Based on a practical example, Douglas Owens-Pike will demonstrate some steps his familyhas taken to have a more sustainable lifestyle. These include designing and building anew home, anticipating changes resulting from climate change and rising energy costs.While his example is rural, these principles can be applied in both urban and suburbanhomes either remodeled or new construction. In his case, they now receive a monthlycredit from their utility for the power they generate from a photovoltaic collector. Theyhave no natural gas or propane tank (except a small one for their grill). Their primaryheat is the sun, since their home is a passive solar design (back up systems are wood firedor electric radiant in-floor). Their landscape is designed for minimal care using nativeplant communities that provide summer cooling and block winter winds. Their 300’ wellis backed up by a 1,000 gallon cistern filled with roof runoff or snow melt. The homeincludes two root cellars to store produce grown in their raised bed systems and orchard.An apiary provides both pollination for crops and honey. Sacred aspects of theirlandscape include a labyrinth for walking meditation as well as a trail system throughrolling woodland and restored meadow that will be sustainably grazed. A significant aspect of their rural lifestyle is a reliance on neighbors who have specialized skills orequipment for raising and preserving local foods.
Speaker Information:
Douglas Owens-Pike founded EnergyScapes in 1989, with the goal of promoting nativeplants for energy and water conservation, year-round natural beauty, and to preserveMinnesota’s biodiversity.
Doug’s MS in Plant Ecology (UW – Seattle) resulted in EnergyScapes ecologicalfocus, creating the most durable landscapes requiring the least care. Since 1990 he hasbeen an active member the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA).In 2006, Douglas was appointed to the international Association of ProfessionalLandscape Designers (APLD) board of directors. He is the founding president of theAPLD chapter in Minnesota. In addition to awards for his designs, Douglas was named1997 Ecopreneur of the Year by the MN Environmental initiative.
He was selected to represent the Midwest for the “Fine Gardening” magazine specialon waterwise garden designs for their April, 2003 issue. In February 2004, Douglas wasa featured speaker at a conference for professionals, “Creating Healthy Ecosystems onSuburban Lots.”
At the March, 2011, MNLA Awards Gala Douglas was recognized as “Designer inBloom”. A feature about the award was in the June/July issue of “Midwest Home”. Itrequired at least 15 years of experience and presentation of five projects that demonstrateDoug’s contributions toward advancing the landscape design profession.
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