Patchwork Ecosystem
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patchworkecosystem.com
Patchwork Ecosystem
@patchworkecosystem.com
110 followers 55 following 28 posts
Landscape Designer bringing permaculture methodology to urban neighborhoods and building resilience at the watershed level. Based on Snuneymuxw territory (Nanaimo, BC)
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patchworkecosystem.com
Taking time to notice your surroundings, to look closely at the world that surrounds you, is one of the best ways I've found to cultivate curiosity and reconnect to wonder. ✨

#westcoast #macro #temperate #rainforest
A close-up of moss on a maple tree. A second close-up of moss on a bigleaf maple. Spores on the underside of a sword fern along the trail, with a blurry, sunny forest and black dog in the background.
June 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Happy belated Earth Day, everyone.

This is Loudon Park in #Nanaimo BC, and we're encouraging the @cityofnanaimo.bsky.social reconsider their plan to cut down these beautiful ~80 year old fir trees.

Peaceful protest video found here:
youtu.be/vW-YKZKGGTs

#saveloudonpark
April 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Thanks so much to everyone who came out for the invasive species cleanup this past Saturday!

We got two massive piles of Ivy, Daphne, and an entire Holly tree off the land, making more room for the native understory to establish and thrive. ✨
A roughly 2m high pile of English Ivy, English Holly, and Daphne pulled at the entrance to the dog loop at Colliery dam. A second pile, also roughly 2m tall, of pruned Holly branches and logs heaped and ready for pickup.
March 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Tomorrow morning! 10am at the Colliery Dam Off-Leash Dog Loop in #Nanaimo !
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We'll have a few pairs of gloves and pruning tools to borrow, but kindly bring your own if you have them. ❤️
March 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
📣 Calling volunteers in #Nanaimo, BC!

Sat, Mar 22, 10am-1pm @ Colliery Dam Dog Park for an #invasivespecies removal work round.

Bring work gloves if able - limited gear will be available to borrow. (1/2)
Image of a well-known spot in Colliery Dam, Nanaimo. A recovering West Coast forest, with trees covered in moss, scattered ferns and understory plants, and a large boulder carpeted in green. Text overlaid says, "Invasive Species Cleanup, Volunteers Wanted! Join us at Colliery Dam Park (Off-Leash Dog Loop) March 22nd, 10am-1pm Photo of invasive Daphne (Daphne laureola). Photo of invasive English Holly (Ilex aquifolium). Photo of invasive English Ivy (Hedera helix) climbing a small tree. A caption reads, "Bring your gloves and lend a hand if you're able!)
March 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Design Showcase

This was a #landscape-design from 2024, and the one that earned us our #permaculture certification.

The clients had an exposed site, mostly turf, and wanted a more naturalist, cottage garden aesthetic. We recommended a small #orchard bolstered by #native #berries and #wildflowers.
The finished design for a property near Nanaimo, BC. The main house has orchard trees along the southern edge, followed by a field of native wildflowers, raised garden beds, and mixed native shrubs, most of which producing berries. To the east and northeast of the house, desirable views are maintained and cold winter winds partially blocked with a series of native evergreen shrubs. Mort berry bushes to the north of the house, along with a new 3-bin composting system, and food and visual screening plants installed all along the border facing the road, bringing seasonal forage and year-round privacy where it's needed. Between all these features, a new set of paths has been created with two sets of stone stairs, guiding the clients and their guests around the land. The "before" illustration of the design site. A main house is surrounded mostly by turf grass, with trees along the road and near the southern tip of the site. A septic field sits in the middle of the largest patch of turf, and a tiny home is nestled in the southern corner. A copy of the previous "before" illustration, this time highlighting areas to the east and northeast where desirable views have been marked as golden rays coming from the house. Along the road, the entire border has been marked with a rosy band, indicating where additional visual privacy screening is desires.
February 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
patchworkecosystem.com
Design Showcase

The client needed a border bed revamp after discovering how existing plants were #toxic for their #dogs.

