Yardzen Launches Online Exterior Design Service!

Over the last two years, we’ve noticed how closely paired our client’s vision of their outdoor space is with the facade of their home. Exterior paint, siding, windows, and doors are the backdrop for a yard’s plants, hardscape, and functional spaces. And so, with that realization, a team of Yardzen designers, engineers, and product designers got together to build the most advanced, comprehensive, and delightful exterior design offering available. Today, July 13, we’re thrilled to release Yardzen’s Exterior Design offering to you, our wonderful community!

Get started on your exterior transformation!

Yardzen’s Exterior Design services, currently bundled with our landscaping offerings, is available for the front of your home with our Curb Appeal package or the entirety of your home with our Outdoor Transformation package. In addition to providing a fully custom landscape design with hand-selected plants, hardscaping and elements like outdoor kitchens, pergolas, pools and play structures, Yardzen’s talented team of exterior designer will make recommendations for your home’s exterior paint, siding, doors, garage doors, windows, roofing, lighting, house numbers, mailboxes, and more.

Take the guesswork out of expensive exterior changes and work with Yardzen to fully realize the potential of your outdoor spaces.

Yardzen’s exterior design service builds on the foundation of our online landscape design process. At the beginning of the process, you’ll go through our innovative onboarding, which includes a series of questions about your tastes and preferences, space for inspiration photos, a style quiz, and specifications about the photo and video we need of your existing yard and home’s facade. Over the next several weeks, you’ll work with your talented design team to finesse both your landscaping and exterior designs, including the opportunity to provide ample feedback and go through a revision. At the end of the process, you’ll receive CAD plans, a list of materials, furniture, and plants, and photorealistic renders of your new outdoor space. 

To help bring your dream exterior-of-home space to life, we’ve partnered with leading names in the business, including Benjamin Moore (paint), Marvin (doors and windows), and Rejuvenation (lighting, house numbers, decor). We add these partnerships to a number of outdoor furniture partners in our network, including CB2, Crate & Barrel, Article, and Hati Home.

Get started on your dream outdoor space today with Yardzen’s new packages!

Meet a Yardzen Contractor: KB Contractors

Tess Fischer, Yardzen Relationship Manager, chatted with Yardzen Pro Network member, Kelsi, of KB Contractors TX, LLC. to learn more about her mission to bring transparency to the landscape process and provide quality service ‘from the root up’.

What is your background and how did KB Contractors come about?

Kelsi of KB Contractors

Production. Commercial, corporate, and entertainment. In production, I specifically worked as a lighting designer, rigger, and project manager. I worked with an amazing array of people: from The White House to Austin City Limits Festival. Needless to say, we did a bit of everything. During the pandemic, we were hit with a surge of unemployment, but as contractors and coming from a field of labor, I initially started repairing trim on homes, building decks, full landscape remodels with myself and two other crew members that were hired from production and previously worked on the exterior of homes. From there, with the progress that we made in our initial projects, we were able to gain quick traction and continued to hire and pay true livable wages to contractors who were out of work.  I can confidently say we all were able to build, what is now, KB Contractors TX, LLC.

What is your company philosophy/what are you all about?

“Our story is the stories we help you create.” The quote we created comes from our desire to place value in people--both contractors and homeowners that have a story.  We want to honor their home by staying true to what it represents to them--from every detail of why they want their space to be built to the manner in which it will be utilized. You deserve to be heard while designing your home, and we’re here to listen. 

Tell us about your crew!

Our crew is our family. We have individual relationships from the administrative end to the front end with each crew member. We work hard together--the same way we’re in attendance at birthdays, workouts, after-hour events, and involved in one another’s daily life. We work with our original crew, even with production coming back, and have hired several other specialists. Between all of us, we’re motorcycle enthusiasts, chefs, parents, artists, musicians, actors, and more. We thrive on our individualism and hold one another accountable to produce substantial work. To put it simply, I adore our crew. 

Beyond being an inclusive company, what is KB Contractors’ approach to uplifting the lives and voices of marginalized communities? And why is this so important to you and your team? 

Our influence starts from within. It’s been about speaking less and listening more with an attentive mind. Questioning and calling out injustices and discrimination at its root to grow both associated with our field of work and externally. We work with specific groups and volunteer-based on budgets and it’s a true privilege to be able to do so.

