With the completion of the master landscape plan for all three Habitat
for Humanity properties, master plant lists were created and plans for
a Spring, 2005 installation were set in motion.
for Humanity properties, master plant lists were created and plans for
a Spring, 2005 installation were set in motion.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Over the years, members of The Design Network have supported community and
academic initiatives that are aligned to our mission. Although our activities vary from
year to year, we would like to highlight two of the worthwhile endeavors we have
supported.
Critical Difference for Women - The Ohio State University
The Critical Difference for Women (CDW) initiative
is sponsored by The Ohio State University. It offers
three programs specifically for women: re-entry
scholarships, grants for professional development
and grants for research on women. Members of
The Design Network have made year-end
contributions to this program with the request that
our donation is earmarked for a female student
pursuing a degree and career in the "green
industry." In fact, one of our members has
benefited from CDW and is proof that it provides
advantages to women who need financial
assistance. Click here for more information about
Critical Difference for Women.
WomenSafe
WomenSafe works toward the elimination of physical, sexual and emotional violence against
women and their children through direct service, education and social change. Members of The
Design Network have donated gift cards and specific needed items to support these women in
need. Click here for more information about WomenSafe and how you can help too.
Habitat for Humanity
In 2005, The Design Network volunteered to design and install the landscapes for three Geauga
Country Habitat for Humanity homes in Middlefield, Ohio. The Design Network members
contributed their considerable knowledge of horticulture, creative talent and expertise in design
and installation, and tapped into their green industry resources throughout the project.
The first phase began in the fall of 2004 and involved conducting interviews with the prospective
homeowners, measuring, photographing and assessing each property. Then in January of 2005,
an all day Design Workshop was held with fifteen Design Network members teaming up to create
three custom designed landscape plans. The designs reflected each individual homeowner’s long
term needs, wishes, and plant preferences as expressed during the design interviews. The
landscape designs incorporated trees, shrubs, and perennial plantings with multi-season interest,
and vegetable gardens, decks, patios, fencing, screening and shade needs to create three
unique landscape plans.
Over the years, members of The Design Network have supported community and
academic initiatives that are aligned to our mission. Although our activities vary from
year to year, we would like to highlight two of the worthwhile endeavors we have
supported.
Critical Difference for Women - The Ohio State University
The Critical Difference for Women (CDW) initiative
is sponsored by The Ohio State University. It offers
three programs specifically for women: re-entry
scholarships, grants for professional development
and grants for research on women. Members of
The Design Network have made year-end
contributions to this program with the request that
our donation is earmarked for a female student
pursuing a degree and career in the "green
industry." In fact, one of our members has
benefited from CDW and is proof that it provides
advantages to women who need financial
assistance. Click here for more information about
Critical Difference for Women.
WomenSafe
WomenSafe works toward the elimination of physical, sexual and emotional violence against
women and their children through direct service, education and social change. Members of The
Design Network have donated gift cards and specific needed items to support these women in
need. Click here for more information about WomenSafe and how you can help too.
Habitat for Humanity
In 2005, The Design Network volunteered to design and install the landscapes for three Geauga
Country Habitat for Humanity homes in Middlefield, Ohio. The Design Network members
contributed their considerable knowledge of horticulture, creative talent and expertise in design
and installation, and tapped into their green industry resources throughout the project.
The first phase began in the fall of 2004 and involved conducting interviews with the prospective
homeowners, measuring, photographing and assessing each property. Then in January of 2005,
an all day Design Workshop was held with fifteen Design Network members teaming up to create
three custom designed landscape plans. The designs reflected each individual homeowner’s long
term needs, wishes, and plant preferences as expressed during the design interviews. The
landscape designs incorporated trees, shrubs, and perennial plantings with multi-season interest,
and vegetable gardens, decks, patios, fencing, screening and shade needs to create three
unique landscape plans.
The next phase was a massive effort by
Design Network members to secure the
donation of over 355 trees, shrubs and
perennials from 26 area wholesale and
retail nurseries in northeastern Ohio.
Plant material was stockpiled and site
preparations were made without much
cooperation from the northeast Ohio
weather.
On Installation Day, May 29, 2005,
eighteen Design Network members and
other green industry workers donated
their labor to install all the plant material
according to the designs created at the
January workshop. The end result was
three very happy homeowners who are
delighted with their new landscapes. As
part of the project, Design Network
members will continue to mentor the
new homeowners for one year,
teaching them how to care for their
plants.
The Landscape Volunteer Project was
a challenging, but wonderful opportunity
for The Design Network to use our
knowledge, skills and resources toward
a good cause. In a first time ever
collaborative effort, the Geauga County
Habitat for Humanity worked together
with us to coordinate this project during
the construction phase of the new
homes.
