Eco-chic  – The Wright Scoop

New Column by Sylvia Wright

Are we, as a Community, contributing to the eco-health or demise of community green?

As the fifth generation caretaker for a property once called the Bolton Estate, I have a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the ongoing effect of urban/suburban runoff and pollution. Once a pristine spring-fed natural pool, the property’s central lake presently serves as a storm water reservoir. On the other hand, it also serves as one of the few remaining green corridors – a habitat. So, I’ve made a commitment to develop personal eco-awareness.

Through participating in the state of Virginia master gardener program and attending landscape design courses and workshops, I’ve acquired stewardship and environmental land use strategies, solicited a national habitat designation for the property and acquired an open space preservation easement. Continually, I strive to identify and implement strategies that enable the area’s eco-health, but my effort is that of only one resident. To insure the eco-health of a Community green space corridor, it requires the committed effort of all.

Initially, media referred to my activities as the by-product of a naturalist perspective. When I contributed to statewide Virginia media publications, I became known as eco-wise. Then, after publishing a back-page column in the D.C. area, my efforts were referred to as eco-savvy. I’ve recently acquired the label eco-chic as a result of annually participating as a speaker for the DC Green Festival. Nevertheless, regardless of eco-term used to label my activities, I simply want people to hear my message – whether experienced or a novice, the challenge for present-day communities is to create a landscape from an eco-point of view, a “waste not, and want not” ecological commitment: be caretakers for the environmental community. For, there are strategies that not only recover but prevent the demise of Community green.

In my newly published book, From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: landscape green, I encourage the use of green-scaping concepts: build and maintain healthy soil, install the right plant for site requirements; and during seasonal appropriate cycles, be water wise, adopt earth-friendly pest and weed management, and implement natural lawn care. I also encourage a phased approach toward the implementation of ‘R’ philosophy: reduce, renew, reuse and recycle; specifically, advocating ‘put green’ back into the urban/suburban community. For, as urban/suburban Communities, we need to rethink how land is developed; and perhaps, more importantly, become aware of the eco-consequences of individual choices.

We have the opportunity to accept personal accountability, educate ourselves and implement strategies that create eco-healthy spaces. While you may not have the benefit of a ‘bird’s eye view’ to daily remind you of the demise of Community green, there are tools available such as eco-footprint, which measures conservation, that help enable personal awareness. Participating in this survey not only helps identify your eco status but where and how you presently fall short.

So, the question is, “Related to your eco-status, are you contributing to the demise or eco-health of Community green?” To share comments, ideas or strategies on this or similar topics, contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Together, let’s identify column topics that enable an awareness of Community green, create a legacy of eco-healthy spaces.

-------

About the author – Sylvia Hoehns Wright, recipient of the Turning America from Eco-weak to Eco-chic Award, specializes in eco landscape/garden strategies. For details, see web site www.TheWrightScoop.com or to acquire assistance, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 804-672-6007.