What are the biggest roadblocks and challenges you come across when working on installation?

In the present, supply and demand. The demand is ruthlessly high, and due to covid and other high-markets being a current player -- the rise in real estate and renovations, materials are both limited and at their highest price point. Another challenge, which we try to walk our clients through beforehand, is regardless of maps provided (irrigation, gas lines, electrical, proper surveys, etc) the prior work done may not match, and may cause more work or an extension of work being performed at the property to complete the project in full. 

via KB Contractors

How do clients get the most out of their relationship with their contractor?

It’s age-old, but alas, communication is key. Remain in touch with your clients, not simply as leads or bids, but form a true relationship with them. Understanding how their life works daily, helps to understand how to create the most functional space for them. Truly, we walk away from most properties with new friends. 

What is your approach to educating clients?

We’re fully transparent. In our quoting process, we itemize each section of their quote, to equip them with an understanding of what supplies it includes and what it would take to complete. That allows us to talk through the budget and where we can make adjustments. We supply them with the guides that match our location regarding plants, sod, aggregate, steel types, and more. We value the trust they put in us with reference to our ideas and expertise, but our best designers are the people who will be living there with their new design, the homeowners themself. We feed off of their energy and don’t hesitate to combine minds. We strive to always have an open mind and give energy to ourselves learning more daily with them. 

What makes you different from other landscape contractors?

Our business model is grounded in our mission to create a fair and judgment-free work environment for our employees. As a queer-friendly business, we provide our employees a safe space to be themselves and guarantee that they will always be paid a true liveable wage. By creating an environment that fosters collaboration and growth we are able to constantly improve our workflow process as new technology and tools are released. This adaptability allows us to use advanced design and build programs to cater to our client's specific needs in a timely and digestible manner. Our process is very hands-on, it includes virtual and face-to-face follow-up meetings with each client to ensure we provide an all-encompassing experience that exceeds their expectations and creates a clear and concise build plan for our crew. Our expectations are high and we expect the same on our deliverables. 

What’s the most requested feature lately?

Xeriscaping. We’re seeing and drawing more designs that sway away from annual installs and more clients and companies interested in permanency that requires little maintenance. From a green perspective, with xeriscaping, you save money on watering and repairs. Preserving our natural resources is important to us, and this is one way to contribute. 

What is a new trend you've seen that you think is going to take off soon?

Fabrication in regards to welding design. We used to mostly create trellis and structures out of lumber, and have put in more work to modernize our designs with a rustic touch. It’s a form of art that can be expressive in and around homes and buildings.

In honor of Pride Month, can you share what Pride means to you?

Pride to me, is being in environments that assure each individual of their safety and allow them to take up the space they deserve. It’s a sense of family, a notion that we, simply as people, belong. It’s a celebration of resilience. I kiss my wife in the morning, knowing we couldn’t legally have the rights we do as a unit until less than 6 years ago. I would not ever like to know what life looks like without her. And though there is much work to be done, we take time to acknowledge the work from our community and legends who paved the way, like Ifti Nasim and Marsha Johnson, and follow in their footsteps.

The Healing Power of the Outdoors

Yardzen believes that we are our best selves when we spend time outdoors. Thoughtfully curated landscapes provide more than just aesthetic value; they can also improve mental and physical health as well as enable meaningful connections between members of a community. GrowGood, a nonprofit organization that embodies the concept of the intentional usage of space, runs a 1.5 acre ecologically integrated farm in Bell, California where food fuels health, hope and happiness. GrowGood works alongside the Bell Shelter for homeless individuals and presents shelter clients with opportunities to receive employment training, access mental and physical welfare programs, and experience the healing power of the outdoors and gardening within a city environment. 

This week, GrowGood’s Farm Manager Francis River chatted with Maya Reddy, Yardzen Sustainability Intern, and shared his insightful perspectives on hardship, healing, and horticulture. 

What are the most rewarding aspects of your work at GrowGood?

Francis River. Photo by Ambrea Kai.

There are so many rewarding aspects working at GrowGood. But the highlight has to be having the opportunity to work with the residents of the Bell Homeless Shelter. That community has really embraced our little farm in Southeast Los Angeles. The experience of connecting over food, whether growing it or consuming it, brings communities together. I look forward to engaging with our community and showing them how connecting with the earth promotes wellness. Just walking through the farm or sitting amongst our fruit trees helps residents feel relaxed. Knowing they have this safe space that helps keep their mind healthy and we're able to supply residents with fresh produce is such a beautiful experience.

