Three years ago, after decades of running a prolific landscape-design studio in New York City and, later, the Hamptons, Edwina von Gal announced she was going to scale back on her design work and launch a nonprofit. The venture, called the Perfect Earth Project, would have a simple mission: to persuade homeowners and fellow landscaping professionals to stop treating the land with chemicals.
Coming from anybody else this proposal might sound hopelessly optimistic. America’s lawns and gardens have long been fed a steady diet of fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers, and the idea of abandoning such methods has never been an easy sell, despite mounting safety concerns about these substances. But Von Gal is one of the country’s most lauded landscape experts, having built her name conjuring gorgeous settings while honing environmentally friendly techniques. Along the way she has attracted legions of influential supporters and clients, among them Cindy Sherman and Ina Garten. Calvin Klein has hired her for numerous projects because, he says, “it’s important for a landscape to be not only beautiful but safe.”
“The biggest worries people have are that going chemical-free will cost a lot of money and that their property will look messy,” says Von Gal, whose initiative has been making significant headway on the lush estates of Long Island’s East End. Telling the public how to transition to all-natural maintenance has been the first order of business for Perfect Earth. “It can be as simple as changing how short you mow the lawn,” the designer says, explaining that longer blades of grass help the soil retain moisture while also blocking sunlight so weeds are less likely to take root.
To disseminate such tips, Von Gal has spearheaded a series of seminars, as well as a robust website, which also lists firms that specialize in toxin-free landscaping and identifies public spaces that are managed without chemicals. “What better way to create awareness than to show people spots where they can feel safe letting their kids and pets roll in the grass?” she asks. Several such destinations, including Storm King Art Center in New York and the Philip Johnson Glass House in Connecticut, have already joined forces with her to help spread the word. “Edwina is incredibly knowledgeable, and her methods are effective,” says architect and artist Maya Lin, a frequent collaborator. “Anyone who meets her can’t help but get caught up in her passion.” perfectearthproject.org
