MARIN COUNTY'S NEWS
MONTHLY - FREE PRESS
(415)868-1600 -
(415)868-0502(fax) - P.O. Box 31, Bolinas, CA, 94924
April, 2005
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Building Natural Backyard Habitats -
one click at a time:
New Online Resource Offers Advice and Products for Creating Garden Ecosystems
Novato, CA - March 8 - New website, www.SuburbanHabitat.com offers the latest
information, professional advice, and hand-picked products to help gardeners
(or the more common weekend warrior) turn their backyards into ecosystems. The
LLC, owned and run by Novato, California residents Mischa and Matt Buchholz, is dedicated to
developing outdoor living spaces by providing the basic elements of life: Food,
Water, and Shelter.
An integrated learning and shopping experience, the site offers information
about backyard ecosystems, and then helps the average gardener create them with
information, products and advice. Expert advice and answers to specific
questions are available by email and phone.
According to owner/landscape designer Matt Buchholz, SuburbanHabitat.com
offers a wide range of hand-picked, natural products and the best tools around.
Birdfeeders and hand-crafted bird houses are available, as are beneficial
insects, seeds, organic fertilizers and even wind chimes. "We answer
people's practical questions, like how to attract butterflies and ladybugs to
the garden, or give tips on installing a koi pond. Integrated pest management
is a hot topic and we love to discuss it with our visitors."
The approach is fresh, new, and long overdue, according to website visitor
Ali Pearson, owner of an organic apple farm in Sebastopol, California. She had this response, "Wow,
it is about time someone did this." Having recently reintroduced fence
lizards on her own property, Ms. Pearson appreciates the natural and holistic
approach offered on the site.
"There are hundreds of habitat building blocks that are innovative, natural
and organic - but they are hard to find in one place," says owner Mischa
Buchholz. "We have spent two years sourcing select products and developing
an interactive website that is user friendly. Now the products, along with the
advice, are easily-accessible spot to everyone in the country."
The site appeals to both experienced gardeners looking for natural and
organic products and the novices looking for guidance and information. Site
visitors will find information, professional advice, and top-notch products
grouped conceptually into eight areas: Food, Water, Shelter, Biobalance,
Harmony, Tools, Recycling and Habitat Development.
The owners hope people will use the site to learn how to explore and
appreciate their own natural surroundings. "There are many ways to enhance
the outdoor living experience," says Matt Buchholz. "Our goal is to
provide the knowledge and resources needed for people to achieve their
visions."