Do you envision more people growing their own food and/or supporting local farms and community gardens in the near future? 

Via GrowGood on Instagram

I’ve already noticed a lot of residents and volunteers who have started to grow their own food. I see restaurants also looking to source locally here and working with urban farms, which is amazing. This is happening more and more in the city now. I think this past year with everyone at home and how there was even more of a spotlight on food insecurity being such a global issue, more and more are looking into how they can grow their own food and/or get involved locally with farms close to them. 

How can we stay motivated to engage with nature while living in a world that largely operates indoors? 

GrowGood volunteer, Pilar, helping dry medicinal herbs. ⠀

I think taking a moment and being mindful of what's around you is really key. This falls in line with GrowGood's meditation and mindfulness class for Bell Homeless Shelter residents called Food For Life. It offers a chance for those attending to take a moment and be within nature, listen to what's around you. You can do this anywhere. While sitting at your kitchen table, listening to the mocking birds and wind outside. Going for a short walk around your neighborhood. Volunteering at a local farm like GrowGood so you can get to know your local community and give back in the process. Living here in the city, it's amazing how much nature directly supports mental health and reduces anxiety. It should be motivation enough knowing how it can create healthy minds and bodies. 

Francis’s words are a true testament to the transformative power of the outdoors; an idea that Yardzen wholeheartedly believes in. GrowGood’s incredible work in connecting healthy and sustainable food development with social growth and healing is a reminder that a brighter tomorrow is being forged today, and that all of us can contribute to a culture that values the appreciation of our surroundings as well as our communities. 

To get involved with GrowGood, subscribe to their newsletter, explore their list of upcoming events, and follow them on Instagram!

Low-Water Landscaping Ideas for a Beautiful and Sustainable Yard

A low-water Yardzen yard. The homeowners used their local Cash for Grass rebate to offset the cost of landscaping. Photo by Jenna Peffley

It is an exceptionally dry year throughout the United States. In the West, many states are in “Extreme Drought,” while once-lush pockets of the Midwest and East Coast face historically dry conditions with Michigan and Illinois facing unprecedented “Severe Drought.”

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor for June 2021

Residential homes are one of the biggest water guzzlers in the country. American homeowners use an average of 300 gallons of water every day with over 100 gallons of that going to lawn and plants (US EPA). In arid climates, like much of the West, many homes use over 200 gallons of water every day for their landscaping.

Low-Water Landscaping Decisions

One of the easiest ways to offset your home’s water usage is smart landscaping, so we tapped Yardzen’s Design Director, Kevin Lenhart, for his tips on design decisions you can make in your yard to reverse the impact of drought in your region.

This Yardzen backyard utilizes several lawn replacements, including turf, mulch, gravel, and pavers.

Let your lawn die

Plain and simple! California residents will understand. There are so many ways to create beautiful, functional yards that are water-smart and functional. Consider artificial turf, drought-tolerant native plants, gravel, or even a victory garden. Even if you live in a region that isn’t currently impacted by drought, replacing your lawn with permeable hardscape and climate-adapted plants is a winning solution.

Plant Climate-Adapted Plants

This is the default for us at Yardzen. We launched the American Rewilding Project, encouraging the planting of native plants that already know how to thrive in the climate where you live, and in this case will require less maintenance, thus less water.

Mulch is your friend

Mulch retains moisture in the soil and keeps it cool - reducing the need to water as frequently. Also deters weeds, and hides water-efficient drip irrigation lines.

This Yardzen yard is covered in shade and partial shade. The addition of mulch and gravel throughout the yard makes this space quite low-water. Photo via Country Living

Create shady spaces

Investing in a pergola, a cantilever umbrella, or any efforts to cool down areas otherwise hit by direct sunlight will keep the soil moist for longer, reducing the need to water plants and greenspace. Consider planting trees too, natural shade and leaf canopies can help reduce rain runoff and capture more groundwater over the winter months.

Cover your pool when not in use

This prevents water from evaporating, reducing the number of times you’ll need to refill it.

