Landscape Architect Articles

LCN June 2008 Off the Clock05-29-08 | News

Association Volunteers Support Charity

By John David, Prime Landscape Services, Inc.

Irrigation contractor Chris Elliot positions ferns and flowering plants towards the end of the local California Landscape Contractors Association chapter?EUR??,,????'???s volunteer effort.

Landscape contractor Tony Ambriz (right) and a coworker pitched in to create a serene and supportive environment at the Hospice Caring Project at Scotts Valley, Calif. photo: Photo courtesy of Seascape CLCA

The Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County recently moved to a building set under shady redwoods in Scotts Valley. Our chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association turned out to give the facility a tranquil garden for the residents and their families.

The new building is nestled in a grove by a creek, but had no outside-use areas for volunteers and families using the hospice?EUR??,,????'???s services.

Building a Team

Coordinating volunteers and donators is quite a task. As our members lined up to help, they volunteered for the tasks they?EUR??,,????'???re best suited for and then approached their suppliers for the specific materials needed.

Regan Barry of Coastal Evergreen spearheaded the project in his home city. A design was developed and agreed upon. Stone retaining walls near the building and a large amount of interlocking concrete pavers went in as walkways and patio spaces.

Volunteers put in steps from the building to a deck area overlooking the creek. Our company put in the grade beams, drain system, and rock walls supporting the sloping area. Another group put in the deck foundations. We then installed the wood sub-structure. Then, another group installed the composite deck cover and redwood handrail. Our company installed a segmental concrete block retaining wall for support by the creek. A large memento rock was placed, along with a hand-carved bench the hospice group had been saving.

Donations Spring Up

Donated material came in from everywhere. Lumberyards, landscape supply and irrigation houses and nurseries came through with major donations. One contractor headed up the irrigation system installation. After final grading, a big workday was planned. Numerous landscape company owners and their crews installed an incredible array of plant material, mainly solicited and arranged by chapter president Kelly Shaeffer.

Fueled by a pizza lunch, the crews worked late in the day and got most of the plant material installed in one day. Details and mulching came later, but the job was now complete.

The volunteers and paid staff of the hospice do amazing work in our community. We felt they deserved our best effort. We were all pleased to pitch in?EUR??,,????'??+and the result looks great!