Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada takes us on a road trip to San Francisco to help a homeowner renovate her front yard. Homes in California are highly susceptible to wildfires, so Jenn enlists the help of a local expert to design a safe landscape that is filled with fire-resistant plants while also meeting the homeowner’s tastes and needs.
Next, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows us a unique approach to landscape clearing. Rather than letting plants overgrow and create fire hazards, Richard introduces us to a non-profit that brings goats to a homeowner’s yard to clean the brush and create a naturally clean environment (complete with compost!).
Finally, we tag along with general contractor Tom Silva to see how a home can be fire-hardened in wildfire-prone areas. Tom meets with an expert specializing in fire hardening to add the proper vents, gutter guards, and screening to protect the home from flying embers.
How to Firescape a Yard
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada takes us on a road trip to San Francisco to help a homeowner renovate her front yard. Homes in California are highly susceptible to wildfires, so Jenn enlists the help of a local expert to design a safe landscape that is filled with fire-resistant plants while also meeting the homeowner’s tastes and needs.
Where to find it?
California Flora Nursery is a nursery in Northern California that specializes in the harvesting, propagating, and distributing native-only plant species. Owner Josh Williams recommends a number of plants for the project, including:
These plants can be found at local nurseries and some can be found in home centers.
Jenn then worked with April Owens Designs to create a “firewise” landscape. For the stones, Jenn and April installed the following:
- Crushed stone, for the base
- 1-½ ft Yosemite tan decorative stone for the patio area
- Small Noiyo cobbles, for the walkway and accent area around the patio.
Each of these stone types can be found at certain garden centers and landscape supply stores.
Expert assistance with this project was provided by E. Lopez Landscaping and Pollinate Collective, LLC.
Understanding Goat Grazing
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows us a unique approach to landscape clearing. Rather than letting plants overgrow and create fire hazards, Richard introduces us to a non-profit that brings goats to a homeowner’s yard, where they clean the brush and create a naturally clean environment (complete with compost!).
Where to find it?
Richard partnered with City Grazing, a non-profit based out of San Francisco that rents goats to businesses and homeowners for challenging weeding projects. Properties with existing fencing can be done more easily, but properties without fencing can install a temporary fence for additional costs.
How to Harden Your Home
General contractor Tom Silva learns how a home can be fire-hardened in wildfire-prone areas. Tom meets with an expert specializing in fire hardening to add the proper vents, gutter guards, and screening to protect the home from flying embers.
Where to find it?
Tom partnered with Vulcan Vent, a company that specializes in installing fire-safe vents that help prevent wildfire embers from infiltrating more vulnerable parts of the home. As part of the retrofit, Tom saw a gable vent, a foundation vent, a gutter guard, and a deck screen all get installed.
Special assistance was provided by FireStorm, New Cal Metals, Inc., and Vulcan Vent.
Original Air Date: Feb 22, 2023, Season 22; Ep. 16 23:42
Products and services from this episode
- Nursery: California Flora Nursery
- Landscape design assistance: April Owens Designs
- Expert assistance:
E. Lopez Landscaping
Pollinate Collective, LLC. - Goat rental organization: City Grazing
- Fireproofing assistance:
FireStorm
New Cal Metals, Inc.
Vulcan Vent