Consider permeable surfaces when installing a landscape project

Climate researchers believe that drought will continue to get worse throughout the country, so the more groundwater we can capture the better. This helps to build our reserves for dry seasons, while also offering benefits for flood protection and pollution reduction. Our favorite solutions for permeable surfaces include gravel, ground cover, and widely spaced pavers.

Current Restrictions and Rebates

To offset water usage, many cities and counties throughout the country are enforcing stringent water restrictions. In the Bay Area, Marin County is pledging to reduce water consumption by 40% through outdoor water regulations, including strict prohibitions on outdoor watering, bans on power washing and car washing, and mandatory pool covers (see more at SF Gate). Similar restrictions are emerging throughout the Midwest and Southeast, with many cities enforcing fines exceeding $100. It’s important to research your local water regulations.

In addition to water restrictions, many cities and counties incentivize these In addition to restrictions, many counties offer water reduction incentives for your home and yard. Several states have “Cash for Grass” rebates that reward homeowners for removing their lawns, which consume hundreds of gallons of water every day in arid regions.

Summer 2021 Trend Report

Social Front Yard

The Functional Front Yard is here to stay. In 2019, we forecasted that more homeowners would turn to their front yards for socializing and gardening, and when the pandemic hit, the trend took hold even faster than anticipated.  The front yard is no longer just about visual curb appeal, homeowners are realizing they can increase the liveable square footage of their homes by utilizing their front yards for entertaining friends and neighbors. 

37% of Yardzen clients opt to include their front yard in their design plans - no longer focusing solely on the functions of the backyard, but expanding their horizons beyond the front door. Requests for expanded front porches, additional seating areas, and front yard edible gardens have all increased in recent months. 

A Sense of Place

High-contrast features are one of the most dramatic approaches to creating a sense of place in the yard. This year, we’re seeing many Yardzen designers use the interplay of blacks and neutrals to create a yardscape with perspective.

One of our favorite implementations of this trend is the mix of a black fence and neutral hardscape, like gold pea gravel, shown here in the yard of Yardzen client Coco Tran. In this space, our designers worked with a limited budget to create a dramatic transformation. To do so, they relied on the power of black paint and inexpensive gravel to give the yard an entirely new look and feel with a clear architectural viewpoint.

Especially before replacing any features in your space, try painting them. We’re seeing an increase in homeowners wanting and willing to paint over existing features in their yard to give a new look to an otherwise dated shed, deck, or fence. Paint has the ability to transform, and darker colors for outdoor spaces are gaining popularity in 2021.

As dark fences are trending, so are dark exteriors overall. It’s not just an aesthetic choice, it’s a preventative way to protect from future damage to the home’s exterior. Painting a home is recommended every few years, depending on the material and your local climate, and homeowners are abiding.

The End of Open Concept

People were already re-thinking ‘open concept’ before 2020, and the pandemic fast-tracked the desire for more walls in the home. Whether to create separation from spouses in a new WFH situation or kids tackling Zoom school in the kitchen while you’re preparing lunch, more walls = more privacy. 

The trend is making its way into outdoor spaces: the yard no longer serves as one single-serve space, but rather a multi-functional extension of a home. Distinct ‘rooms’ are being created in the yard, designating specific areas for dining, working, exercising, gardening, and more.

Pergolas are a perfect solution for designating areas for specific activities. Both prefab and custom pergolas are being included in designs as a way to create independent spaces within your yard - in fact, Yardzen is on track to see almost 4 times as many pergola requests in 2021 as we did last year.

Pocket-Size Pools

As more and more summer vacations are being enjoyed in the backyard, many Yardzen clients want to bring some element of resort life into their home and yard. For some, this means a new pool, but for many who are conscious of cost and water consumption, we’re seeing the plunge pool become a top choice for transforming the backyard into a destination.

Plunge pools come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations. Also known as Cocktail Pools, these are a great option for yards with a smaller footprint, families seeking an affordable alternative to a traditional pool, and homeowners who are conscious of water consumption. Despite their size, they can be high-impact: the perfect place to “sip and dip” or relax on a pool float.

Stock tank pools, or ‘hillbilly pools’, are a popular, affordable option that fit in just about any outdoor space. You can find a stock tank for around $400 at your local feed store, or online. We’re also seeing many new companies online who offer custom stock tanks and stock tank parts, like filters, which help extend the life and usage of the pool.

