Let’s up our partnership skillset to reduce the climate cycle drama
February 2024. By Isara Ongwiseth: Love inspires us to look for the all-sides wins. In conflict and urgency, it inclines us to see our partner’s point of view and to listen intently for their needs. After all, once we are in partnership, I can’t win if you lose.
As Angelenos, we find ourselves in partnership with an exceedingly beautiful, creative, savvy, yet volatile partner. While those outside the marriage engage with her “sunny disposition,” we know the unerring sunshine takes a toll. We know we also have to prepare for raging waters, shifting ground, and a fiery temperament.
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The good news? The more we provide what LA needs, the less drama we add to this cycle. Over time, we can build our resilience and skill set to ride out the ebbs and flows. This will mean greater safety in the moment and a better life for our children – and an even better one for our children’s children. This absolutely does not require collapsing our own needs. In fact, we can simultaneously get more of what brings us comfort and joy. A true win-win-win.
As with any partnered endeavor, we need deep, honest and accurate communication to succeed. Rather than hardening in the hopes of protecting ourselves, we need to slow things down as well as free-up time and space where we can effectively absorb the storms. When we do, they will begin to feel like the gift they are. Here is what that looks like.
Slow Down
We need to be able to slow the flow of the storm long enough to direct the downpour to where it can really sink in. The Forbes Mountain Retreat, open for the 2024 Native Plant Garden Tour, illustrates this two-step technique. It’s expansive tree canopy slows rainfall, while rock bands in the driveway direct the storm to a place where the garden can take it all in.
Loosen Up
We also need to develop the ability to absorb more. We may need to un-pave some areas we’ve hardened. The Schumacher Garden Retreat, open to the public April 21st as part of The Garden Conservancy’s Pasadena Open Days, beautifully illustrates several ways we can do this.
Water-absorbing decomposed granite, low-water need foliage, and an edited concrete drive create opportunities for impactful breakthroughs. They replace an expansive concrete drive and thirsty, chemical dependent turf grass. (See Before+After)
Go Deep
Where we can, we’ll want to dig below the surface. LA will appreciate us going deep! This takes developing our ability to hold water until we can truly drink it all in. The Sustainable Storybook Garden in Studio City shows the how-to – as well as the immediate pay-off – for engaging in this work.
While petite, the garden developed an exceptional capacity to hold water with the addition of two bioswales. Rather than taking the normal 3-5 years to hit its stride, the garden felt fully established while still in its honeymoon year. Incredible! See this delight-evoking space during The Garden Conservancy’s LA Open Days April 28th.
Recruit Your Village
We can accomplish a lot of good by keeping our focus at home. When we extend a partnership approach into our community spaces, we can manufacture miracles. Harnessing expansive, public spaces to address LA’s needs takes pressure off each of our private spaces. We applaud the residents and City of Sierra Madre for engaging in this work together.
Last year, Sierra Madre resident volunteers added yet another water-directing and absorbing public garden to amplify the impact of the Authentic Foothill Gardens long in place at city hall. Each of these gardens is open to the public year round.
We’ve spent generations hardening up, and it may take awhile for us to change how we operate. We believe that with each step we take, the immediate safety, aesthetic and financial benefits will feed our capacity for greater change. In the meantime, know we are committed to being in team with you as well as our beloved city through the ups and downs.
More Information
FormLA: Water-Restricted Summer
FormLA: Beautiful Bioswales
LA Times: The Unloved LA River Just Prevented a Flood Disaster
Houzz: Patio Pavers Go Green In-Between
Houzz: Dry River Beds Solve for Runoff
Houzz: Bioswale (Rain Garden) Ideabook