We filled the space with #Saskatoon, Oval-leaf #Blueberry, Evergreen #Huckleberry, Coastal #Strawberry, #Kinnikinnick, Blackcap #Raspberry, #ferns, and #native #wildflowers. ♥
After image of a series of border garden beds planted with a range of West Coast native species, including Saskatoon, Red-flowering Currant, Oval-leaf Blueberry, Evergreen Huckleberry, Blackcap Raspberry, Coastal Strawberry, Kinnikinnick, and native wildflowers such as Camas, Canada Goldenrod, and Common Yarrow. Before image of the same garden beds, with only a few sparse exotic trees and decorative rocks along the edges. Two pale beams from the house identify ocean views, intended to be maintained with the subsequent design. A close-up of one corner of the garden beds, showing a myriad of native berry shrubs, wildflowers, and ferns. A second close-up image showing more of the diversity of plantings established on site, including a large Saskatoon shrub at the entrance of the yard, ground-covers of strawberries, kinnikinnick, and native wildflowers, and multiple other species of native berry-producing shrubs.
February 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Design Showcase

"Blackwood Commons" was a 2021 #concept #design for a #park in #victoria #bc responding to the sudden need for more beautiful public meeting spaces.

The project never broke ground, but received praise from collaborators, neighbours and city staffers. It's one we're still proud of.
Grayscale image of a sparsely planted turf and young tree park, an L-shaped bed of roses in one corner and an exposes bus stop along the upper edge. After image of the same park, now planted with clusters of Beaked Hazelnut, Oval-leaf Blueberry, Evergreen Huckleberry, Oregon-grape, Rosemary, Woodland Strawberry, and Licorice Fern. A paved meeting circle sits at the center of the park, with paths bridging the gap along the middle.
February 4, 2025 at 10:46 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Invasive species clean-up day at Morrell Sanctuary here in #Nanaimo , #BC . Huge thanks to the #VIU Eco Club for organizing this, and sanctuary volunteers like Bob who gave us a crash course on identifying noxious invasives.
Our first pile of Daphne laureol during the invasive species cleanup. Another pile of Daphne and Himalayan Blackberry after removal. A third small pile of removed Daphne. A fourth, larger pile of Daphne, these having terrorism after improper removal previously. Each had a straight cut across the base that regrew multiple new shoots, with roots much more established than first year growth.
January 26, 2025 at 9:29 PM
patchworkecosystem.com
Our recent presentation alongside @nanaimoclimatehub.bsky.social is now available as an article on our website!
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We'd love to get feedback from anyone versed in #biology , #ecology , #permaculture , or #landscaping and keep the conversation evolving.

patchworkecosystem.com/urban-permac...
The Patchwork Ecosystem logo, with an article title floating beneath of "Urban Permaculture: Climate Resilience at Home".
November 19, 2024 at 1:50 AM
patchworkecosystem.com
Feeling energized after giving our presentation on urban #permaculture for #climatechange #resilience!
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#rainwater harvesting, positioning #nativ trees and plants to insulate homes, and how this approach benefits the #community around as well.
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Full presentation to be released this week!
Zack Simon, founder of Patchwork Ecosystem, standing at a podium giving a presentation. A slide showcasing home upgrades including LED lighting, insulation, heat pumps, electrification, efficient appliances, and habitual best practices. A simple staying point for a planting plan, including a detached house, driveway, and surrounding turf yard. Example planting plan taking water sequestration, solar aspect, seasonal winds, native ecosystem support, neighborhood drought resistance, and local food security into account.
November 18, 2024 at 2:24 AM
patchworkecosystem.com
Excited to be here on @bsky.app , and looking forward to building a strong community of #sustainability, #permaculture, and #climatechange resilience enthusiasts.

Keen to connect with #landscaping , #landscapedesign and #communityplanning professionals near #nanaimo , BC.
The logo for Patchwork Ecosystem, an offset square of four colourful tiles in gradients of gold, moss-green, teal-blue, and maroon representing agriculture, forests, waterways, and human infrastructure working in harmony. There is a pale green circle in the background, with a square of negative space suggesting the tiles fit into the circle when placed correctly.
November 14, 2024 at 7:31 PM