Stonescaping

Annually, grassy lawns consume trillions of gallons of water, millions of gallons of gas, and millions of pounds of pesticides. With so many homeowners dedicated to conserving water and as a reaction to state and local water mandates, hardscaping, like gravel, is growing in popularity. 

Not only is gravel one of the most water-conscious choices you can make for your yard, it’s low-to-no maintenance, aesthetically modern and extremely versatile. Yardzen is known to include large prefab pavers in many of our designs, as well as gravel patches to define areas in the yard. Because they’re both permeable, they’re water-smart, too. Landscape Architect and Yardzen Design Director, Kevin Lenhart, on gravel:

“Gravel is inexpensive, looks attractive in a number of different landscape styles, and is easy to install. It comes in a broad range of colors, shapes and sizes, and can easily be repeated elsewhere in a design to build a cohesive aesthetic. Gravel also allows water to quickly drain through it, and slows the flow of overland water, leading to improved drainage and reduced flooding risk relative to solid paved surfaces. The trick is don’t go overboard - tasteful application here and there is lovely, but large expanses of gravel can be expensive and a little bleak in the wrong context.”

Moditerranean Moves Outside

Moditerranean = modern Mediterranean. Initially intended for interiors, Yardzen is seeing this trend take shape outside. Moditerranean yards feature clean lines, neutral colors, and cool-toned plants, like olive trees, pollinator-loving rosemary, and agave (a traditional Mediterranean plant). This style has become one of Yardzen’s most requested.

The modern elements of Moditerranean strips down the more traditional look and feel of Mediterranean style into its most simple and elegant elements. We often use greige-toned hardscaping in moditerranean yards, like pea gravel and concrete pavers, and style with a mix of new and vintage pieces in woods and metals, to create the quintessential Moditerranean. 

Even if you don’t live in a climate suited to more traditional mediterranean plants, there are several substitutes for colder climates that will help you achieve the appropriate look and feel. 

The New Patio Furniture

When homeowners are redesigning their outdoor space, they’re investing in brands that have a strong sustainability mission. Whether it’s brands that construct furniture out of recycled materials, or commit to donating a percentage of profits to conservation efforts, in 20201 homeowners are voting with their dollar to support outdoor brands that care about the earth as much as they do.

Heightened sensitivity around sustainability has paved the way for an increase in homeowners desire to invest in durable, consciously constructed outdoor furniture. In the past year, we’ve seen an influx of new brands that specialize in outdoor furniture: Yardbird, Outer, and Neighbor are Yardzen partners that are dedicated to building furniture that reduces waste by ensuring quality for seasons to come. 

Rewilding 

As an extension from what we saw from Yardzen clients in 2020, Rewilding is top of mind for homeowners in 2021. Many homeowners are looking for low-maintenance, natural outdoor spaces, and ‘rewilding’ your yard with native and climate adapted plants is an easy way to restore pollinator-supporting habitats without becoming a full-blown beekeeper (for now, that is). 

Yardzen is committed to continuing these practices through the American Rewilding Project. Most Yardzen clients opt to keep all remaining trees in their yard, a testament to the growing desire to maintain and restore wildness in backyards across the country. To learn more about Rewilding, watch Yardzen's CEO, Allison Messner, chat with Design Director and Landscape Architect, Kevin Lenhart, about sustainable design and simple ways to rewild your yard.

Purpose-Driven Gardens

Edible gardening is another trend (turned passion, for many) born of the pandemic. By no means are we suggesting that gardening didn’t have a place pre-covid, but we’ve seen more homeowners use that time to learn the craft, hone their skills, and expand space in their yards dedicated to gardening. Themed gardens, specifically, have found a place in American yards in 2021:

• Immunity Gardens: this year, everyone wants to take control of their own health. Planting herbs, fruits and vegetables that aim to support immune systems, have grown in popularity exponentially and will continue to do so. Some of our favorite immunity-boosting plants include: Echinacea, Garlic, Ginger, and antioxidant-rich berries. 

• Cocktail Gardens: to make up for lost time, in 2021, we’re all looking for reasons to gather with friends and family. Homeowners are coupling their newfound love of gardening with their eagerness to entertain. Cocktail gardening includes yielding popular beverage ingredients like mint, basil, and rosemary. While this might sound like a typical easy-to-grow herb garden, with the right recipes in hand, this garden lends itself to specialty cocktails for every occasion.

