how we work

Eco Echo Studio works in service to the incredible biodiversity and cultures of the Outer Piedmont of the Southeast, echoing ecology and fostering connection. We design our projects from the ground up, according to the unique characteristics of each site and clients’ needs, prioritizing beauty, functionality, and ecology. We believe that every project can have a positive impact that reaches far beyond its borders: on its inhabitants and visitors, neighbors, broader ecological communities, and watershed.

Putting the right plant in the right place translates to lower maintenance, fewer demands on resources, and increased resilience. Designing for stormwater can improve site and watershed conditions, and designing for beauty inspires awe. We try to use or repurpose existing materials onsite as much as possible.

In order to achieve these goals, we work through both artistic design and scientific frames. Assessing topography, hydrology, and soil characteristics like moisture, acidity, and bedrock geology inform what kinds of plant communities will thrive in a specific site. Understanding plant and wildlife relationships informs landscapes that increase biodiversity, and understanding how each plant grows and interacts with others over the course of its life informs designs that bring clients and their neighbors senses of calm and wonder.

We’re not purists, but aiming for 90% eco-regional native species in our designs gives wildlife a chance to flourish. With love to our grandparents’ gardens, we want to design in ways that rise to the challenges we face today and give us hope for a biodiverse and beautiful future.

Starting with an onsite consultation, we’ll walk and talk around your property, reviewing your goals and challenges. I’ll follow up with an estimate, and after that, will return to measure the site and assess it’s soil, moisture, light, and ecological characteristics. After that, we’ll meet to discuss aesthetic direction, site layout, and select hardscaping materials. I’ll translate all of that into a tangible design through sketches, overhead renderings of hardscape, and planting plans.

Installation varies from project to project, but we have the ability to meet whatever garden services the project needs. Details will be discussed throughout the design process and installation will begin after the design is finalized.