What is an EnergyScape?
A good landscape can reduce your carbon footprint by lessening the use of electricity for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter, and can decrease the demand for water, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. At Energyscapes, we use long-lived, native plants in every plan that store carbon in their roots and woody trunks, require little water once established, and support native birds and insects with their seeds, nectar, and berries. All of these benefits reduce pollution and help native wildlife. Landscaping for energy and resource conservation improves our environment as it reduces your monthly utility bills. With over 20 years of experience in the Twin Cities metro area, let EnergyScapes create a design for your property that will allow you time to relax and enjoy the view.
Staff
Douglas Owens-Pike – Chief Ecological Officer
Douglas Owens-Pike founded EnergyScapes in 1989. We promote native plants for energy and water conservation, year-round natural beauty, and to preserve Minnesota’s biodiversity.
Doug’s MS in Plant Ecology (UW – Seattle) resulted in EnergyScapes ecological focus, creating the most durable landscapes requiring the least care. Since 1990 he has been an active member the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA). In 2006, Douglas was appointed to the international Association of Professional Landscape Designers board of directors. He is the founding president of theAPLD chapter in Minnesota. Past APLD annual conferences have taken him to: Pasadena, CA; Seattle, WA; Philadelphia, PA; and Portland, OR in 2009. In addition to awards for his designs, Douglas was named 1997 Ecopreneur of the Year by the MN Environmental initiative.
Douglas is in demand for presentations on a variety of topics related to ecologically based landscaping, including “Visioning How to Create Your Own Sustainable Sacred Space.”
He was selected to represent the Midwest for the “Fine Gardening” magazine special on waterwise garden designs for their April, 2003 issue. In February 2004, Douglas was a featured speaker at a conference for professionals, “Creating Healthy Ecosystems on Suburban Lots.”
His collaboration with MNLA, designing and installing the demonstration garden at the Minnesota State Fair, led to his special service award from the MNLA in 2008. In 2010, the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) recognized the EnergyScapes team with a Merit Award for outstanding design for our project in Eau Claire, WI.
At the March, 2011, MNLA Awards Gala Douglas was recognized as “Designer in Bloom”. A feature about the award was in the June/July issue of “Midwest Home”. It requires at least 15 years of experience and presentation of five projects that demonstrate Doug’s contributions toward advancing the landscape design profession.
Tamara Martin — Ecologist and Project Manager
Tamara Martin graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology. She has spent the last decade working in ecological restoration and natural landscaping throughout the Midwest with non-profit conservation groups, restoration and natural landscaping companies. Her experience includes ecosystem management, installation of Low-Impact Development projects, managing natural areas within city parks, and designing sustainable landscapes for individual homeowners in the Twin Cities. Tamara joined EnergyScapes in 2009 and looks forward to productive future: “I am very excited to work for a company with over 20 years experience creating ecological gardens.” In her free time, Tamara collects native seeds to donate to schools and churches to promote ecological landscaping and wildlife habitat.
Toby Fiske — Site Supervisor
Toby joined Energyscapes in 2009. He is an MNLA Certified Landscaper and brings almost a decade of landscape installation and crew management experience. He particularly loves the art and beauty of natural stonework but his passion is the art of water features from pond free waterfalls of all sizes to small pools and swimming ponds. Having studied the RISE method of water feature design with Rick Bartell of Savio Engineering, Toby can create seamlessly natural water features in almost any setting. Recently, Toby was certified by the National Concrete and Masonry Assoc. as a retaining wall installer. In addition, prior to entering the Green Industry, Toby worked as a blacksmith and farrier and looks forward to bringing his metalwork expertise to create unique and beautiful landscapes of all kinds.
Chris Barber — Ecological Designer
Chris has a degree in Landscape Design and Construction from Hennepin Technical College and a degree in Wilderness Management from Vermilion Community College in Ely, MN. He has been in landscaping around the Twin Cities since 2006. Before that he worked as a National Park Service Park Ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan. There he did hikes, campfire programs, and nature programs for park visitors. Chris is looking forward to bringing all of these experiences together at EnergyScapes to help design and teach ecologically based landscaping. He enjoys using his knowledge of the natural environment to create intelligent designs that can withstand the extremes of Minnesota Weather.
Laura Domyancich – Senior Ecologist
Laura is a graduate of the Ecosystem Restoration program at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. After working in vegetation and restoration research in Colorado, Montana, Massachusetts, and Georgia, and engaging in natural areas restoration in Nebraska and Wyoming, Laura put down roots in Minnesota first taking a position at EnergyScapes in 2008. Starting with the Installation Crew, she later became the Maintenance Crew Leader and held the position of Ecologist until fall of 2010. Laura moved on to work as the Field Coordinator at Great River Greening until June of 2011, and returned to EnergyScapes in the summer of 2011. She is excited to return with a renewed perspective and looks forward to the continued growth and development of EnergyScapes.