Now Hiring!

It's almost Spring and project installations are soon to begin ! ! !

Are you highly motivated, hard-working, and seeking to join an award winning landscaping company?

Abundant Design LLC is a small, but growing, permaculture based landscaping design & install business located in central Iowa.  At Abundant Design, we help people build resiliency through edible landscapes and gardens, establish wildlife habitat and conservation practices.  We help provide experiences with nature and enjoyment of Creation in customers' backyards, properties and communities. 

Abundant Design is looking for motivated individuals to help bring these projects to life.

Positions involve lots of digging, planting of native and edible plants, shrubs and trees; moving compost, rock and mulch; some hardscapes, walls and other builds.

Mulching a new multi-species orchard on a southern Iowa homestead

Seasonal Full & Part Time Laborers

Perform landscaping and light construction for properties as directed.  Tasks may include, but not limited to - shoveling rock, sand, mulch and other materials on the job site; moving boulders; trenching by hand or with a machine; operating a laser level for grading; plantings ranging in size from large balled and burlapped (B&B) trees to delicate transplants

• Must be physically able to work hard outside in various conditions
• Must be able to communicate clearly and follow instructions
• Must be respectful of customers and their property 
• Must be able to get to and from job sites
• Must be at least 16 years of age
• Knowledge of, or experience in gardening, landscaping, horticulture, a plus
• Experience operating power tools, equipment and small machinery, a plus

Great summer experience for students in conservation, natural resources, regenerative agriculture, and sustainability fields, or anyone interested in the same.  

Pay ~$12-15/hr, depending on experience.

Fresh rain garden install - Urbandale

Full-Time Assistant & Crew Leader

Perform and lead team members in landscaping and light construction for properties as directed. Tasks may include, but not limited to - shoveling rock, sand, mulch and other materials on the job site; moving boulders; trenching by hand or with a machine; operating a laser level for grading; light grading with mini-skidsteer, hauling materials; plantings ranging in size from large balled and burlapped (B&B) trees to delicate transplants

• Must be physically able to work hard outside in various conditions
• Must be able to communicate clearly and follow instructions
• Must be respectful of customers and their property 
• Must be able to get to and from job sites around the Des Moines metro 
• Knowledge of/experience in permaculture, gardening, horticulture, biology/ecology, and regional ecosystems 
• Experience operating tools, power tools and small machinery safely and efficiently
• Interest in permaculture, conservation, regenerative agriculture and sustainability
• Experience in permaculture, conservation, native plants and/or regenerative agriculture, a plus
• BS/BA in Natural Resources, Permaculture Designer's Certificate, or Stormwater Best Management Practices training, a plus

Primarily working and training side by side with me through the early Spring, then independently or as a crew leader through the busy seasons.  Additional training opportunities possible.

Compensation commensurate with experience. 

Pergola build at the east side Healing Garden

To apply for these positions, email your Resume/CV/Work Experience and references to Abundant Design.

Drainage Easement Makeover, Naturally

As we have said before, drainage easements can cause many problems for the people on the lower ends of the neighborhood. Often times the final grading isn't finished quite as designed, or time causes uneven settling which can hinder drainage.  

These easements are generally planned assuming the best way to deal with stormwater is get rid of it as fast as possible.  This can make flooding worse during wet years, worsen droughts in dry years and is not good for local and regional water quality.  

Dry stream, infiltration pools and native plants

This site near Easter Lake was one of those neighborhoods, with our customers being at the end of a neighborhood drainage easement.  Desirable trees and shrubs struggled in the area, and it stayed wet long after rains.  Mowing the grass, where it wasn't drowned out, was a tough and muddy chore when possible.

After determining the typical high water mark, upstream water catchment and utilities, we discussed using a dry stream to armor the flow and use native plants to filter some of the runoff.  A mid project rain storm showed us we had good soil infiltration rates.  We determined that with some minor yet creative grading, we could even infiltrate a good amount of stormwater as well - even if beyond the scope of a typical rain garden.

Multiple basins infiltrate some runoff, reducing the stormwater surge into Easter Lake

The first step after locating utilities, of which there were many, was to remove the sod, and prune back some of the existing trees and shrubs.

Using care to avoid the utility lines* we sculpted the desired waterway, and constructed the catch basins.  Boulders were used to construct small weirs, dam like structures, and give the streambed a natural look.

*hand digging periodically to locate

Separation fabric only in the channel, not the basins

Finally the predominantly native plants were put in that will help infiltrate more stormwater as their roots punch deep into the soil.  Blazingstar, Little Bluestem, Columbine and sedges were among these.  Also native edible shrubs like Gooseberry, Elderberry and Aronia, plus a blackberry, will provide backyard foraging opportunities. A stump from a very large old tree was inoculated with Oyster Mushroom spawn as well, easily identifiable and a favorite for cooking with its firm texture.

One of the catch basins from upstream

We all really liked the way this project looked when we were finished!  

 . . . and according to the homeowners, functions just how it is supposed to.