The Little Prairie


St Paul, MN

Contractor: Nelco Landscaping Arborist and Wood Milling: Holistic Tree and Forestry


A small urban front yard serves multiple purposes: nature playground, rain water harvesting, recycled materials, native and edible planting.









Plan sketch






Wood climbers 
The copper panel is recycled from Westminster Church in Minneapolis



Texts indicating the precise locations where the wood was cut down
Recycled wood takes center stage in this garden design and is re-purposed into benches and natural play features such as balance beams and water runnels.


Black locusts are chosen as the materials for the benches and natural play element. They are invasive species that have beenremoved from parks.





Black locust before being milled



Bench and wood climbers


Water runnel





An all-native planting design enhances biodiversity and offers excellent habitat for wildlife. Not only does it serve as a vital food source for pollinators and birds, but many of these plants are also edible for humans. Most can be enjoyed raw or incorporated into salads, while others lend themselves well to crafting herbal teas.