Green Infrastructure

What is Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure that improves the urban environment gets at the very root of what has driven Sustainable Solano since we first started — the idea of regenerative and restorative approaches to our environment that help to strengthen our communities. We want to build the capacity of our communities to develop and pursue solutions that will make physical, social, economic and cultural environments stronger.

Toward that end, our green infrastructure programs focus on the individual, neighborhood and community scale to restore natural processes to the environment through introducing cooperative plants, mulch and water-collecting landscape features to better spread and sink stormwater, build healthy soil, support cleaner air and water and create habitat. These green infrastructure efforts harness natural systems to build a healthier urban environment.

Since the first community gardens, we have drawn a connection between attention to the earth and collaboration among people. For our Sustainable Backyards program, a key component was bringing together community members and building green infrastructure skills through workshops creating food forest gardens. We are growing beyond single backyards to create urban forests and public gardens that feed neighborhoods, conserve water and trap carbon. And our Resilient Neighborhoods program helps neighbors come together to put those regenerative efforts to use on a larger, community-wide scale.

Know a property that would be a great fit for one of our programs? Fill out our Sustainable Landscaping Interest Form here.

8,041

Workshop/event participants since 2015

68

Sustainable gardens installed

4M

Annual water impact (gallons)

409

Trees planted

Solano Sustainable Backyards

Demonstration food forest gardens using sustainable landscaping techniques to create vibrant, abundant gardens.

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Resilient Neighborhoods

Neighbors working together to create environmentally and socially resilient community hubs.

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Community Gardens

These edible gardens supply fresh produce to the communities they serve

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HOA Projects

Creating sustainable, beautiful and cost-saving landscapes in HOA common areas.

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City Projects

These projects were done in partnership with Solano cities

Additional Resources

 

News and Updates

Doing Good: Thistle

Doing Good: Thistle

Sustainable Solano is naming Thistle as a recipient of our Doing Good business recognition award. Thistle is an example of a local business that exemplifies the permaculture principles that guide Sustainable Solano’s work and that we want to recognize in others: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share, or taking care of the planet, taking care of employees and supporting local communities.

Doing Good: Morningsun Herb Farm

Doing Good: Morningsun Herb Farm

Sustainable Solano is naming Morningsun Herb Farm as a recipient of our Doing Good business recognition program. Their commitment to Earth Care and Fair Share is evident in every corner of the farm.

Solano’s 3rd Permaculture Design Course Starts in August

Solano’s 3rd Permaculture Design Course Starts in August

We are excited to have Anne Freiwald and Lydia Neilsen of Vital Cycles return this summer for our next Permaculture Design Certificate course in Benicia — starting Aug. 23! In this blog, Anne and Lydia reflect on past programs, talk about what will be covered in this year’s program, and we share a few videos and upcoming talks.