Community work · Cleveland
Healing Cleveland's ecosystems, together.
Real change happens neighborhood by neighborhood. Here's where we've been getting our hands dirty, from an east side urban farm to native habitat along Doan Brook.
Ongoing
Vel's Purple Oasis
Vel's Purple Oasis is a one-acre urban farm on Cleveland's east side. As part of Vel Scott's nonprofit, Healthy You, it has grown fresh produce for its neighbors and the greater Cleveland area for more than 15 years.
Ryan ran the farm for two and a half years before founding Urban Permascapes, and we still help it thrive: expanding growing space, planting wildflowers for pollinators, and pitching in wherever the season needs it.
Past project
Hydroponics in the high tunnel
To stretch the Oasis's growing season and space, we built hydroponic systems inside its high tunnel: NFT rails for leafy greens and Kratky buckets for tomatoes.
It was a first step toward helping other Cleveland community organizations grow more food in less space, with methods that work where soil is poor or ground is scarce.
Restoration volunteering
Native habitat along Doan Brook.
Ryan has volunteered with two Doan Brook Watershed Partnership groups that restore native habitat along Doan Brook and the Lower Shaker Lakes by removing invasive plants and planting natives.
Friends of Lower Lake
Volunteers restoring native plants and wildlife around Lower Lake and the surrounding Doan Brook watershed.
Learn moreFriends of Doan Brook Gorge
Stewardship days in the Doan Brook Gorge, clearing invasive species and planting natives along the stream.
Learn moreWant to volunteer? Both groups welcome new helpers. Visit their pages for upcoming work days.
What clients say
We hired Urban Permascapes to replace our front lawn with native plants, install a rain barrel, and set up a compost system. We could not be more pleased with the results. The experience was great, and I was thoroughly impressed by the 23-page ecology report and design plan Ryan shared with us, including an existing plant inventory highlighting native vs nonnative vs invasive species. He also removed our invasive species, and was all around generous with his knowledge. I'm giddy over our new front yard and cannot wait to watch it grow!
Partner with us
Have a space that could do more?
We work with community gardens, urban farms, nonprofits, schools and places of worship on native plantings, food gardens and invasive removal. Tell us about your space.