if we want to walk the walk.

It occurs to me that I haven’t yet defined what it would mean for a do-it-yourself project to be sustainable. I always like the simplicity of the Iroquois sentiment so often quoted in definition: In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation. Meaning, whatever we do, the consequences will allow future generations to flourish. Clearly, I focus pretty closely on landscape considerations when I think of these things, but the concept is applicable to every decision we make in life.

And that’s the crux of the matter. It’s all about individual decisions. The best of intentions can crumble in the face of unexpected difficulties, higher than estimated costs, or just plain laziness.

Even actions that seem inconsequential at the time could be catastrophic at the aggregate scale. Take my dad, a master of DIY. I swear there was nothing the man couldn’t build, repair or improve. As a good rugged individualist, he always changed his own oil, and rather than wasting the old oil, he would pour it on all the spots where he had discovered poison ivy growing. Worked wonders for keeping the poison ivy in check, just like he intended. But what if everyone did that? In a world of six billion people? What about ten billion, twenty billion? Because that’s what we’re talking about – a world population that is rapidly outstripping the planet’s ability to sustain the status quo and the essential need to change the status quo to something we can all live with in years to come.

Is DIY sustainable? It has to be – our individual actions have to be taken into account if we really want to make a difference. Otherwise all the sustainable design we see celebrated across the internet is just designers making another crop of cool looking stuff for people to buy, and that has never been enough.

The Economics of Street Trees

image of large shade tree in urban setting

shade trees improve quality of life in urban settings

EcoGeek recently ran a post highlighting the correlation between income inequality and street tree inequality. The study in question was completed in 2007, and it’s certainly been true in my experience in cities that the fewer the street trees, the more marginal the neighborhood tends to be.

I’ve heard all sorts of things about the importance of trees in the life of the urban community, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to look for hard data to support them.

  • Street Trees raise property values

In 2008, a study completed by the US Forest Service in Portland, Oregon, concluded that street trees have a substantial positive influence on home values. They studied several factors, and found that in order to boost property value, the tree had to have crown area within 100 feet of the house, and that though positive value was strongest for the house directly in front of the tree, neighboring houses with canopy within 100 feet also gained value.

Given that this study was done before the worst part of the economic recession hit, it would be interesting to see a follow up study looking at how these factors might change across geographic and economic variables. Would the same results still be found in Portland after the recession? How would the results vary in different cities across the country? Does the positive effect of street trees increase with the prevalence of hardscape? Or does it go up as the size of the lot gets smaller? Has the shift toward investor-purchased homes changed the value of street trees, and if so, is it a short-term shift?

With so many questions, I feel like I should call a professor and ask them to do a study.

It’s important to keep in mind, though, that it takes trees some time to get large enough to provide canopy cover. If a homeowner is planning to sell their house in three to five years and hopes to gain some value by planting street trees, they should do so now. Planting the largest tree one can afford, up to perhaps a six-inch caliper, is important to allow the tree to be large enough to visually register as a canopy. It’s possible to plant trees larger than six-inch caliper, but as they increase in size from there, it takes a seasoned expert to transplant them successfully, and the cost will rise dramatically. Of course, it all depends on the species of tree, so consulting a local expert is the best way to go.

  • There’s a correlation between street trees and reduction in crime rate

Interestingly, a study was just released this month in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning showing that the presence of street trees does correlate to lower crime rates. The study focused on Baltimore and found that an increase in canopy of 10% was linked to a 12% reduction in crime. The theory is that the presence of street trees shows that the community is active and takes pride in itself, making it less attractive to would-be criminals.

  • Street trees offer health benefits to the community

When I set out to research this category, I had in mind the ability of the trees to take up pollutants from the roadway, thus potentially lowering asthma rates, etc. According to a paper released by northlandnemo.org, this is true. Street trees absorb nine times more of the exhaust pollutants released by automobiles than do trees farther away from the road edge. But that’s not all they do for the health of the neighborhood. They also tend to lower blood pressure and improve psychological health.

