REWILD on Down the Garden Path Podcast

It is always a great day when we get to talk about ecological landscaping with people who share our passion for building habitats. Recently, Jeff sat down with landscape designer Joanne Shaw on her podcast, Down the Garden Path, to chat about all things REWILD.

They had a fantastic conversation covering everything from our core design philosophy to the specific ways we approach our Ottawa projects. You can listen to the full episode on the Down 2 Earth website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here is a quick look at a few of our favourite topics Jeff and Joanne dug into:

The Why Behind the Work

Jeff shared a bit of their personal background, touching on how childhood experiences with food insecurity drove their initial interest in urban agriculture and community building. At REWILD, we fundamentally believe that a landscape should do more than just look pretty—it should actively support life, from the soil microbes all the way up to local wildlife. Whether it's weaving in underappreciated native fruit trees like the Pawpaw or building out a food forest, our goal is to help clients rebuild a meaningful connection with nature right outside their door.

Myth: Small = Easy

One of the biggest misconceptions in traditional landscaping is that smaller garden beds automatically mean less work. Jeff and Joanne talked about how larger, densely planted beds can actually be much lower maintenance over time compared to tight, narrow planting strips surrounded by turf. Jeff also explained why we are such massive advocates for using native plugs for large meadow projects. While they require a bit of patience at the start, plugs generally adapt quickly and tend to form much more resilient, cooperative plant communities than mature nursery stock.

Smarter Hardscapes & Managing Water

You know we love our rough cedar and Quebec sandstone! Jeff talked about why we consciously choose natural materials over traditional interlock, which aligns so much better with our ecological values. They also touched on keeping rainwater on-site. By utilizing features like rain gardens, permeable bases, and dry creek beds, we can often help manage stormwater beautifully—especially when paired with Ottawa’s Rain Ready program.

Ready to ditch the sterile lawn and build something wilder? From native meadows to heavy natural hardscapes, we can help you bring the wild back to your space. Reach out to book an ecological consultation 🌱