The Design Network tapped into our
members' horticultural, design and
installation knowledge and flexed our
business and organizational skills to
make this project a reality. Members
who are arborists, landscape designers
nursery owners, installation contractors
and landscape maintenance
professionals all contributed their skills
and used their contacts in the green
industry throughout the project.
It was a logistical tightrope walk since
many of The Design Network’s
members are small business owners or
self-employed in the green industry and
parts of this project clashed with some
of the busiest times of the landscaping
season. During the project, we shared
our knowledge, gained respect for and
learned about each other’s talents,
experience and training. We also got to
know some very wonderful people at
Geauga County’s Habitat for Humanity
and the three families who now reside
in these newly landscaped homes.
In the end, the real reward was seeing
the Habitat for Humanity homeowners
who were beaming with pleasure at
their newly installed landscapes and
are already conscientiously caring for
them.
Design Network members to secure the
donation of over 355 trees, shrubs and
perennials from 26 area wholesale and
retail nurseries in northeastern Ohio.
Plant material was stockpiled and site
preparations were made without much
cooperation from the northeast Ohio
weather.
On Installation Day, May 29, 2005,
eighteen Design Network members and
other green industry workers donated
their labor to install all the plant material
according to the designs created at the
January workshop. The end result was
three very happy homeowners who are
delighted with their new landscapes. As
part of the project, Design Network
members will continue to mentor the
new homeowners for one year,
teaching them how to care for their
plants.
The Landscape Volunteer Project was
a challenging, but wonderful opportunity
for The Design Network to use our
knowledge, skills and resources toward
a good cause. In a first time ever
collaborative effort, the Geauga County
Habitat for Humanity worked together
with us to coordinate this project during
the construction phase of the new
homes.
The Design Network tapped into our
members' horticultural, design and
installation knowledge and flexed our
business and organizational skills to
make this project a reality. Members
who are arborists, landscape designers
nursery owners, installation contractors
and landscape maintenance
professionals all contributed their skills
and used their contacts in the green
industry throughout the project.
It was a logistical tightrope walk since
many of The Design Network’s
members are small business owners or
self-employed in the green industry and
parts of this project clashed with some
of the busiest times of the landscaping
season. During the project, we shared
our knowledge, gained respect for and
learned about each other’s talents,
experience and training. We also got to
know some very wonderful people at
Geauga County’s Habitat for Humanity
and the three families who now reside
in these newly landscaped homes.
In the end, the real reward was seeing
the Habitat for Humanity homeowners
who were beaming with pleasure at
their newly installed landscapes and
are already conscientiously caring for
them.
Landscape Installation Day! Design Network members and
other helpers install 355 donated trees, shrubs and perennials
in planting beds which had previously been aerated and
amended with donated compost. Planting beds were mulched,
trees staked and vines trained onto trellises. Watering
instructions, donated hoses, Tree Gators, and hand pruners
were given to the homeowners to help them care for their
newly installed landscapes.
other helpers install 355 donated trees, shrubs and perennials
in planting beds which had previously been aerated and
amended with donated compost. Planting beds were mulched,
trees staked and vines trained onto trellises. Watering
instructions, donated hoses, Tree Gators, and hand pruners
were given to the homeowners to help them care for their
newly installed landscapes.
A Design Network member counsels a Habitat for Humanity
homeowner on the care of her French Hybrid Lilacs. The
Design Network members will continue to help the
homeowners learn about and care for their new landscapes
for one year.
homeowner on the care of her French Hybrid Lilacs. The
Design Network members will continue to help the
homeowners learn about and care for their new landscapes
for one year.
A Street Fair, sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, was held on
August 6, 2005 to celebrate the completion of these homes
and landscapes. The Design Network participated in the Fair,
answering questions about the project and responding to
general landscape and horticulture questions.
August 6, 2005 to celebrate the completion of these homes
and landscapes. The Design Network participated in the Fair,
answering questions about the project and responding to
general landscape and horticulture questions.
