example projects

A collection of ecosystem success stories organized by priority, key features, and budget.

what factors influence my budget?

Four primary factors influence total project cost:  Setting & Size, Portion of Lot Impacted, Full Design or No Design, and the Amount & Type of Feature.

Continue below to get an idea of what is possible given three different budget ranges, organized by the top priority between Beauty, Food, and Habitat.

$3K - $10K Projects

Please check back later. This section is coming soon!

big ecosystem, tiny space

$ 0 k
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0 ac
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different species

project story

Sam’s yard is tiny, but she wanted it to become her tiny little slice of privacy and abundance. She now feels like she lives in a little fairy grotto, removed from the city. Sam freely grabs a few things to use for dinner and cuts some flowers to place in the kitchen to keep the place feeling alive.

  • Ohio - 55b Eastern Corn Belt Plains

key features

  • Cedar Raised Beds & Planter Boxes
  • Pergola Vine Cover
  • Edible Landscaping
  • Mushroom Bed

“My boring little back patio is now an enchanting and abundant garden complete with herbs, fruit trees, veggies and even mushrooms! All in about 400sf of space. Thank you Thrive Lot and Doug!”

Sam R.

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habitat nestled in an HOA

$ 0 k
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0 ac
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different species

project story

Ellen wants to convert the small, fenced-in back and side yards of her condo into a beautiful, diverse, and food-producing landscape with special consideration for the heavy traffic from her two dogs. She’s particularly interested in learning about the types of fruits she can grow and the possibility of a vine patio canopy.

key features

  • Kitchen Garden
  • Herb Garden
  • Food Forest
  • Rain Garden
  • No-Mow Lawn
  • Crop Garden

“I love my yard. We’re attracting back birds and wildlife!”

Ellen N.

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$10K - $25K Projects

poolside ecosystem

$ 0 k
starting budget
0 ac
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project story

Anastassia came to Thrive Lot to build a partnership for dreaming big with a holistic vision and plan for converting her property into a beautiful, diverse, and productive foodscape that enhances the preservation of their 70s ranch home, replaces the lawn with natives, maintains existing productivity of garden beds, and includes a native fruit forest. Her priorities were sharing food abundance with friends and neighbors, feeding wildlife and pollinators, and having rare, healthy foods that are pesticide free.

key features

  • Kitchen Garden
  • Living Wildlife Barrier
  • Exotic & Weird Plants
  • Pollinators
  • Covered Compost Station

“My backyard now has not only the beautiful aesthetic look I wanted, but also herbs, veggies, bees, birds and butterflies! Finding Thrive Lot and Mike was perfect, because they care about the planet and living things just like I do and are careful to always support wildlife and nature with no chemicals.”

Anastassia L.

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suburban secret garden

0 ac
property size
$ 0 k
starting budget
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different species

project story

Leigh wanted to create a “secret garden” of native perennials and some food in her backyard. Her home is in a newer development where most of the topsoil has been stripped away and covered with Bermuda grass. Leigh had some planting/gardening experience but didn’t know how to work with her soil and needed someone to help who would teach her along the way. Her goal was to start eliminating mowing in her backyard entirely. She is now several steps ahead of the game after working with her perfect match, Biodesic Strategies, who made her vision real.

  • Biodesic Strategies
  • Arkansas - 38b Lower Boston Mountains
  • Rainwater Infilitration
  • Medicine
  • Food
  • Hugelkultur Beds
  • Wildflower Meadow
  • Native Pollinator Habitat

additional benefits

  • Nutrient Accumulation
  • Insectory
  • Nitrogen Fixation
  • Aromatic Pest Confuser
  • Flood Mitigation
  • Mosquito Deterrent

Designed by:  Tas Zinck & Chase Jones

$25K - $75K Projects

rural habitat in ohio

$ 0 k
starting budget
0 ac
property size
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project story

Doug moved to the countryside on 2 acres and wanted to create a habitat that would attract a variety of wildlife, feed pollinators, and create enough fruit and vegetables that he could eat and also even sell some locally. Throughout the design process, a pond, forest garden, pollinator habitat, and firepit area came to light as top priorities.
  • Ohio - 55b Eastern Corn Belt Plains
  • Erik Peterson

key features

  • Water Habitat & Conservation
  • Raised Beds
  • Firepit Patio
  • Native Pollinator Habitat

The guys that Thrive Lot contracted with in Ohio are AMAZING! They're polite, knowledgeable and incredibly hard working! Everything is coming together nicely....and when they're done they'll be taking a drone photograph and walk me through the long-term care and maintenance of my amazing food-producing back yard!

Doug R.

Where once was a plain grass lawn that provided nearly zero ecological services, there’s now a diverse, multi-story #foodforest , #gardenbeds , #masonry area, #pond , and an array of other #nativepollinatorplants . Even the #monarchs love to visit now! The frogs and Dragonflies have taken to the pond already, and a Blue Heron has been seen stopping through. We simply set the table for life, and she always shows... This install was made possible by our ongoing collaborative partnership with @thrivelot . If you’d like to book us, or someone with similar ecological values in your area, give them a ring!

