+ contactAnnie W. Stoffel4254 East Hartman RoadColumbia City, IN 46725anniewstoffel@gmail.com260.479.5457

portfolio of design work

+ research interestsEcological Design• Application of ecological design strategies in sustainable agroecosystems• Ecological design of enhanced pollinator habitats • Vegetative options for stormwater and wastewater treatment• Bioengineering techniques for managing erosion and runoff in agroecosystemsSustainable Landscapes• Landscape design strategies to enhance ecosystem services in a changing climate• Evaluating aesthetic perception of the sustainable landscaping paradigmInterdisciplinary Environmental Studies• Spatial exploration of critical wildlife habitat to guide conservation design strategies

and wildlife management policies• Landscape models for cultivating agritourism in rural landscapes

+ summary statementI am interested, broadly, in the design and spatial exploration of sustainable landscapes and agroecosystems. My academic background in natural sciences, conservation biology and landscape architecture inspire a multidisciplinary approach to studying the interrelationships between people, place and ecological sustainability. As an Environmental Designer, I integrate my understanding of biological and ecological processes with design theory, spatial analysis and cultural insights to apply innovative environmental design strategies to contemporary landscape sustainability challenges.

+ educationUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON, WI MS in Landscape Architecture, 2005

• Academic concentration in restoration ecology

• Research concentration in landscape ecology, landscape approaches in mammalian conservation, applications of GIS in Natural Resources

• Masters Thesis: Favorability and Avoidance of Spatial Landscape Components in Wolf Den Site Selection

• GPA 3.71

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII-HILO, HILO, HIBA in Natural Sciences, 2002

• Minor in Conservation Biology and Ecology, CertificateinLandUsePlanning

• Senior Project: The Historic Sugar Plantation Communities of Hawaii’s Hamakua Coast: The Role of Sense of Place in Land Use Decision Making.

• GPA 3.73

THE COLORADO COLLEGE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Biology Major, 1998-2000

• Completed core courses in biological sciences and liberal arts

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master of science thesis research

+ project infoWhile pursuing a master of science degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I conducted my thesis research on the favorability and avoidance of spatial landscape components in wolf den site selection. The purpose of this study was to determine what landscape components gray wolves (Canis lupus) select for or avoid when establishing den sites in Wisconsin and what patterns exist in these landscapes.

Utilizing a GIS, digital land information, and spatial analysis software, I quantifiedthe landscape composition and spatial configurationatfivespatialscalessurrounding24knownwolfdens.Thiswasthefirststudytodetermine that Wisconsin’s denning wolf packs demonstrated attraction and repulsion to spatial landscape characteristics, suggesting that den site selection is more complex than microhabitat availability, and affirming theimportance of multidisciplinary collaboration between landscape ecologists and wildlife managers when developing wildlife management plans.

+ project skillsGeographic Information Systems; Spatial Analysis; Landscape Ecology; Wildlife Management; Multidisciplinary Research

