Westwood Residence

Inspired by Permaculture

Located in Westwood, MA, this vibrant, evolving outdoor landscape utilizes permaculture principles as inspiration for the programming and plant selection.  The front lawn was replaced with a sweeping native meadow, supporting local pollinators.  A new step stone path leads to retaining walls built with local stone and gardens that frame the front of the home, decentralizing vehicular access and expanding the experience of the front entry. Behind the home, two courtyards nestled in native gardens overlook enclosed raised garden beds, a garden shed with wood storage, a fire burn circle, composting system and a wetland buffer. Granite steps wander through ‘Blueberry Hill’ where high bush blueberry, low bush blueberry, sumac, native geramium and sweet fern mingle together in a plant community that provides both berries and scarlet red fall color.  Edible perennial plants structure the new landscape include rhubarb hedges, gooseberries, paw paws, ramps and American persimmon.

After working closely with the owners to design a space that would accommodate their family and 2 energetic dogs, Offshoots provided full Construction Documentation and Construction Observation services for the landscape including assistance with Conservation Commission permitting. Offshoots’ installation team installed the planting softscape work, sourcing many edible plants from several different restoration nurseries to maximize genetic diversity of the nursery stock.  Offshoots continues to complete landscape management services for the property for the meadows to become well established and Invasive species to be eliminated over a 3-5 year period with interplanting of new native vegetation with increased ecological services.