About Us

The Natural Landscapes Project is a comprehensive outreach program developed by EcoSolutions, a nonprofit environmental education and outreach organization founded in 2002 to serve Bainbridge Island and north Kitsap County, Washington.

Mission Statement

The Natural Landscapes Project was developed to provide information to our community about ways to protect human health, our environment's health and water quality by reducing the use of toxins at home and in the garden.

Our Goals

To protect human and environmental health through education about the dangers of commonly used lawn and garden chemicals.

To preserve water quality by educating our community about the water cycle, surface and stormwater management and wellhead protection.

To promote environmental stewardship by helping people understand that what we do in our own backyards affects our children, our neighbors, our pets, wildlife and the waters around us.

Outreach

Staff members and trained volunteers educate the community in a variety of ways:

• information booths at public events, local stores and Farmers’ Markets
• presentations at Backyard Socials, hosted by interested homeowners
• presentations to a variety of school and community groups, such as neighborhood associations, church groups, Rotary Clubs, gardening clubs, etc.

Farmers' Markets

School Waterfest Presentation

Native Plant Sale

Earth Day Booth

Environmental Values

“For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death.”

Rachel Carson

We understand that we humans are part of the web of life. We have a responsibility to respect all forms of life, to promote the bio diversity of our Puget Sound region and to protect all creatures in our ecosystem from contamination by man-made toxins.

Thanks to the work of many researchers, we know that there are environmental costs to maintaining a "perfect" lawn or garden. Unwittingly every time homeowners use synthetic pesticides, fungicides or herbicides, they spread poisonous chemicals, putting themselves and their children at risk. A variety of serious illnesses are associated with exposure to hazardous lawn and garden chemicals.

Surprisingly, homeowners use more pesticides per acre than farmers do. After lawn and garden products are applied to a landscape, these chemicals are transported into our soils, stormwater drainage systems, and finally Puget Sound, becoming part of non point source pollution of our local waters.

Knowing that human beings have a profound effect on the health of the environment, we are committed to teaching sustainable behaviors. Gardening without toxic chemicals is an easy way to act upon our ecological values.

How You Can Help

You can help spread the Natural Landscapes Project message in a variety of ways. We invite you to join the movement toward sustainable living!

• We encourage you to call us to schedule a Backyard Social this spring, summer or fall. Bring your neighbors or friends together at your home for a social gathering, and we will come do an educational presentation for no charge. This is a delightful way to promote a sense of community and healthy environmental practices. It’s good to remember “we all live downstream!”

• We can provide a speaker for your group or association meetings. Speakers are available at a variety of times and days. We are flexible and will try to meet the scheduling needs of your group. Handouts are provided at no charge.

• We accept applications for volunteers to help at informational booths scheduled throughout the spring, summer and fall. Volunteers should have an interest in gardening, be able to speak easily with the public and be ready to make a commitment for doing approximately 15-20 hours of service with the Natural Landscapes Project. It’s fun and rewarding!

Donations

EcoSolutions is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit environmental organization promoting water quality protection through education about toxic-free lawn and garden care. We need your help to sustain the project, so please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the address listed or by clicking below. You'll be supporting healthier landscapes and cleaner water around Puget Sound.

EcoSolutions
978 Aaron Avenue
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone/fax: 206-842-4815
Email: ecosolutions3@juno.com

This project is funded by the City of Bainbridge Island and by Washington State Department of Ecology’s Public Participation Grant.