Plant Material Donations
Arcola Creek Nursery – Madison, OH
Art Form Nurseries – Chagrin Falls, OH
Auburn Pointe Greenhouse - Auburn, OH
Avalon Gardens – Chardon, OH
Bluestone Perennials – Madison, OH
Brotzman’s Nursery – Madison, OH
C.M. Brown Nurseries – Perry, OH
Budding Artists – Pepper Pike, OH
Chagrin Valley Nurseries – Gates Mills, OH
Cottage Gardens – Perry, OH
Davis Tree Farm – Valley City, OH
East of Eden - Pepper Pike, OH
Gilson Gardens – Perry, OH
Girard Nurseries – Geneva, OH
Klyn Nurseries – Perry, OH
Lake County Nursery – Perry, OH
Leuty Nursery – Chagrin Falls, OH
Maple Ridge Garden Center – Concord, OH
Mentor Heights Nursery – Mentor, OH
Northcoast Perennials – Madison, OH
Pam’s Perennial Plant Farm – Akron, OH
Ridge Manor Nurseries – Geneva, OH
Roemer Nursery – Madison, OH
Rusty Oaks Nursery – Valley City, OH
Sunnybrook Farms - Chesterland, OH
Sunleaf Nursery – Madison, OH
Sunny Border Ohio – Jefferson, OH
Warner-Kingwood Nursery – Willoughby Hills, OH
Willoway Nurseries – Avon, OH
Arcola Creek Nursery – Madison, OH
Art Form Nurseries – Chagrin Falls, OH
Auburn Pointe Greenhouse - Auburn, OH
Avalon Gardens – Chardon, OH
Bluestone Perennials – Madison, OH
Brotzman’s Nursery – Madison, OH
C.M. Brown Nurseries – Perry, OH
Budding Artists – Pepper Pike, OH
Chagrin Valley Nurseries – Gates Mills, OH
Cottage Gardens – Perry, OH
Davis Tree Farm – Valley City, OH
East of Eden - Pepper Pike, OH
Gilson Gardens – Perry, OH
Girard Nurseries – Geneva, OH
Klyn Nurseries – Perry, OH
Lake County Nursery – Perry, OH
Leuty Nursery – Chagrin Falls, OH
Maple Ridge Garden Center – Concord, OH
Mentor Heights Nursery – Mentor, OH
Northcoast Perennials – Madison, OH
Pam’s Perennial Plant Farm – Akron, OH
Ridge Manor Nurseries – Geneva, OH
Roemer Nursery – Madison, OH
Rusty Oaks Nursery – Valley City, OH
Sunnybrook Farms - Chesterland, OH
Sunleaf Nursery – Madison, OH
Sunny Border Ohio – Jefferson, OH
Warner-Kingwood Nursery – Willoughby Hills, OH
Willoway Nurseries – Avon, OH
Other Donors
Paul’s Do-It-Best Lumber – Middlefield, OH (Lumber for raised vegetable gardens)
Forestry Suppliers – Jackson, MS (Pruners)
Gardener’s Supply Co. – Burlington, VT (Stackable Corner Joints for raised vegetable gardens)
Georgios - Middlefield, OH (Pizza on Plant Installation Day)
Giant Eagle – Middlefield, OH (Lunch on Plant Installation Day)
La Cava Landscaping - Grand River, OH (Plant material transportation & installation)
Mark Hoenigman, Certified Arborist - Busy Bee Services, Novelty, OH (Soil improvement & planting bed preparation)
J.T.O. – Mentor, OH (Donation of mulch)
Kurtz Brothers – Independence, OH (EarthPro Premium Compost)
A.M. Leonard & Co. – Piqua, OH (Pruners)
MacKenzie Nursery Supply – Perry, OH (Pruners)
Nature's Way Landscaping - Chesterland, OH (Mulch and mulch installation)
Sagamore Soils – Hudson, OH (Leaf humus)
Shemin Nurseries – Oakwood Village, OH (Pruners)
Alan R. Siewart - Urban Forester, ODNR Division of Forestry (Tree preservation & soil consultant)
Spectrum Products – Youngsville, NC (TreeGators tree watering system)
Your Gardener & Company Inc. - Chardon, OH (Stocking, transportation and installation of plant material)
Paul’s Do-It-Best Lumber – Middlefield, OH (Lumber for raised vegetable gardens)
Forestry Suppliers – Jackson, MS (Pruners)
Gardener’s Supply Co. – Burlington, VT (Stackable Corner Joints for raised vegetable gardens)
Georgios - Middlefield, OH (Pizza on Plant Installation Day)
Giant Eagle – Middlefield, OH (Lunch on Plant Installation Day)
La Cava Landscaping - Grand River, OH (Plant material transportation & installation)
Mark Hoenigman, Certified Arborist - Busy Bee Services, Novelty, OH (Soil improvement & planting bed preparation)
J.T.O. – Mentor, OH (Donation of mulch)
Kurtz Brothers – Independence, OH (EarthPro Premium Compost)
A.M. Leonard & Co. – Piqua, OH (Pruners)
MacKenzie Nursery Supply – Perry, OH (Pruners)
Nature's Way Landscaping - Chesterland, OH (Mulch and mulch installation)
Sagamore Soils – Hudson, OH (Leaf humus)
Shemin Nurseries – Oakwood Village, OH (Pruners)
Alan R. Siewart - Urban Forester, ODNR Division of Forestry (Tree preservation & soil consultant)
Spectrum Products – Youngsville, NC (TreeGators tree watering system)
Your Gardener & Company Inc. - Chardon, OH (Stocking, transportation and installation of plant material)
Recent donors and recipients of OSU scholarships and
grants through the Critical Difference for Women program.
grants through the Critical Difference for Women program.