March/April 2021 - 32

DRAINAGE
plants to a landscape, versus the conventional landscaping
approach of selecting plants based solely on looks and then
force-fitting them to grow there.
" When possible, we use native plants in our landscapes
because they are perfectly adapted to growing conditions
here in southeast Michigan, " Levine and Kempter
wrote on their website. " They serve various important
ecological functions including adding biological diversity
to oversimplified landscapes and providing food for native
butterflies, pollinators and birds. "
Another option to consider are swales, which basically
look like irrigation channels.
Using the Keyline Design, a grower rips a very narrow,
shallow trench along the contour of the slopes on the property
so there are no directional flows. This spreads the water out
instead of concentrating the water in one spot, Levine said.
Slowing down the advance of the water, allows the water to
absorb into the land, preventing flooding and erosion.
Levine said he recommends the book " Restoration
Agriculture " by Mark Shepard to anyone who wants to learn
more about using the Keyline Design to create swales.
Finally, planting hedgerow trees and shrubs can help
with ecological drainage and water management, Levine
said. They excel at catching and storing water in their
root systems.
Levine said the level of moisture in the area determines
what he recommends. In general, he always thinks of edible
32 MARCH/APRIL 2021
plants first so he suggested researching Elderberry, Hazelnut,
Pawpaw and native Blackcurrant as viable options.
It's important to understand the height of the plants,
however, when planning hedgerow trees and shrubs.
" You are going to end up losing the short stuff beneath, "
Levine said. " You have to really think about how tall the
species get. "
KEEPING ORGANIC AT THE FOREFRONT
Levine warned many ecological restoration companies
will restore natural environments at a hidden cost.
" Most people that practice ecological restoration are
not organic, " Levine said. " They rely heavily on the use of
herbicides. "
He pointed to invasive species as an example. Instead
of pulling the plants out by hand, often companies use
herbicides and cite studies that suggest soil disturbance
could create room for more invasive species.
" I always felt like that was a bit of a cop out, " Levine
said. " They just weren't trying hard enough. "
Looking ahead, Nature and Nurture is committed to
remaining organic and keep sharing their passion with the
community around them.
" We use organic practices which means that we do not
use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, " Levine and Kempter
wrote on their site. " We view landscapes as ecosystems and
use ecological principles to guide our work. "
March/April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March/April 2021
