An Organic and Family-Oriented Lifestyle

Bernardsville, New Jersey
This project involved a home converted from stables located on a six-acre property. The homeowners wanted to transform the outdoor spaces surrounding their home to be in tune with their organic, nature loving, and family-oriented lifestyle. The project incorporated several environmentally conscious strategies, and to this day the outdoor spaces continue to develop as a reflection of the clients’ green lifestyle.

List of Green Strategies

• Removed invasive species and reintroduced native species
  to woodland ground covers and understory.
  
  
• Planted peach, pear, and apple trees in orchard.
  
  
• Created a part-shade herb and vegetable garden with plants selected for their historic medicinal and food value.
  
  
• Incorporated raised garden beds and a kitchen/cutting garden that have expanded significantly the farming capabilities of the property.
  
  
• Incorporated cold frames to extend the growing seasons and provide a controlled environment for drying fruit, herbs, and vegetables.
  
  
• Created compost bins from cedar logs, allowing for 100% of biodegradable waste to remain onsite and be reintroduced as compost soil in the garden beds.
  
  
• Built a corn crib-inspired wood shed used to split and store wood harvested from dead or fallen trees, which then are used in wood burning stoves as alternative heating for the residence and ancillary structures.
  
  
• Created an apiary garden with a beehive that produces fresh honey for a variety of family uses.
  
  
• Installed an outdoor kitchen.