• Kid-friendly Gardens: to involve the whole family in this newfound love of gardening, homeowners are creating space for more easy-to-grow edible plants like tomatoes, bell peppers, snap peas and cucumbers. These plants require less intensive maintenance and yield quick, satisfying results in terms of size and flavor. 

Family-Forward Greenspace

With vaccination rates increasing, so are homeowner’s desire to entertain friends, family and neighbors! 

Many parks and schools closed over the last year, we’ve seen requests for kid-friendly features like treehouses and other play structures increase. Many kids will continue on the course of remote learning through 2021, meaning their extracurricular activities regularly provided by schools will remain limited. Plus, more parents and kids have learned that fun and adventure can be had in their own backyard, so we don’t see the trend shifting anytime soon.

Family traditions that began in 2020, like outdoor movie nights, are trending to become staples in the future. Our designers are including more spaces for projectors than ever before, indicating that the bonding moments of last year won’t soon be abandoned. Whether it’s family-friendly movies on the lawn, or group gatherings to watch your favorite sports teams battle it out, the yard is trending to become ‘The New TV Room’.

Year-Round Yard

Summer isn’t the only season for backyards. As a result of 2020, we’ve seen a deep desire for year-round backyards and increased requests for all-weather designs. For example, in Seattle, homeowners are inquiring about specific solutions to be able to work and dine outside, should the weather call for rain. 

In geos that experience harsher winters, clients are trading their fire pits for outdoor fireplaces - a more permanent structure that invites outdoor entertaining, even in the middle of winter. In warmer climates where summer mosquitos are a barrier to spending time outside in the yard, our team is diligent to include mosquito-repelling plants, like citronella and lemongrass, within the landscape design.

The Ultimate Outdoorsman: Yardzen Co-Founder and COO, Adam Messner

Have you always been passionate about nature?

I grew up an outdoorsman and conservationist. My mom was born with a green thumb, always planting, growing, and gardening, and I like to think she passed that down to me. As early as 8 years old, I told her I wanted to move to Alaska (I later would, following a very cool girl named Allison). Though I don’t live there anymore, I think my early interest in Alaska really bolstered my passion for the outdoors - I always wanted to witness the most extreme beauty that nature had to offer. 

So it’s safe to assume you always wanted a career that incorporated the outdoors?

Definitely. There are a ton of jobs that allow you to connect to nature, but it took some time for me to find the right one. Out of college, I was an environmental consultant, but realized the farther along I got in that role, the less time I would actually get to spend outside. I then launched an electrical supply company that recycled and refurbished things like large transformers, saving millions of pounds of equipment from going into landfills. I was, and still am, eager to find ways to protect the planet through sustainability and conservation. My mission has always been to spend as much time outside as possible and at Yardzen, I have a career that allows me to do so.

What do you love most about your role at Yardzen?

When it comes to corporate responsibility and the ability to influence outdoor projects across the country, Yardzen can make a real impact. I love connecting with people that have problems that need to be solved, and I firmly believe we can help improve the lives of homeowners by inspiring them, through great design, to spend more time outside. 

Can you tell us about your work outside of Yardzen?

I’m on the board of the Golden State Salmon Association - where our mission is to restore the California salmon population. The health of our rivers, and the salmon that populate them, is a very strong indicator of the health of our environment as a whole. Salmon are the proxy for a bigger picture - It might sound crazy, but every day I think about how my actions will affect California Salmon, and I hope it’s made me a more sustainable, responsible human. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of Yardzen?

My favorite thing to do is camp and fish with my kids, Max and Coco! They’d honestly rather sleep outside in a tent than in their own beds, and catch or grow their own food instead of buying it. I am so fortunate that they love nature as much as I do. 

Any mantras?

Every lyric from One Sweet World by Dave Matthews Band is my mantra, but I’ll do you a favor and not sing it for you!

A Reflection on Pride & How The Yardzen Community Can Support

Pride is a month-long celebration each June where we reflect on the history of the LGBTQ+ community, how far we’ve come and more importantly, the progress that still needs to be made. It offers a space for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community to feel proud of who they are. We owe this time to those who fought to get where we are now. 

