Ecological Landscape Alliance | A day with Design Wild at Stone Barns

Landscapes as Essential Groundwork for our Future | Stewardship, Community, Native Plantings, & the Work of Becoming Kin Again

As we move into a new age of ecological landscaping, how do we rethink our residential and civic landscapes so that they actively support biodiversity, climate resilience, and community wellbeing? As horticulture professionals, we have an essential role in the future of our world. Drawing from real-world projects and community-based design work, this workshop will explore practical approaches to creating beautiful, functional gardens that wildly expand biodiversity while connecting the human spirit back to the natural world.
Participants will gain inspiration and actionable strategies for transforming landscapes from resource consumers to ecosystem contributors, strengthening connections between people and the natural realm while centering a changing world, biodiversity, and community action. We will explore real-life challenges and strategies for maintaining these ecological gardens and how to better connect design and care professionals for long-term success. We will learn how to build healthy ecosystems while at the same time connecting people back to the rhythms of the seasons, healing spirit, and building community and equity along the way. 


Walking the property at Stone Barns mid workshop, participants will enjoy a guided landscape tour of the property with real-life success and challenges on plant choices and 10+ years of garden trails from in-house staff.

June 24, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture

630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY 10591

Learning objectives:     

  • Incorporate native plants into tough and unlikely spaces, bringing them into residential, suburban, containerized, and urban landscapes. 

  • Building new and improved management skills on how to tend and care for these changing spaces as designers and gardeners, while educating clients along the way

  • Building joy and fun, seasonal celebration, and a memory of our natural rhythms into our work for long-term success & well-being

  • Building skills and systems for working with the community

CEUs are being sought from:

  • Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD)

  • Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional (CNLP)

  • Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA/CES)

  • More coming soon

Meet Your Instructor:

Registration Closes: June 15, 2026

  • 25 tickets are available for this exclusive workshop