Meet Gail
Hello, I'm Gail Bolin and I would like to share with you some of my background and why Earth Wise Northwest is important to me. I grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Missouri, nurtured by parents who probably had never heard the word sustainable, yet that's the way we lived every day. We grew our own vegetables and fruit, had plenty of fresh, raw, milk for drinking and cream for making butter, and enjoyed free range chickens for eggs and meat. We supplemented our diet with freshly caught fish and wild game. Fence rows were filled with native flowers and shrubs; the fields were separated with multiple rows of shrubs and trees, tall grasses and wildflowers - all providing habitat for the local wildlife as well as the cattle.
Nothing was wasted: vegetable scraps were tossed to the chickens, meat scraps to the dog and barn cats, composted manure was spread over the fields, the orchard and the garden - there was no need to purchase expensive synthetic fertilizers. As I remember, insects didn't pose any real problems, probably because enough birds, lizards and frogs were around to keep them in check. Good thing too, because my father was adamantly opposed to the use of insecticides that some of our neighbors were using to eradicate unwanted pests. When I asked why, he said "if it kills the bugs, what is it going to do to us?" It was a good life!
As I grew older, I wanted to see the world. I left the farm, married and became a travel agent. I visited many foreign lands; it was fun and interesting. However, the more I looked around my world the more I realized how far I had moved away from nature. As a result, I returned to school to gain a better under-standing of the natural world. I loved learning, and I ended up with a master's degree in environmental science from the University of Idaho.
After all my travels and advanced education, I have come to realize that my parents had it right all those many years ago. They lived a sustainable lifestyle and flourished. Though, money was not always in abundance, we always had plenty of fresh, wholesome food, clean air to breathe and healthy water to drink.
Earth Wise Northwest is more than a landscape design company: it's a way of life! I take pleasure in helping to restore the land to a more natural state - one that is rich in biodiversity, enhances the life cycle of local wildlife and is aesthetically appealing. Ecologically designed landscapes are healthy for the community and beneficial to the environment. Your garden can be alive with native and migratory birds, butterflies, bees and other beneficial wildlife; it can be an escape from the stresses of life instead of being a part of your stress.
Native plants play an important role in ecologically designed landscapes because plants that are indigenous to your area are adapted to the local conditions. When properly selected for the site, they do not need fertilizers or pesticides, and once their root system develops (1-2 growing seasons), native plants usuallly do not need any supplemental water. Furthermore, research shows that the diversity of animals in an area is very closely linked to the diversity of plants. This is because animals directly or indirectly depend on plants for their food and shelter. In a landscape dominated by turf-grass and alien ornamental plants; birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife will have a difficult time finding what they need to survive.
Environmental stewardship is fast becoming one of the most important issues of our time. I believe in working with nature to create landscapes that not only add beauty, but also benefit the environment. I look forward to working with you to create your own special landscape!