Conscious building with the landscape in mind

When I was a kid, my parents encouraged me to play and work outside.  We couldn't come in until it was dark out.  We weren't allowed to play until our chores were done.  That taught me responsibility and respect for the land.  I loved climbing trees, building forts in the woods and digging in the garden.  My parents taught me value for the land and how to use it wisely.  They showed me how to grow vegetables and beautiful flowers that would sustain our family.  I am so grateful for my parents and all the wonderful lessons, wise information they shared with me.  At the time, I wasn't so happy that I couldn't play with my friends down the road who had tons of dolls and toys that I didn't have.  Now, I am glad I wasn't like the "Jones."  It taught me to be self-sufficient and unique.  To find my own interests and voice and how to entertain myself with what was around me.  It taught me to be creative and conscious. 

After dinner, my mom and I would take the dog out for a walk through our neighborhood and look at all the houses and say hello to our neighbors.  I grew up in the suburbs and I would always come home and admire our house because it was unique and beautiful with all the gardens.  The house may have been the same shape, but it was different because of the landscaping.  We had spruce trees as a border between our neighbors (a natural fence), oaks in the back, a japanese maple on the side of the house, a crab apple and a sugar maple in the front.  The foliage and blooms were gorgeous throughout the seasons.  I remember my dad giving the crab apple too short of a hair cut one spring and I cried because it didn't bloom quite the same after that.  I loved climbing both of those trees in the front yard.

So last week, when i took a walk in my neighborhood, up North Mountain Road in Canton, I was shocked when I saw a beautiful wooded lot totally clear cut.  It broke my heart that so many trees were cut down senselessly without considering all the wildlife that once inhabited those woods.  The beauty of the landscape that neighbors across the street and passerbys once enjoyed.  The support system from the roots of the trees that are so essential in soaking up groundwater, especially on a steep hill.  See, I live at the bottom of the hill.  Where there is open surface, water travels the path of least resistance.  I watched a house go up next door to this lot in a similar fashion 3 years ago.  The lot was cleared and they put the driveway in the same direction as the downhill flow of the road.  Big mistake.  Their land and driveway washed out into the road and in winter it left huge ice sheaths going all the way to the bottom of the hill to Rt. 179.  Now the house going up next door will add extra water to the natural flow of the hill with no trees to support the land and soak up water.  So my point is, let's take the landscape into consideration.  Build wisely and to the shape of the landscape.  Point your house in the direction of the sun to use our natural resources wisely.  There are excavators out there who work consciously with the land to build that dream home you want.  Think before you act and destroy. 

Last year, I admired the woods that were once in this same location.  The beauty inspired me to do a shoot there.  Below is a before and after picture of the same piece of land.  What do you prefer and how do you think this could have been done differently.  Let's be creative, not like everyone else.  Bigger isn't better.  Think of the consequences to the animals, plants and trees, your neighbors and the roads we all share that get chewed up with more water getting under the surface and lifting the pavement.  More taxpayer dollars to fix our roads.