Erik Peterson

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rural farmhouse

0 ac
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$ 0 k
starting budget
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plants installed
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different species

project story

Molly, her husband, and her 3 very small children moved into the property this past September. In her words, she is “not a farmer or gardener in the least” and the previous owners really let the landscape go. She read about permaculture and didn’t want to plant anything invasive or harmful and wants to make sure she is improving her land and not deteriorating the soil. Her immediate priorities were to improve the landscape bed and create an orchard. She also wanted to reduce the amount of yard for her husband to mow.

Susan Weber & Trish Clark formed the project team and delivered thoughtful solutions to meet and enhance Molly’s vision. After a successful installation, Trish is serving as Steward to cultivate and expand the holistic ecosystem.

  • Integrity Sustainable Planning & Design - Susan Weber
  • Pollination, Inc. - Trish Clark
  • Ohio - 55b Loamy, High Lime Till Plains
  • Rainwater Catchment
  • Native Pollinator Habitat
  • Fruit & Berries
  • Galvanized Planter Boxes
  • Wildflower Meadow & Cut Flowers
  • Deer Resistant Meadow
  • Flagstone & Gravel Paths

concept & design

  • Deer & Wildlife Pressure Resistance
  • Fences & Barriers
  • Dwarf Fruit Trees

Designed by:  Susan Weber

recent testimonials

"We are so pleased with this project! It has transformed our outdoor space and we are excited to get more veggies in the beds and watch the new plants grow! We've already placed the grill and fire pit, too, and the kids are thrilled with their new play space. The crew was incredibly kind, professional, respectful, skilled, and fun to be around. Thank you!"
Kelly W.Georgia
“My boring little back patio is now an enchanting and abundant garden complete with herbs, fruit trees, veggies and even mushrooms! All in about 400sf of space. Thank you Thrive Lot and Doug!”
Sam R.Ohio
“Everything has gone very well! We are so pleased with the final install and our interactions with the team. I can’t wait for the cisterns to see some action so we can try those out!”
Ann H.Ohio
“I can’t begin to express how pleased we are with the first phase of the installation, it’s really very exciting. Just came in from looking at the Edible Edge and things are really starting to flourish!” CEO of MODS
Joe C.Museum of Discovery & Science
“The guys that Thrive Lot contracted with in Ohio are AMAZING! They're polite, knowledgeable and incredibly hard working! Everything is coming together nicely....and when they're done they'll be taking a drone photograph and walk me through the long-term care and maintenance of my amazing food-producing back yard!”
Douglas R.Ohio
“We have taken many videos of the property but plan to take more as we bet the Spring will be pretty spectacular! Thanks for connecting us with Melissa, she’s been a joy to work with and we are so happy with the installation!”
Connie S.Arkansas
“We are so pleased with the results of our edible oasis. Our daughters love the Kid’s Exploration area along with all of the new plantings on the property which is a big plus! Thank you for the incredible work!”
Mary Ann B.Ohio
“This is amazing! Investing in hiring Brandon through Thrive Lot to create permaculture garden plans saved me 5 years of googling, note taking, and guessing about what I’d like to create on my property. The process has felt completely supported from start to finish as Brandon was able to ask questions that drew out my aspirations and creativity in a way that allowed him to capture them in a plan that is beautiful, functional and feels attainable. I can’t wait to see it come to fruition in the near future!”
Lauren M.Pennsylvania
“My backyard now has not only the beautiful aesthetic look I wanted, but also herbs, veggies, bees, birds and butterflies! Finding Thrive Lot and Mike was perfect, because they care about the planet and living things just like I do and are careful to always support wildlife and nature with no chemicals.”
Anastassia L.Georgia
“We’ll have more fruit, nuts and berries in the next few years than the local grocery might! Working with Thrive Lot and Brandon helped to collaborate on what to plant and get the massive project done on time and budget. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my food production on this beautiful land!”
Paula M.Pennsylvania
"I’m probably the most emotional client y’all have ever had but the day we spent yesterday filled my soul; the kids and I felt seen. Cherished. For holding these values that no one else values. Elli was so excited to show off her knowledge of plant and animal systems. She asked such good questions and instead of scorn or eye rolls, this crew just put her to work and talked with her like a person. They were a perfect match for us."
Kim M.Arkansas

what can I get?

A lush diversity of mostly perennial, native flowering plants that bloom early spring through late fall to provide maximum food for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Cut flowers year round and enjoy a beautiful winter garden! Also attracts beneficial insects that eat garden pests.

pollinator gardens

  • bees
  • biodiversity
  • no-mow
  • blooms

A lush diversity of mostly perennial, native flowering plants that bloom early spring through late fall to provide maximum food for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Cut flowers year round and enjoy a beautiful winter garden! Also attracts beneficial insects that eat garden pests.

Starting with fruit, nut, or supporting trees that will grow large (50+ ft. tall at maturity), layered underneath with subcanopy fruit, nut, or supporting trees (less than 30 ft. tall at maturity), layered with berry or supporting shrubs, and surrounded by supporting or edible herbaceous plants, vines, and rooting tubers.

Food Forest Guilds

  • wildlife
  • food
  • biodiversity
  • low-maintenance
  • privacy