  • Street trees improve the bottom-line of adjacent businesses.

A study from the University of Washington came out a few years ago showing that street trees in business districts positively influence the behavior of patrons. The study even found that shoppers would be willing to pay up to 11% more for the same item in a treed business district than in one devoid of trees. Again, the theory is that the presence of street trees indicates that the community takes pride in it’s appearance, making it more attractive to shoppers. It probably doesn’t hurt that the shoppers feel so great with their blood pressure lowered and their psychological health boosted.

  • Street trees help mitigate the heat island effect

This is one that the LEED rating system has been promoting for years now – plant trees to shade structures and hardscape, and the microclimate will stay cooler. According to the EPA, trees can keep surfaces 20-45 degrees cooler (F) than unshaded surfaces. Keep that in mind on hot sunny days!

Admittedly, this is not an exhaustive summary of the benefits of street trees, nor of the research available on these topics. Consider it a quick review of some complex issues that merit more attention.

Screening versus Focusing

image of brick wall with wooden fence on top

When space and code permit, fences and walls can do a good job of screening smaller items beyond.

A friend recently asked me to take a look at the backyard of their rented urban home and help them screen a series of unsightly pipes and wires on the house as well as the conglomeration of waste bins and refuse in the adjoining yard. None of the property belongs to my friends, so actually cleaning up or moving any of the offending items is not a viable option.

I understand why they want to screen the view, the trouble is that the only way to completely screen in such a case would be to build a structure that would cover it all. In this case, that just isn’t feasible, both due to building code and ownership issues. This is a case for what I call focusing – creating a visually arresting space that draws the eye, so that the unwanted view beyond no longer takes center stage.

Will my friends still see the wires on their house and the mess in their neighbor’s yard? Sure, to some extent. It will be partially screened by the planting and movable pergola we will construct. But there’s no question the uglies will still be there. The point is, the garden space will take up their attention, shifting the point of focus and lessening the importance of the ugly bits.

Is focusing the perfect solution for every circumstance? No, but it’s a necessary solution in a lot of cases. Especially in urban situations, it isn’t always possible to screen unwanted views, so finding another way around the problem is crucial. Best of all, if you can find a way to work the uglies into the composition, to turn them from a negative to a positive, you’re ahead on all counts!

This Week’s Jumble – February 20, 2012

From around the web this week:

  • I heard of Arcosanti for the first time two years ago, when I flew to Phoenix to visit my boyfriend’s family for Christmas. It sounded like an interesting concept, according to the brochure sitting in the rack at the airport information desk – an artisanal village in the desert founded by an architect who wanted to create a new paradigm for urban development. Our holiday schedule didn’t leave time to visit, so I have yet to see the village for myself. The New York Times reported that the founder has retired and is being succeeded by a second generation of leadership. I’m looking forward to my next visit to Phoenix so I can explore the idea a little more.
  • Landscape design inspired by sound is certainly nothing new – and it may be as old as humanity. According to the BBC, a scientist has proposed that sound was the basis for the design of Stonehenge.

A DIY Valentine’s Day

image of tulips

I enjoyed reading Dealnews’ tongue-in-cheek take on ways to save money on Valentine’s Day bouquets. Since forcing roses into bloom in February is tricky and probably best left to those hardy plant lovers who might be up to the challenge, I thought I’d offer a few alternate suggestions for intrepid romeos looking for a DIY source for Valentine’s flowers.

1) Camellias – For those in zone 6 and warmer, Camellias could be a simple way to get a rose-like flower. They are part of the rose family, and some of them bloom naturally in winter. Make sure to look for varieties that will bloom December through March, and pay attention to your hardiness zone. Some varieties are more tender than others. Keep in mind, these will look more like species roses, not the hybrid tea varieties you’d be getting at the flower shop.

