UPDATES FROM THE UNDERSTORY
Design Wild’s latest updates, projects, and musings
We designed and installed an urban 100% native landscape at a main downtown intersection in the Upstate NY town of Saratoga Springs with the amazing and talented community group SoBro Conservancy of Saratoga.
On this affordable housing rooftop building at 540 West 53rd Street, there is a feature usually associated with lux high-rises: an expansive terrace with sweeping views, intimate gathering areas, and lush, abundant greenery.
If you are ever stressed, feeling anxious, sad about the world, climate, future… head into the woods for a MOSS NAP.
I want to talk about our young people, this climate generation. I’m referring to the folks roughly 25 years old down to the newest babies. I KNOW you are worried about their future, so am I, and for good reason. I’m here to ask you to let your worry be overpowered by real awe and admiration for these little ones! They don’t need your worry but they may need your help. I’ve been calling them The Super Generation. Let me explain…
We’ll be talking lots about garden care, climate change, native plants and joy in both classes in the city and country this fall.
There is no wrong way to live through this time. However you’re managing to feel about climate these days, I’m here to tell you, that is exactly right! Are you choosing to go 100% cognitive dissidence and NOT think about it at all? Cool. Go for it! Are you feeling a lot of despair and don’t want to answer emails? -that’s ok too. I feel you! Are you super motivated to dream and build a new emerging world? Awesome. Do that!
After a decade of creating gardens for affordable housing in NYC we share what we’ve learned, the important role landscapes play in people’s health, how privilege affects our access to greenspace and how the whole thing got super elevated due to Covid.
Our sanctuary on earth starts and ends on land. As we move into this next phase of transition our connection to the earth will be everything! We are building gardens that will ground us and give us the strength to continue the work of liberation and just transition from a place of rest and inspiration.
Design Wild creates an ecological, pollinator, native wonderland in the beautiful gallery space at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.
How can our hearts endure? The rage, grief, fear… it sits on our shoulders in layers. The pandemic, Black lives, hurricanes and fires, our climate in full collapse. How can we hold all of this and still stand?
Hudson Yards Hell's Kitchen Alliance continues to green the streets of Midtown with our help. New plantings include so many plant friends including our native Ilex glabra, Yucca, drift Roses, Vitex and Myrica pensylvanica, Goldenrod, Hyssop, Asters and more.
In these current times, there is a great need to stay AWAKE, INSPIRED and JOYFUL. We are paying special attention to people, places, and work that lifts our spirits. Here are just a few of many: Fantastic Fungi, Elderberry Wisdom, How to Stay Alive in the Woods
This new farm we installed is cared for by the dedicated staff at Community Access were they are growing food with and for their low-income tenants living in this beautiful, newly constructed building. We planted lettuce, broccoli, kale, parsley, basil, beans and so much more.
Design Wild was so honored to host our very first Advisory Council at the end of February. We welcomed a dozen of our wise and beloved community members to join us for a facilitated day of thoughtful learning and brainstorming. We're confident that with their wisdom & help we will continue to grow into greater alignment with our true work.
An exquisite renovation project in Park Slope, Brooklyn that Design Wild was a part of, designing a back garden and rooftop deck area for this lovely family of four.
In these current times, there is a great need to stay AWAKE, INSPIRED and JOYFUL. We are paying special attention to people, places, and work that lifts our spirits. Here are just a few of many: The Nap Ministry, #HKplantmagic and Ms. Kristin West
Design Wild host our 1st ever immersive walking tour through several of our wild gardens in midtown Manhattan featuring a network of plantings especially for attract pollinators in the heart of the city.
A great example for all city brownstone and townhouses' front gardens. Such a wonderful view to come home to while improving the greening of a whole neighborhood.
‘As the city moves in on us, Shanti Nagel is fighting the good fight for miraculous pockets of green. It could save our lives!’
Design Wild facilitates a a community process lead by Clinton Housing Development Company to build a cohesive community vision for the future of the Dewitt Clinton Park.
We all need help to stay AWAKE, INSPIRED and JOYFUL these days so we are pay special attention to the people, places, and work that lift our spirits.
We planted a haven for insects in midtown this year. Between the traffic of Ninth Avenue you can now spot monarch butterflies and honey bees.
Backyard transformation for a new store, collaborative pop-up and coworking space
We all need help to stay AWAKE, INSPIRED and JOYFUL these days so we are pay special attention to the people, places, and work that lift our spirits.
Fall equinox, Autumn in New York and the Jewish New Year among other thoughts
Tribeca Rooftop Gets a Design WILD Update on Three Floors: Herbs, Flowers, Blueberries OH MY
We all need staying AWAKE, INSPIRED and JOYFUL these days so we are pay special attention to the people, places, and work that lift our spirits.
I was fortunate enough to escape this summer to the northern edges of our continent, visiting the wild lands of Newfoundland and the plant kingdom did not disappoint. I was completely enamored with the fauna!