As of December 31st, 2015 over 100 landscapes in the Monterey Bay area have been certified as Monterey Bay Friendly. This is exciting news for a number of reasons. With the Santa Cruz based non-profit Ecology Action at the helm an advisory committee to bring this program to the Monterey Bay area has been meeting regularly since May, 2013 . The director of the program Sherry Bryan of Ecology Action has stated that Terra Nova provided inspiration to bring this program to the Monterey Bay area. The program is modeled after the Bay Friendly Landscaping program in the Bay Area which is already the parent of River Friendly Landscaping in the Sacramento area.
While the Bay and the River Friendly logos have a pelican and a heron we have branded this program for the the Monterey Bay area with an egret on the logo.
Having been involved with promotion of and education about ecological landscaping since the late 1980’s it is very gratifying to see this program take off in the Monterey Bay area. As an instructor of Permaculture in the horticulture program at Cabrillo College this is very exciting for another reason. Permaculture is a very fun design science to teach. But Permaculture is notoriously hard to define especially in small sound bites. While I love teaching it and using the word Permaculture, it is great to see a program like the Monterey Bay Friendly Landscaping arrive on the scene because it has much of the elements and employs many of the Permaculture principles without using the word.
Things like reducing waste, creating habitat for wildlife, conserving energy, conserving water and building soil are all exactly in line with Permaculture.
When you get your landscape certified as Monterey Bay Friendly there are a number of rebates and incentives available. like 10% discount on any item in store, excluding Livestock Feed at Mountain Feed and Farm Supply.
Here is a gallery of landscapes that have been certified to date. Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping has a couple of landscapes that have been certified as Monterey Bay Friendly.
I recently completed the certification for the Cabrillo College Horticulture building
Implement these ecological landscaping standards to achieve Monterey Bay Friendly Landscape certification and public recognition for your existing garden or new landscape project!
Terra Nova is among the local companies, landscapers and designers that can come rate your landscape. Get your landscape certified today by calling 831-359-5717.