It’s a time to reflect on those who came before us that laid the groundwork for the progress that has been made. While Pride month is and should be a time to celebrate, we also need to recognize our history and what this month represents. In 1969, the New York City’s Public Morals division (part of the NYC police department) raided a gay bar called Stonewall Inn. During this time, units like these across the country enforced laws for things like gambling, prostitution, drugs and homosexuality. The police could arrest, or even force hospitalization, on those in the LGBTQ+ community.

One night, customers at the Stonewall Inn decided to fight back. The crowd grew as neighbors joined in to resist arrest and speak out against the oppression they had been facing. Protests lasted for six days. A year later, to mark the anniversary, cities across the country began celebrating Gay Pride and has turned into what we now know as Gay Pride Month.

For myself, a queer woman, Pride means taking something that I tried to hide for many years and finally feel like I can fully be myself. At 26-years-old, I finally decided to stop running from the fear and shame I felt around my sexuality. And that’s what this month is about. Shame is a common theme those who are LGBTQ+ experience and Pride means freeing yourself of that shame. To show up every day without the fear and shame we have been conditioned to feel. While I have faced hardship in my life as a queer woman, I have to acknowledge those who face overwhelming fear and discrimination in a way that I never will:

• Out of all the attacks against trans women since 2013, 80% of those victims were transwomen of color.

• LGBTQ youth make up for 40% of the youth homeless population, often as a result of family rejection and discrimination. Of that same population, as many as 60% are likely to attempt suicide.

In 2021, Yardzen hit the major milestone of 50+ employees. Our team members come from a variety of locations, backgrounds, races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations, and we’re passionate about our commitment to continuing to build a culture of inclusivity. To celebrate Pride, we’re officially kicking off our D&I committee with a specific focus on hiring, retaining, and empowering our colleagues in order to maintain an internal team that reflects the communities and homeowners we serve. It’s because of our diverse team that we’re able to fulfil our mission of inspiring others to live better lives outside, and we look forward to continuing to do so. 

It’s important that everyone, not just those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, take this month to educate ourselves, tell your LGBTQ+ friend and family you love and support them, and donate to organizations that support and fight for the rights of this community every day.

• Listen & Learn: Listen to what LGBTQ+ and marginalized people are saying. Whether that’s speaking to friends, following social media accounts to hear first-hand accounts, or reading an article written by someone from the LGBTQ+ community. Seek it out, listen to stories and commit to continually learning about the issues they face.

• Speak Up: If you see someone being attacked, verbally or physically, focus on supporting them and showing them that you have their back. Or, if a friend or family member says something hateful or ignorant, speak up and call them out. Silence is support for the oppressor.

• Donate: 

  • The Human Rights Campaign: HRC works on local, national, and global issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community.

  • The Trevor Project: They offer live-saving and life-affirming programs to LGBTQ+ youth through phone, text and online counseling.

  • Transgender Law Center: The largest trans-led organization that advocates for changes in laws, policy and attitudes for the trans community. They focus on rights for education, employment, prison conditions, immigration and healthcare.

As told by Tess Fischer, Yardzen Relationship Manager.

Exterior Design Transforms A Family’s New-to-Them Home

Angela and Django at their home in Northern California

When Angela and Django moved into a new-to-them ranch home in Northern California at the beginning of the pandemic last year, the couple’s initial thought was to settle in and tackle their yard in phases. Then, as the realization sunk in that they’d be stuck at home for some time with their two young children they quickly pivoted. On the agenda? Bringing their vision for al fresco dining, front porch hangs, and family fun to life ASAP. 

It felt like a leap. Especially since Angela quickly realized there was no point in trying to make sense of the inefficient spaces, which ranged from unwelcoming narrow walkways to awkward hedges throughout the home’s exterior. “The yard was very obviously a hodgepodge over the years of efforts that never really came together,” she says. Yet Angela saw through the generations of mismatched rock and brick stacked and scattered without a clear purpose, envisioning a mix of functional living and play spaces flanked by trees and water-efficient landscaping. So, she tapped Yardzen to put the polish on her exterior design plans. “They really helped me pull the ideas out of my head and put them on paper,” she says. 

A completely transformed front facade with new landscaping and exterior details, including a shaded social front yard.

