Patty Ceglia Ecological Design

Contact Patricia

Phone:  (443) 239-6531
E-MAIL



 

 

 

 

 





"The garden is beautiful.
My yard, which always seemed so ordinary, is now extraordinary! Thank you …for those creative juices that flowed from within to help transform ideas from paper to the finished project ... for the energy and physical manpower needed to do the project…”

A Gunpowder Valley Conservancy program participant
Parkville, Maryland
















“Four years into working with Patricia's plan for our yard, and it continues to be a revelation to see her design take shape and begin to mature. Key, were the practicalities of managing our abundant water supply (we’re the low point on the entire block for water drainage, plus we have an underground spring) with swales and plantings, and enhanced homes for the many medicinal plants. Patricia could see the potential for beauty when I couldn't see beyond tangles of invasive plants!”

Sara Eisenberg
Clinical Herbalist
Baltimore, MD






















"It’s been an opportunity to see ideas, commitment and hard work transform the land before my eyes; to see land that is barren and neglected, trashed, or spoiled, turned into a thing of beauty. …where there was simple turf, a beautiful BayScape/Edible Garden… a work of beauty. Thank you."

A Gunpowder Valley Conservancy program participant
Parkville, Maryland

 

Projects

permaculture design

Urban Permaculture sanctuaryEvesham Urban Sanctuary Baltimore, Maryland

Site: A flat, narrow, urban yard, with a 1920’s bungalow home, is the destination of an entire neighborhood’s stormwater drainage, above and below ground. Flooding was a frequent nuisance.

Vision: The adventurous homeowner, a clinical herbalist, chose to harvest the rainwater, as a resource and to use Permaculture methodology to make over her yard as a sanctuary for medicinal plants/trees and perennial edibles. She sought to transfer nature’s vigorous wild energy, apparent at the wild overgrown rear edge of her lot, to a more functional landscape which could supply some of her basic daily needs.

Design Solution: An initial site analysis revealed sun exposures, tree cover, wind, water and soil conditions, and privacy issues. The design solution optimizes the site’s opportunities and constraints.

Outcome: A healing landscape, replete with over different 100 perennial plants, provides medicine, food, irrigation, serenity, beauty, and vitality. The curiosity of her neighbor has sparked improved communication.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Terraced Rain-scape at Bryn Gweled  Southampton, Pennsylvania

Site: This 2 ½ acre suburban property suffered from stormwater running off an impervious private road. Located in a 70-year old land-trust community, the mid-century modern house, sits just 6” above the ground, in the direct path of periodic flooding.

Vision: The homeowner had cultivated the mostly wooded site as a wildlife habitat. Her dream was to resolve the stormwater issue by expanding her native landscape theme and grow some fruit, while replacing some of her lawn in an aesthetic manner.

Design: A series of terraced planting beds and parallel swales, were constructed along the contours of the sloped yard to intersect stormwater runoff.

terraced rain-scape garden

Outcome: Soon after installation was complete, torrential rains from Hurricane Irene tested the new landscape’s water absorption capability and prevented flooding!

Edible Landscapes

edible landscapeGunpowder Valley Conservancy Preservation Projects  Baltimore suburbs, Maryland

Edible Landscapes have been established for homeowners in the suburban Jennifer Branch, Middle River and Back Bay watersheds of Baltimore, MD. These landscapes were installed in conjunction with educational workshops to train neighbors in the process of productive on-site stormwater management.

Sites: Interested homeowners’ yards are selected based on specific stormwater issues.

Vision: Edible Landscapes are a beautiful way to absorb clean stormwater for fresh organic food production. While recharging the water table, they decrease run-off from sloped yards, driveways and suburban roads, reducing pollution of local waterways, which feed the Chesapeake Bay.

Design Solution: Each design is tailored to its site’s sunlight availability, water drainage, and homeowner’s tastes.

Outcome: Participating homeowners subsequently form their own neighborhood association to share the benefits of Edible Landscapes as a local stormwater best management practice.
Clear Creeks website

Native Landscapes

native landscapeNorth Country Native Landscape  Erieville, New York

Site: This 11 acre lake-front property, a former Boy Scout camp, is the setting for a historic-replica house. Situated in a forest clearing, the yard is surrounded by a canopy of native Ash, Beech, Maple, Cherry, and Spruce groves, planted by the Boy Scouts.

Vision: The homeowners wanted to create a sanctuary for some of the New York State’s hundreds of endangered indigenous deer-resistant trees and plants.

Design: The new landscape responds directly to site features – sun, water, wind, tree cover, fauna, and soils.