2) Forcing bulbs – If you like the idea of forcing flowers for your Valentine’s bouquet, several flowering bulbs work well for that, and it’s pretty easy to do without a greenhouse. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are probably the most common bulbs for this type of treatment. Pot up the bulbs, put them in a dark place and when you see green starting to appear on the bulbs, move them to a sunny room. Each type of bulb has different specific needs, so you’ll want to research the process for your chosen variety, but this may be one of the easiest solutions to the DIY flower problem.

3) Dried roses – If you still want to grow your own roses, you could plant some lovely varieties, let them bloom naturally, and dry the flowers. Come February, you could present them as a bouquet. Depends on your significant other – if he or she would enjoy a dried bouquet, go for it!

3) Silks – I can’t help but think this is something my dad might have tried as a joke. It sounds like him: buying a bunch of silk flowers and giving the same bouquet to my mom year after year. I have no proof, but I bet he thought about it! As a girl, I wouldn’t recommend it.

4) Non-bouquet options – Giving flowers doesn’t have to involve a bouquet of cut flowers. If you want a gift that will continue to provide flowers for years to come, perhaps a flowering house plant is the way to go. Just keep in mind the light needs of the plant. Orchid, gardenia and jasmine are all beautiful options, but you’ll want to choose something that will thrive in the living conditions you’ll provide.

Enjoy your flower-giving adventures!

This Week’s Jumble – Jan 30, 2012

From around the Web:

  • MOMA will be offering a 5 week course called “Broken Homes: Modern Housing Crises“. As one might expect from the title, it will delve into the difficulties of the suburban paradigm in the modern housing crisis. It will support the planned exhibit Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream.
  • The BBC reports that the “Jubilee Woods” initiative of the Woodland Trust will attempt to plant one million trees across the UK in February to commemorate the queen’s diamond jubilee.

Growing a front yard garden

image of containersYou might think that a landscape architect would always have a perfect garden, but that’s not the case. As with most gardeners, mine is a work in progress. I have lived in my rented row house in Washington, DC for over a year, and I am still working on getting the front courtyard completed.

Last summer, I started by searching out the perfect containers to complement the space. Since the courtyard is entirely paved in concrete, any planting had to be done in containers. The biggest challenge was finding large enough containers in the style and color range I wanted. Proportion is key in creating a successful landscape, and it’s easy to end up with containers that are just too small for the job you want them to do. They might provide enough soil for the plants you choose, but do they have the mass and presence to create the spacial relationships required?

Once the containers were in place, the plants came next. The largest containers that ring the space are filled with iris (for color) and along the fence, holly (for evergreen presence and massing). Smaller containers are planted to provide a mix of colors, scents and textures, including daylily, jasmine and annuals.

That provided the basic skeleton, and my task for this year is to find the right small trees to accent the composition. I’m thinking Magnolia virginiana would be large enough to provide some vertical relief and anchor the corners of the courtyard. They are also evergreen and would provide some much needed shade in the summertime. A fig tree placed adjacent to the brick wall of the house would offer another layer of texture and greenery and help modulate the scorching heat of the courtyard in mid-summer.

As we continue through winter, I look forward to a quiet season of visualizing all the wonderful things next year will bring for my garden. For all my fellow gardeners, I wish you a winter of daydreaming, planning and anticipation.

The Romance of the Seed Catalog

If you’re reading this, chances are you are enamored of plants, and for people like you and me, one of the great joys of January is the arrival of the seed catalogs. The variety of catalogs reflects the diversity of the garden, and delving into each is a journey through one grower’s curated collection. That is part of the fun – we all have limited space, and most of us can’t grow everything we might want. But on a chilly evening, with the a hot cup of tea in my hand and my dog curled up next to me, I can sit with the catalogs and daydream about all the things I would plant in a perfect world. With an enormous vegetable garden planned from one source, I move on to the heirloom rose catalog, where I choose hundreds of beauties for my ‘someday’ cutting garden – and I haven’t even started on the tree, shrub and perennial catalogs yet! I hope my mail carrier is a gardener so I can share some flowers and cucumbers this summer in exchange for all the catalogs lugged up my front steps.