Feb 13, 2012

And the GRAY Magazine Design of Choice Goes To...

Image courtesy of Northwest Flower and Garden Show

This year, GRAY was given the great honor to award a display garden at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show a GRAY Magazine 'Design of Choice' Award. On Tuesday before the festivities began, the gang got together to check out all the fabulous gardens put together by many talented designers.

When we came across the garden design by Cascadian Edible Landscapes, we were immediately drawn to the idea of a homesteading family and the vision of a sustainable, functional and community driven lifestyle in an urban environment.From the delightfully re-purposed VW Van, to the inviting communal dining table and variety of edible plants, this garden reflects the contemporary Northwest values of living with purpose and style.

So, it was our pleasure to present Cascadian Edible Landscapes the first GRAY Magazine Design of Choice Award! Congratulations! In their own words:
A critical component of creating sustainable and livable cities is the proliferation of abundant and edible landscapes that reconnect urban dwellers with each other and the sources of their subsidence. The intent of this 99% edible garden is to be food and family oriented. It seeks to engage and delight a younger generation in the natural world, while bringing families and friends together at the table for food and conversation. This garden’s practical design engages all five senses, utilizing creative applications of recycled and affordable materials for today’s cost and environmentally conscious urban homesteading family.
Cascadian Edible Landscapes operates under the idea of "Eat Your Yard," and that's a really forward-thinking way of envisioning where landscaping can and is going in the future. It's becoming more important for families to eat organic, and often growing your own food is a fun, group activity, and cheap way to do it.

Their services range from consulting and design, to landscaping, to garden education. If you've been wanting to revamp your yard and add some places for a garden, don't forget to check out Cascadian Edible Landscapes. You won't regret it!

Feb 7, 2012

"Dear Designer" and NW Flower & Garden Show Giveaway!


Introducing our newest magazine column, "Dear Designer." Think "Dear Abby," but instead with a rotating panel of architects, interior designers, and many more, to be on hand to answer the reader's most burning questions. What are some awesome DIY projects to spruce up your home on a budget? What exactly is Deconstructivist Modern architecture? Is Feng Shui all it's cracked up to be? The sky's the limit, readers!

To kickstart our exciting new column, we're giving away tickets to the Northwest Flower & Garden Show Feb. 8-12! Simply leave a comment with a question for our "Dear Designer" column for a chance to win a set of tickets. The giveaway will run until we've given them all away, so we'll keep you all updated.

GRAY will also present a judged award to one of the Garden Creators (display gardens) called the "GRAY Design of Choice" on Feb. 7th. Our award will recognize the garden with the most creative, forward-thinking design—considering use of materials, spatial composition, uniqueness, functionality, a fresh aesthetic, and overall visual appeal. So all around you don't want to miss it.

We're looking forward to your questions!

**Update: This giveaway is now closed, but we are still taking "Dear Designer" questions! Thank you all for your participation.