Sustainable Garden Design
Online Workshop
An interactive lab exploring the factors and techniques you need to create healthy pollinator- and family-friendly gardens.
Meet online with experts for 7 weeks, January 7 - February 20, 2025.
To maximize individualized attention, the workshop is limited to 15 spots.
Reserve your spot now.
Plant like a pro and welcome pollinators to your yard!
In the ReWild Garden Design Workshop, you’ll learn to assess your site, identify your aesthetic preferences, choose native plants, and maintain a vibrant, healthy habitat for pollinators and people.
Professional landscape designers and native plant experts will guide you through the process from initial design to your final presentation. The workshop is limited to 15 spots so you’ll receive individualized attention, with practical suggestions that you can readily apply in your garden.
workshop Details
Format: Online-only workshop via Zoom
Orientation: January 7, 2024 at 6PM - 7PM
Schedule: January 14 to February 20 at 6 PM, two evenings per week
Tuesday meetings are Lectures
Thursdays meetings are Labs and Q&A’s
Duration: 60 minutes per session, including lecture and discussion
Final Presentations: Participants will present their work and receive expert feedback during the final week of the workshop.
Resources and Benefits:
All participants will be invited to join the ReWild Community Gardens WhatsApp group where they can ask questions and exchange ideas with other sustainable gardeners, including Master Gardeners and professionals.
Home Gardeners will receive a 10% discount to the Spring Plant Sale in March 2025 to defray the cost of planting their garden. This is available only for fee-paying Home Gardeners who have completed their workshop feedback form.
Community Garden 2025 Recipients’ designs will be implemented in Spring or Fall 2025.
Curriculum Overview
Ecology and Sustainable Landscapes
Learn how your design decisions impact the inhabitants of our ecosystems, from soil-dwelling organisms to plants and trees, insects, birds, and other wildlife as well as humans.
Create an ecological foundation for your garden goals and plant selections.
Garden Design Principles:
Explore types and purposes of gardens, develop an aesthetic composition, and create mood boards.
Express your interests by planning a garden that is both functionally and visually appealing.
Practical Implementation:
Learn maintenance techniques and seasonal care for years to come.
Connect with your garden through journaling practices and conduct a Community Science experiment for ecological assessment.
**Pricing and Availability**
Home Gardeners – 10 spots for Home Gardeners, $250 each.
2025 Community Garden Recipients – 5 spots at no charge.
Note: You may ask others to help make your design, please see the Q&A below. Only 1 design per spot.Expert Instructors include
Kimberly Simmen – Kimberly Simmen is a Certified Nursery Landscape Professional with 20 plus years in the business, who has introduced many aspiring rewilders to the joys of native plants. Kimberly is also an entrepreneur with a long history of growing natives who has opened KMS Native Plants, LLC, in Lake Grove to provide Long Islanders with access to native plants.
Maggie Muzzante – Maggie is a Farmingdale State College graduate, with a Bachelor's degree in Bioscience achieved in May 2020. Farmingdale had a great impact and source for inspiration, stemming from the Horticulture Department, where she was a work-study student. Maggie is ReWild Gardens Manager and works full-time with Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI). Her specialty is seed saving and growing native plants from seed.
Peter Meleady – Peter holds a Masters Degree in Organic Agriculture from The University of Glasgow, an Honors Degree in Botany from Trinity College Dublin, a Diploma in Amenity Horticulture from the National Botanic Gardens Dublin, and a Diploma in Horticulture from The Royal Horticultural Society. Additionally, he is a Certified Arborist through International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). He has worked for the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and for The New York Botanic Gardens. With over 40 years of experience in horticulture and botany, Peter is an independent consultant specializing in ecological horticulture/ecosystem gardening.
This winter garden design workshop is modeled after our Youth Design course for high schoolers, as part of the 2024 Community Gardens Program. Take a look into what designs were implemented in 2024.
FAQ
Q: Can others participate in the workshop with me?
A: We welcome you to design in a small group up to 5 participants. Before the workshop begins, you will be asked to list the participants in your group. Participants can join the workshops and help make design decisions. Please keep in mind, each Home Gardener/Community Gardens spot is specific to only 1 design.
Q: Will sessions be recorded? If so, how long will they be available for review?
A: All sessions will be recorded, with the exception of Breakout Room time. Recordings will be shared and available for review through early March.
Q: What computer equipment/software is needed?
A: You will need internet access and a screen to participate in workshops (computer, laptop, cell phone, etc.). We will use software including Zoom, Canva, and Google Workspace.
Q: Will designs be hand-drawn or software-based?
A: We will share hand-drawing methods and the use of Canva for your designs.
For questions about the ReWild Garden Design workshop, please email Samantha@rewildlongisland.org.