The front exterior “before”

For starters, Angela wanted to open the front of the house by carving out space for a covered front porch and a social front yard. Her first thought –simply extending the roofline – was quickly ruled out as too pricey. Instead, Yardzen’s designers suggested building a pergola that extends off the roof and over the garage, creating the cozy feel of a sheltered seating area. “It’s a special little spot, she says. “The vision was to be able to see the kids play on the street or on the lawn and that’s come to life in a lot of ways.”

A social front yard! The kids spend hours outside in the front while the parents enjoy some relaxation time and connect with the community.

Low-water natives and pollinators mix with fruitless olives throughout the property

By keeping the landscaping consistent from the front to the back of the house, the transition feels seamless. Yardzen’s design team suggested a mix of low-water natives and pollinators to reflect the local landscape. And, Yardzen added over a dozen new trees, including several fruitless olive trees along the home’s property lines. Altogether, says Angela, the space recalls a wine country getaway, and she can’t help but feel relaxed when she steps into her new backyard. “Instead of designing the yard you think you're supposed to have based on what everyone else is doing, think about how your family lives,” says Angela.

The bocce court lines the rear edge of the backyard

The backyard before!

That getaway vibe is in part to an existing elevated space overlooking a creek that runs past their home. It just screamed bocce court, a playful feature that the couple have bounced around since they purchased their first home together 15 years ago. It feels enclosed thanks to a draping canopy of willow and bay trees on the creek side, elevated by a string of cafe lights that add warmth to the space after sunset. On the opposite side, a row of pollinators creates a natural barrier and adds softness to the perimeter of the hardscaped court.

Steps from the family’s dining room, the patio sets the scene for beautiful evenings outside. And, underfoot is one of the smartest exterior design decisions in the yard: a repurposing of the existing patio. To spare the landfill and their wallet, Angela and her Yardzen team decided to keep the existing pavers and resurface them. With a deep power washing and a new layer of sand, the brick-hued pavers came back to life and now add a rich patina to the whole space. The proximity to the house makes it easy for the couple to spend time together outside while the kids are inside playing or sleeping.

A stretch of lawn is perfect for the couple’s kids to kick around the soccer ball. The area is idyllic for picnics and popping tents for future slumber parties, too. And, a sail shaded concrete dining table over pea gravel is the perfect niche for outdoor dining. But it isn’t simply reserved for evening meals. While the kids are at school, Angela and Django can catch up over lunch together outside.

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What Did Your Mom Teach You About the Outdoors?

From the Yardzen crew to you, the best advice our moms gave us about nature, and the memories we hold dear.

Yardzen CEO, Allison Messner, with her daughter Coco

Taylor giving her mom a lift

"Being barefoot in the grass, a creek, or any surface connection to earth will make you feel rooted and alive; That there is always time to stop and smell flowers and you should certainly go out of your way to do so; That hugging a tree really will boost your mood, (as well as the tree's) and that sunshine is a healing elixir. She's my willow tree." - Taylor, Client Success Manager

“My mom has always told me if I'm stressed out or need to ground myself to go to the beach and watch the waves for a while. She always says to take a deep breath outside and enjoy every ounce of the outdoors I can get. It's healing.”

- Shirley, Client Success Manager

Jack with his family

"Whether through competitive cornhole games, building snow forts with my brothers and I to prepare for snowball fights, or showing us her new favorite hike when we would visit home during college, my mom has always made it a point to instill in us the same love and appreciation for nature that she has." - Jack, Data Analyst

"There is no such thing as a bad green thumb. There is only room to learn and grow, and once you do, your plants will too.” Oh, and, "Don't throw dirt at your brother.”

- HG, People Operations Coordinator

Adam, hiding in his mom’s home-grown pumpkin

“My earliest memories were digging in my mom’s garden in Michigan. She grew a little bit of everything. Including pumpkins big enough to eat little kids, me in this case. I hope that what we’re growing here at Yardzen makes her proud.”

- Adam, COO & CoFounder

“My mom was a teacher, so she had every Summer off and would spend it in the garden. Those three months of freedom after 9 months of being in a classroom with kids was her true happy place - and mine, too. That time we spent together was so valuable, and now every time I spend time in my own garden I’m taken back to those memories.”

- Lisa, Client Success Manager