Outcome: Using native trees and plants to protect a home site, preserves the immediate environment and its wildlife, while enhancing one’s connection to nature.

Insectory Gardens

insectory gardenHeathcote Insectory  Freeland, Maryland

Vision: This grant funded project sought to create a sanctuary for bees and other endangered insect pollinators, and to  restore the heirloom and native habitat they forage. 

Design: The new habitat compliments a previously planted forest garden, an orchard designed to mimic the interdependent the vertical layering of a natural forest. 

Outcome: The wide selection of native plants will bloom from early spring to late summer, insuring pollen and nectar forage for insect pollinators throughout the growing season.  The design principles visible in this garden demonstrate the Permaculture teachings of Heathcote’s Education Program.
Heathcote website

Forest Gardens

forest gardenAhimsa Orchard  Julian, PA

Site: This forest garden was designed as part of a comprehensive plan for a 68-acre rural homestead/Permaculture demonstration site.  The grave of a former owner, ringed by fruit trees, occupies the south/front of the site, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Vision: Diverse produce of fruits and nuts will ripen throughout the growing season for direct sale.  Maintenance needed to be minimized by a design structure, which takes advantage of site features.
Design:  Arranged in 3 suntraps to form protective microclimates, the orchard is shielded at the north by a forested hillside.

Outcome: The orchard will eventually help provide food security for the homeowners, and the wider community through sales at local farmers markets.
Ahimsa Village website

Period Gardens

Linier Landscape  Lutherville, Maryland

period garden

Site:  A Victorian era train station was converted to a charming residence on a linier lot in a historic town. 

Vision:  The home owners wanted to enhance their narrow rear yard to create a focal point for their long view, and provide privacy from the street and rail line on either side, while maintaining the distinctive historic character of their property.

Design: 

Outcome:  The pervasive historic ambiance of the property evokes a magical feeling as if one had stepped back in time.  The abundance of flowers inadvertently increases habitat for our endangered honey bees and other pollinating insects.

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

Passive Solar Residence for owners of Doak Creek Native Plant Nursery  Eugene, Oregon

passive solar design

Residence for Doak Creek Native Plant Nursery, Eugene, Oregon
This efficient, economical design maximizes winter solar heat gain with thermal mass and large south facing windows. A clerestory provides solar gain and day lighting in north-facing bedrooms. Summer solar heat gain is blocked by deep roof overhangs.



Solar Addition to a Suburban Ranch House Lemont, PA

Built on a sloped lot, this south-facing addition provides a passive solar greenhouse for winter gardening on the lower floor, and enlarges a kitchen on the upper floor. An existing concrete block foundation wall serves as thermal mass to store winter solar heat gain.

historic rehabilitation

Rolling Hills Farm Stanfordville, NY

140 acres of bucolic farmscape create a scenic backdrop for this large farmhouse, which originated as an 18th century one-room cabin. Multiple additions of various periods, and prior remodeling, necessitated by a tree falling on the roof, resulted in an interior maze of 1950’s style, and a conglomeration of unaligned window types.

Rolling Hills

The much needed renovation restored a sense of history by replicating the local Greek Reviveal vernacular. A new center hall floor plan, recovered wide-plank wood floors, historic moldings inside and out, new wood clapboards, and unified Victorian style windows evoke another era. Modern bathrooms and kitchens, a revitalized sun room, and dedicated guest wing accommodate a contemporary life-style. View drawings

Hollingworth Clinton Corners, NY

passive solar design

This large federal style farmhouse, dating from the early 1800’s, retained most of its original condition. A respectful renovation upgraded bathrooms, relocated the kitchen and opened up the first floor plan to accommodate a more modern lifestyle without compromising historic integrity. The tasteful result shows off significant architectural features and natural materials while creating upscale comfort and convenience.

Uhlerstown Locktender’s House and the New Hope Locktender’s House Museum Bucks County, PA
Building Conditions & Maintenance Recommendations Reports

Friends of Delaware Canal map

lock 18

The Friends of the Delaware Canal commissioned the evaluation of existing conditions to guide the stewardship of these historic properties, as part of a preservation plan for the Delaware Canal State Park. The Locktenders houses, built in the early 1800’s, are just two of 24 built along the canal. All are utilitarian in style, with no architectural elaboration. The Uhlerstown house, at Lock #18 is braced wood frame, while the New Hope house, at Lock #11, is stone. These reports describe their historic significance, immediate context, and insure that future repairs will protect them as valuable historic resources in the 60-mile long canal trail. Friends of the Delaware Canal

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