MS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

MADISON, WISCONSIN, 2005

+ thesis abstract Understanding patterns of habitat use in wolves (Canis lupus) is important for conserving, managing, and restoring populations (Mladenoff et al. 1995; Massolo and Meriggi 1998; Kunkel and Pletscher 2000). The successful reproduction of offspring is dependent upon ideal den sites, yet the selection of den sites in forested ecosystems is one of the least understood aspects of wolf ecology (Heard and Williams 1992). De-spite the highly successful recolonization of the gray wolf in Wisconsin over the past 25 years, wolf biologists continue to know very little beyond the physical characteristics of dens and their microhabitat. This re-search seeks to expand our knowledge of den site selection to a landscape scale and enable the Wiscon-sin Department of Natural Resources to make informed decisions regarding the management and protec-tion of wolf dens. By utilizing a GIS, digital land information, and FRAGSTATS (McGarigal and Marks 1995), landscape compositionandspatialconfigurationwerequantifiedatfivespatialscalessurroundingwolfdens.Are-source selection index (Manly et al. 1993) was used to compare the percentage of 12 habitat types, im-proved roads, and hydrography surrounding den sites to the total percentage available within each wolf pack’s home range. Wolves avoided open water within 100 m of their den sites; avoided agricultural land up to 500 m; avoided urban/developed areas up to 2000 m; and avoided improved roads up to 2000 m. Wolves selected den sites with a higher proportion of forested wetland patches 100 m – 1500 m from the den; a higher proportion of lowland shrub wetland patches 100 m – 1500 m from the den; and a higher pro-portion of emergent/ wet meadow wetlands 100 m – 1000 m from the den. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was used to compare patch area, patch richness, evenness,andtheprobabilitiesoflikeadjacenciesatfivespatialscalessurroundingwolfdensitesto100random non-den sites located within wolf home ranges. Forested wetlands with smaller patch areas (P = 0.05)werepresent0–1000mfromdensites.Nomeasuresofspatialconfigurationdifferedsignificantlybe-tween den sites and non-den sites. Wisconsin’s Wolf Management Plan (1999) suggests protection from tree harvesting within 0.8 km during the denning season and within 100 m at all times. The preference of wetland communities up to 1.5 km from den sites and the avoidance of improved roadways up to 2 km suggest that landscape charac-teristicsandisolationareinfluentialuptothisscale.Thecurrentprotectionbufferdoesnotencompasstheresources and isolation valued by denning wolves. To maximize the safety and success of wolf reproduc-tion, a 2 km buffer of protection from timber harvest and construction is recommended for wolf den sites in Wisconsin.

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+ project infoThis unique sustainable landscape was designed for Safety Village, a children’s educational learning center operated by the City of Fort Wayne in northeastern Indiana. Earth Source, Inc. was challenged to develop conceptual landscape plans, which incorporated green infrastructure and environmental learning opportunities into the existing village landscape. The proposed design aims to teach children how the urban environment and the natural environment can work together to provide ecological services and enhance the quality of life in their city.

The project includes the expansion of an existing pond and the creation of an open stream channel. A wind turbine is utilized as a sustainable source of energy to recirculate water within this model system. Other landscape features include a constructed wetland,abioswale,abutterflygarden,adrycreek bed and native prairie restorations.

sustainable landscape design

+ project skillsSustainable landscape design practices; conceptual landscape design, hand sketching and rendering, public presentation of design concepts

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTERSAFETY VILLAGE

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, 2006

Images: Hand drawn and rendered conceptual landscape design drawings

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+ project infoThe planning and design of ecological restoration projects is a primary responsibility as an Environmental Designer at Earth Source, Inc. Utilizing a combination of expertise in natural sciences, native plant communities and landscape architecture, I collect fielddata, develop ecological restoration plans, draft detailed construction documents, and manage installation activities.

This is an example of a typical set of construction documents produced for an ecological restoration project. This forested floodplainwetland restoration served as required mitigation for off-site wetland impacts.

Successful mitigation begins with proper site selection and a thorough understanding of site hydrology, topography and soil types and integrates them into a site-sensitive mitigation design.Icombineon-sitefielddatawithdatafrom model communities, USGS topographic maps, USFWS national wetland inventory maps, county soil survey data, and aerial photography to create a self-sustaining natural system that will, in time, provide a variety of wetland functions.

ecological restoration design

+ project skillsAutoCAD software; watershed modeling; hydrological modeling; site grading; native plant community design; construction details andspecifications;constructionmanagement

FORESTED WETLAND RESTORATIONVERA BRADLEY, INC.

ROANOKE, INDIANA, 2008

Images: Construction documents for a forested wetland mitigation project, including an earthwork plan, earthwork sections, and construction details (left) and a planting plan (center).

