What is Ecological Design?

Ecological Design is a blend of art and science focused on creating systems-based solutions to a diversity of everyday challenges. As an exploration and application of the expression of intentional relationships to other living beings and one’s environment, Ecological Design is applied to daily actions, physical infrastructure, natural resource management, education, social networks, and economic activity with multifaceted benefits.

Using the whole-systems approach of Ecological Design to engage in design process, apply design principles, and adopt appropriate technology, terrasophia creates people and place specific solutions for pro-actively creating healthy, resilient, and integral watersheds.

Terrasophia specializes in using ecological design as a basis for group facilitation, program development, education, rainwater harvesting, landscaping, agro-forestry, and natural building projects. Consultations, Education, and Project Management services are designed to empower cost-effective health, resiliency, and integrity for a diverse clientele seeking to develop regenerative land use, infrastructure, and capacity building projects. 

	Rainwater Harvesting Everyone lives within a watershed and is dependent on watersheds to provide for the basic needs of everyday life, from water and food to materials to build homes and keep us warm. Water is fundamental to life. Terrasophia follows a pattern of water strategies to make best use of available water resources in meeting water needs. This integration of strategies includes property assessment, land forming (such as swales and rain gardens), building healthy living soils, selecting micro-climate appropriate plantings, applying mulch, installing rainwater catchment systems, incorporating greywater as appropriate, and using effective irrigation systems to meet any remaining demand.
	Program Development The Ecological Design process is applied to creating effective programs to achieve specific outcomes for a site, group, or purpose. Program Development can take several forms and include multiple components such as proposal writing, research, strategic partnerships, pilot programs, budget development, and specific content, guidelines, processes, and/or documents. Terrasophia works closely with clients to design appropriate programs to meet their needs and goals in a realistic timeline
	Group Facilitation Building capacity, enhancing group dynamics, and cultivating multi-functional teams are key aspects to successful projects and programs. Recognizing that everyone has valuable skills and insights, facilitated group experiences can help to identify, bring out, and strengthen individual capacities and integrate them into a supportive network to achieve desired group outcomes. Using a variety of participatory process, whole-person learning and alternative dispute resolution techniques, terrasophia works with diverse groups to identify and meet their goals, work strategically, and build specific skills.
	Landscaping Opportunity awaits to transform our landscapes into places of health, beauty, and functionality. Each site is designed to enhance the unique character of place in a way that meets the needs of the people and community. Terrasophia works closely with clients to create cost-effective strategies for maximizing the beneficial outcomes from landscape decisions. Clients are engaged in the ecological design process as we integrate rainwater harvesting, edible landscaping, herbal medicine, natural building features and other elements to create a phased approach to developing a landscape fit to place. Garden Coaching services are offered to support clients in becoming empowered to maintain their own landscapes and/or better understand the seasonal cycles of their place.
	Agro-Forestry Through the use of agro-forestry techniques, high yielding working landscapes are designed, implemented and stewarded. From feasibility to reality, terrasophia works with clients to create and activate site appropriate strategies for maximizing the positive returns on investments. Farm, ranch, or community, Agro-Forestry enhances the economic viability, ecological integrity and social capacity of land-use projects.
	Natural Building Aesthetic landscape features and functional spaces are created using natural building techniques and materials. From benches and walls to earthen ovens and outbuildings, terrasophia’s experience in natural building will compliment home and landscape. Using local, renewable, low-processed, and recycled materials in creative ways adds functional and beautiful elements to any site. Natural building work parties are an empowering and fun way to bring family, friends, and neighbors together over a common focus.