The Beginnings

Ever since I started working at All Saints, I had dreamt of replacing the lawn in front of the church with stunning landscaping. When the lawn was installed, well before my time, it was hoped it might be a space where children would play and people could enjoy the space. But in reality, it was a place where dogs did their business and the summer heat did its number. If we didn’t irrigate daily, by mid-summer the lawn would look like matted straw on dirt as hard as concrete. East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), our water provider, actually has a Lawn Conversion Rebate program, for both residences and businesses. In 2023, before going on a summer adventure to France with my mother, I applied for the grant. Upon returning from my adventure, I learned that we got the grant!

Now, mind you, the grant we received for converting almost 1200 square feet of lawn was about $1,500, which doesn't come close to covering the full cost of this kind of project. But hey, every bit helps! You could say EBMUD covered the cost of the soil, or the irrigation, or whatnot. In a garden like this, there are so many expenses including the design work, lawn removal and disposal, soil delivery, irrigation system materials and installation, plant procurement, cost for planting, and let’s not forget topping everything off with mulch. 

1. Design - Before applying for the grant, I recruited the help of a friend who is an incredible plant guru, the esteemed Troy Stephens. He consulted with me at the church, as we scoured through books, discussed aesthetics, simplicity, and repetition. Troy and I came up with a rough sketch and plant list, which I carefully drafted into this plan:

The above design was required for the grant, but once the grant was awarded I had to figure out a path forward. A contractor I have worked with on hardscape gave a bid to do the full garden project for about $15,000. From a fine landscaping company, it likely would have cost at least $30,000. But both of those were far outside our budget, so I embarked on this endeavor serving as priest and overseer (i.e. contractor, but am I allowed to say that without being a licensed contractor?). 

2. Lawn Removal - A garden is only as good as the soil it's planted in. Next step was to completely remove the lawn, which is easier said than done. I recruited the help of my friend and industrious gardener David Neumaier (sorry folks, he has a full-time job-- so many people who see the garden wasn to hire "our landscaper"). With the assistance of a gas-powered sod cutter, David carefully sectioned the lawn into strips that he removed one roll at a time. Tough pieces throughout and the edge were finished off by hand. 

Of course we could have sheet-mulched and waited for the grass to die, but that would have set us back significantly in our timeframe. I was eager to move forward. Without David's help, this would have never been possible. 

3. Soil - As I said, a garden is only as good as the soil it's in. Next step was to manage a delivery of 12 cubic yards of soil and get it placed. We ordered General Landscape from American Soil & Stone and a delivery was scheduled for March 3, 2024. American Soil describes the soil blend in this manner: "A generously amended sandy loam soil and one of our original mixes that is ideal for soil replacement or to raise the level of your soil. No additional amendments or fertilizers are needed prior to planting. It can be used as backfill around trees and shrubs. Contains: Sandy Loam, Aged Wood Fines, Wonder Green™ Compost." There's a reason I share this description. Keep in mind, our church is right next door to Roosevelt Elementary School, and let me just say that American Soil doesn't skimp on the compost. That's some strong $#!+. Kids walking to school would plug their noses and more than once I heard a kid exclaim to his mother, "Ewww, it smells like poop." Mmm, rich, fresh soil. With the help of a few volunteers from the church we spread a dump truck full of soil. 

 

With the lawn removed and rich soil in place, the garden was ready to be planted. I am actually quite eager to complete this backstory because, honestly, I am more excited about sharing the daily wonders of the garden than the history of the past year. Everyday there is something magical happening-- flowers unfurling, plants visibly growing (or so it feels like), and garden visitors of all kinds. Rumor has it that there's a female hummingbird collecting cob webs who may be building a nest very, very near. Is it the same hummingbird who often could be spotted in the newly pruned podocarpus? 

In my next post, I will share about getting help from the most amazing Plant Buyer in the Bay Area, planting the original Troy Stephens design, and placing the irrigation.