Tjaden Design Associates

01/24/2019

We're hiring! Multiple positions available for full and part-time landscape architects & designers!! Contact us for additional information.

01/24/2019

2019 will be a great year! The Tjaden family is growing and we're planning major projects at the new Tjaden Farmstead. Our farm will be a playground for exploring innovative agriculture as we also focus on restoring environmental health and enhance native habitat. The triple bottom line is growing. Stay tuned for exciting projects!

01/24/2019

Order of Omega Walkway of Honor Phase 1 photos.

08/23/2018

“They have outfits for people who can’t resonate”
- Morgan Freeman on the topic of beekeeper suits

Did you know? Starting in 2014, Morgan Freeman has been a beekeeper. Check out this video clip! Freeman describes his beekeeper role to Jimmy Fallon 2 weeks after getting his first bees on his Mississippi ranch, which he has converted into a wild bee sanctuary.

I’m over here hoping that he creates a documentary, narrated by him of course, about the bees. And here’s why - I want this whole bee sanctuary thing to catch on. We need our pollinators. We can all do our part to help the bee population by setting up our own mini to large scale bee sanctuaries.

Contact me for a free consultation at [email protected] or at 410-268-1283.

https://inhabitat.com/morgan-freeman-converts-his-mississippi-ranch-into-a-giant-sanctuary-for-wild-bees/

08/17/2018

I can, you can, and chicken too.

Seriously, you can.

Backyard chickens have been a fruitful hobby for me for years. Starting this summer, my wife and I had the flock-pportunity (can’t help it!) to grow! We moved onto 5 acres of land and added two ducks and a goose to the group. Here are a few snapshots from the fun we’ve been having!

It has been an absolute ball! (A fowl ball!)

Not only has been it been a great way to make the most of our beautiful property and generate eggs for our family and friends, it’s also been a way to connect to nature. It creates that sense of fulfillment that comes from nurturing a living being from the very beginning and watching it grow to maturity.

Would you like to use your land to create something productive and meaningful? Would you like to be more connected to the food you eat and feed your family?

I’d love to help you bring that dream to life! Contact me for a free consultation at [email protected] or at 301-253-1702.

Backyard chickens, ducks, and geese! Fun, productive, and meaningful.

08/17/2018

Backyard chickens, ducks, and geese! Fun, productive, and meaningful.

08/09/2018

Check it out!

Carin Celebuski, owner of Ladybrook Farm and friend of Tjaden Design Associates, was quoted last month in the Washington Post! Adrian Higgins’ article describes ways to create a honey bee-friendly habitat in our home gardens.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-rewarding-buzz-of-seeing-bees-at-work/2018/07/17/892ed486-83b1-11e8-9e80-403a221946a7_story.html?utm_term=.aeb4536b57fb

Why do honey-bees matter?

“One out of every three bites of food we eat is a result of pollinators like honey bees, and crops like blueberries and cherries are 90 per cent dependent on pollination. Honey bees are so important that farmers often have bee hives transported and then placed on their farm to provide pollination for their crops.”

https://www.beesmatter.ca/why-are-honey-bees-important-to-crops-and-farmers/

Feeling inspired? I’d love to help you create a honey bee friendly environment in your home garden or farm! Contact me for a free consultation at [email protected] or at 410-268-1283.

Select the right blooms, provide water and avoid pesticides to help happy pollinators.

08/01/2018

Check out this great piece from Freakonomics Radio. In this episode, the hosts interviewed people researching and working on shifting America’s lawn care habits. What an interesting FIELD of study!

http://freakonomics.com/podcast/how-stupid-obsession-lawns/

You will be shocked to find out the statistics on water usage and the environmental impact of America’s obsession with lawns.

One individual highlighted in the episode is “Front Yard Farmer” Jim Kovaleski from Florida who turned his yard and his mother’s yard into productive farm spaces. He estimates that this year he will take in $35,000 from his front yard farming sales alone!

It really makes you think about what’s possible when you give your yard a makeover.

Join the Front Yard Garden Revolution!

Are you interested in getting on the front yard farm bandwagon? Contact me for a free consultation at [email protected] or at 410-268-1283.

07/26/2018

Right about now you’re probably feeling tired of all of this rain - and so is your land!

Within this very rainy season in the mid-atlantic is a great opportunity - adding a rain garden to your property! You can help the environment, protect your land, and possibly even get some money back from your local government for installing and maintaining it.

Check out this resource from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to learn more about the uses and features of rain gardens:

“Rain gardens are an easy and effective tool that we can use to help reduce stormwater runoff from residential properties… Their design allows the rain garden to serve almost as a bowl that collects water from downspouts or overland flow across a property. The water is then able to slowly infiltrate into the underlying soil. Rain gardens can come in all different shapes and sizes but are best when planted with native plants that are indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These plants require little maintenance once established, have deep roots that soak up lots of water, provide food and habitat to wildlife, and are beautiful.”

Feeling inspired? I’d love to help you plan and install your rain garden! Contact me for a free consultation at [email protected] or at 410-268-1283.

Learn, act, and make a difference

07/11/2018

Congratulations DC Area!

Washington, DC and Arlington, VA are rated in the top 4 best cities for parks according to the Trust for Public Land.

The Trust for Public Land released their 2018 “ParkScore”. They ranked the 100 largest cities in the US by how well these cities meet their residents’ need for parks. Washington, DC moved up from last year from #4 to #3 - beating out San Francisco - and Arlington, VA hopped from #6 to #4!

The Trust for Public Land assessed and compared the acreage, investment, and amenities of these park systems. In addition, they took a look at what percentage of people can walk to a public park in 10 minutes. The Trust for Public Land is leading a campaign to encourage more cities to aim for 100% park access.

This campaign is another reminder to me about just how much green space matters. Access to green space improves wellbeing and brings communities together. Check out the ParkScore rankings to learn more!

https://www.tpl.org/node/104166/ .0000063ud3ktvf0krr724rtaos9p7

07/03/2018

Happy holiday week everyone! The team at Tjaden Design Associates wishes you a wonderful 4th of July.

Are you hosting a July 4th celebration? This is the season for backyard quality time with friends and family. It’s a great time to dream up your ideal gathering space for you and your loved ones. Take a scroll through these beautiful images and get inspired. Your outdoor space can be a peaceful oasis, an exciting party setting, or a play zone depending on the design. Which ones speak to you?

https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/outdoor-ideas/g1243/amazing-backyard-escapes-0512/?slide=25

Want to transform your outdoor space? Contact me for a free consultation at [email protected] or at 410-268-1283.

Get away from it all (without leaving your home).