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Hi there,
By now you have heard time and time again phrases like “difficult, unprecedented time” and have incorporated phrases like “social distancing” and “flatten the curve” into your vocabulary. All in just a few days. I think we are all feeling a little overwhelmed and off kilter- and that’s normal. We are all just figuring things out. What has been sustaining me during the craziness is the thought that virus or no virus, spring will come. Soon there will be flowers, the smell of warm soil, mown grass, and warmth. As many of us are staying home, it’s a great opportunity to think about what is most important, and to assess our outdoor spaces. So far, I’m still able to continue designing and helping people get the most out of their outdoors. Being outside in nature is good for our mental and physical health, and is especially important at this time. We are following state and federal guidelines when it comes to this disease. Below is an outline of how a design can happen, while staying safe. Updates will be posted here, if they are necessary. Stay well, everyone! Wickie |
Update, 30 March, 2020
According to Emergency Order 17, Exhibit A issued by Governor Sununu on March 27, 2020, landscape services are considered essential services, so I will be continuing to work as long as the situation allows.
To read the Governor's order, please see the following link: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/emergency-orders/documents/emergency-order-17-ex-a.pdf
According to The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), paragraph 561730, "Landscape Services" are defined as "(1) establishments primarily engaged in providing landscape care and maintenance services and/or installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns, or gardens and (2) establishments primarily engaged in providing these services along with the design of landscape plans and/or the construction (i.e., installation) of walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, and similar structures." Please visit the following link if you would like to know more. https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/2017NAICS/2017_NAICS_Manual.pdf
According to Emergency Order 17, Exhibit A issued by Governor Sununu on March 27, 2020, landscape services are considered essential services, so I will be continuing to work as long as the situation allows.
To read the Governor's order, please see the following link: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/emergency-orders/documents/emergency-order-17-ex-a.pdf
According to The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), paragraph 561730, "Landscape Services" are defined as "(1) establishments primarily engaged in providing landscape care and maintenance services and/or installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns, or gardens and (2) establishments primarily engaged in providing these services along with the design of landscape plans and/or the construction (i.e., installation) of walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, and similar structures." Please visit the following link if you would like to know more. https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/2017NAICS/2017_NAICS_Manual.pdf
Design/Consultation Procedure
The Covid-19 situation is causing everyone to think through how they do things. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that is largely conducted outside, or in alone in my studio, so am hoping that despite the current issues, I can maintain business as usual - although with a few changes to the way things are done. Face to face meetings onsite are one of the most helpful ways for me to get a sense of what it is that you need in your garden, what problems I need to solve with the design, and what will make you happy. Since the rules are a bit different for that now, we will need to be creative about how we communicate, but luckily I’m a creative person, and so I’m confident that we can do this and that nothing will suffer in your design. I just want you to know that this is not the way I normally do business, and would prefer it didn’t have to be this way! Wouldn’t we all.
With that said, here is a description of the process that I am implementing to make sure that we can efficiently share information and stay safe at the same time. This description is intended to explain the process for a landscape design; I have put an asterisk (*) next to things that would apply to smaller projects like MiniScapes™️ or smaller jobs that don’t require a plan.
Before the site visit, to make the process more streamlined:
At the site visit:
(*) I still believe that there is no danger in conducting a visit to your property, as long as we are able to maintain proper social distancing guidelines. We can smile and wave at each other instead of shaking hands, maintain 6 foot distance when walking around, and I will not come in your house. If you are more comfortable staying in the house, we can talk on the phone while I walk around and you can tell me what your thoughts are as I go. Again, this is all very out of the ordinary, but still do-able, and I am committed to figuring out a way to keep the ball rolling. If CDC or other guidelines change, I will communicate what changes to this procedure, if any, need to be made.
(*) If you or someone in your household is sick, please let me know, and I will do the same.
(*) After we have finished talking, I will take more pictures of the area, for my own note taking.
Next, the process will go on as usual; I will send you a proposal for the design, and if you accept it, I will be back at some point to conduct the site analysis, measure, etc. That has always been done without the need for you to be there, so there is no change from the usual in this phase.
When your design is completed, I will present it to you remotely. I have done that before, so that’s not unfamiliar territory to me, but I’m looking into ways to make the presentation more interactive and fun. There’s so much optimism and positivity in having a garden and in enjoying the outdoors and the presentation of a design should be part of that!
🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷
Please feel free to email me with any questions. The link to the survey is attached to this email. I look forward to seeing your pictures and hearing your thoughts!
I appreciate your cooperation and adapting to this new way of doing things. I am of the belief that challenges can be fun, (one reason why I love my job) and so am determined to make this process as smooth as possible and to continue to create designs that make people happy for years to come. Stay well.
Many thanks!
Wickie
3.20.2020
The Covid-19 situation is causing everyone to think through how they do things. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that is largely conducted outside, or in alone in my studio, so am hoping that despite the current issues, I can maintain business as usual - although with a few changes to the way things are done. Face to face meetings onsite are one of the most helpful ways for me to get a sense of what it is that you need in your garden, what problems I need to solve with the design, and what will make you happy. Since the rules are a bit different for that now, we will need to be creative about how we communicate, but luckily I’m a creative person, and so I’m confident that we can do this and that nothing will suffer in your design. I just want you to know that this is not the way I normally do business, and would prefer it didn’t have to be this way! Wouldn’t we all.
With that said, here is a description of the process that I am implementing to make sure that we can efficiently share information and stay safe at the same time. This description is intended to explain the process for a landscape design; I have put an asterisk (*) next to things that would apply to smaller projects like MiniScapes™️ or smaller jobs that don’t require a plan.
Before the site visit, to make the process more streamlined:
- (*) I will send you a link to a survey and ask that you fill it out as best possible. There will probably be some questions that don’t apply to your needs; in each case there should be a box that you can tick that says “none”, or “not applicable”. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers, just do the best you can. Just thinking about the questions is helpful.
- (*) If you are able, please email me some photos of your property, with written comments about what you like and don’t like about each area. Please take some photos from a distance; it’s hard for me to get a sense of things if there isn’t enough context. Of course, if you have something specific that you’d like addressed, feel free to include close-ups as well! Don’t ever feel like you will overwhelm me with too many pictures, there is no such thing- just please make sure that there are some shots that include the whole area and surroundings.
- (*) If you are feeling creative, you can video a walk around the property while you talk about it- just be aware that videos have to be short (5 minutes or less, I think???) if they are going to send. This is extra-credit only. 😄
- Do you have a survey of your property available? Sometimes these are done when a house changes hands to determine property lines, or before a new septic system is put in. If you do, and it is available digitally, emailing it to me would be a great help, and also save you money on the design because I won’t have to re-invent the wheel! If you have a survey but don’t have it in a digital format, we’ll think of a way to get the information, maybe by having you lay it out somewhere outside and I’ll take a picture of it- we’ll think of something. Tax maps don’t have enough information on them for my purposes, unfortunately.
At the site visit:
(*) I still believe that there is no danger in conducting a visit to your property, as long as we are able to maintain proper social distancing guidelines. We can smile and wave at each other instead of shaking hands, maintain 6 foot distance when walking around, and I will not come in your house. If you are more comfortable staying in the house, we can talk on the phone while I walk around and you can tell me what your thoughts are as I go. Again, this is all very out of the ordinary, but still do-able, and I am committed to figuring out a way to keep the ball rolling. If CDC or other guidelines change, I will communicate what changes to this procedure, if any, need to be made.
(*) If you or someone in your household is sick, please let me know, and I will do the same.
(*) After we have finished talking, I will take more pictures of the area, for my own note taking.
Next, the process will go on as usual; I will send you a proposal for the design, and if you accept it, I will be back at some point to conduct the site analysis, measure, etc. That has always been done without the need for you to be there, so there is no change from the usual in this phase.
When your design is completed, I will present it to you remotely. I have done that before, so that’s not unfamiliar territory to me, but I’m looking into ways to make the presentation more interactive and fun. There’s so much optimism and positivity in having a garden and in enjoying the outdoors and the presentation of a design should be part of that!
🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷 🌷
Please feel free to email me with any questions. The link to the survey is attached to this email. I look forward to seeing your pictures and hearing your thoughts!
I appreciate your cooperation and adapting to this new way of doing things. I am of the belief that challenges can be fun, (one reason why I love my job) and so am determined to make this process as smooth as possible and to continue to create designs that make people happy for years to come. Stay well.
Many thanks!
Wickie
3.20.2020