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+ project infoThis environmental design project sought to rehabilitate a severely eroded stretch of a regulated agricultural drain in a creative, eco-sensitive and practical manner. The stream restoration plan aimed to improve stream dynamics through the implementation of naturally stabilized banks and toes, in-stream habitat structures, and a vegetated riparian buffer. Unlike traditional stream bank stabilization techniques that rely heavily on rock riprap, this project utilized both hard and soft bio-engineering techniques combined with native vegetation to create a structurally-stable, ecologically-valuable, and aesthetically-pleasing solution.

As the project manager and lead designer, I oversaw the project from environmental permitting through design and construction. I orchestrated early coordination between the client, the Allen County Surveyor, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Following a thorough site inventory and stream assessment, I led the bioengineering design work and prepared construction documents that included earthwork plans, in-stream enhancement details, planting plans, and specifications. I continued to manage andmonitor the project during the construction phase, working closely with the earthwork and restoration contractors.

stream restoration & stabilization

+ project skillsProject management; construction management; QHEI stream assessments; bioengineering techniques, preparation of construction documents using AutoCAD software

bank erosion - before soil lifts in progress completed soil lifts new vegetated bank

STREAM RESTORATION & STABILIzATIONJOHNSON DRAIN & EEL RIVERFORT WAYNE, INDIANA, 2009

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+ project infoEarth Source, Inc. was employed by Fort Wayne Metals, an industry leader in medical grade wire, to develop a stormwater master plan for their 45-acre campus. As the project manager and lead environmental designer for the project, I led efforts to investigate, evaluate and recommend options to improve stormwater treatment and management. The maximum development potential of the campus was determined based on local building codes and stormwater regulations. The final stormwater master plan includedfuturebuilding footprintsand identifiedgreeninfrastructure opportunities to enhance stormwater treatment for both existing and future impervious surfaces.

stormwater master planning

+ project skillsProject management; agency coordination; technical writing; stormwater calculations including runoff rates, detention storage volumes, water quality volumes, and sizing of post-construction BMPs; knowledge of city and state stormwater regulations; AutoCAD

Native Plant Branding and Marketing, Heartland Restoration Services,

STORMWATER MASTER PLANFORT WAYNE METALS HEADQUARTERS

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, 2009

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Images: Graphic representation of stormwater master plan (center), hand sketched section of a bioretention area (below).

+ project infoAs part of the City of Fort Wayne’s “Catching Rain Fort Wayne” program, Earth Source, Inc. provided design services for the creation of 12 demonstration rain gardens and provided technical training workshops for homeowners and city staff.

My responsibilities as the environmental/landscape designer included site evaluation and selection for demonstration gardens, sizing calculations, preparation of earthwork and planting plans, construction monitoring of the earthwork activities, plant layout, and planting instruction.

The planting plans purposely varied from formal designs to more naturalized plant arrangements to display a variety of styles.

In an effort to educate the public on the application, design and installation of rain gardens, I also led the creation and presentation of fourteen half-day public workshops. The workshops received excellent feedback from city staff and homeowners and an additional fourteen workshops are scheduled for the spring of 2011.

rain garden design & education

+ project skillsRain garden sizing calculations; knowledge of native plants; AutoCAD software; student instruction; workshop development and public presentation

DEMONSTRATION RAIN GARDENSCITY OF FORT WAYNE

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, 2010

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Images: Planting plans for two schoolyard demonstration rain gardens (top), presenting a rain garden workshop, rain garden with overflow outlet, installation of aschoolyard rain garden, demonstration rain garden in its firstgrowingseason(bottom,lefttoright).

+ project infoThis project included designing interpretive signage for the Westbrook Rain Garden complex in Fort Wayne, Indiana and coordinating the fabrication and installation of the signage. The goal of the project was to provide visitors with an understanding of the history, functions and values of this large neighborhood rain garden. Components of the signage included written information, photographs of the rain garden and its plants, and an illustration of the ecological processes within a rain garden. Following the success of this interpretive signage, the City of Fort Wayne requested interpretive signage for 16 additional rain gardens throughout the city.

environmental interpretive signage design

+ project skillsProject management; technical writing; Photoshop software; Indesign software; photography; graphic design; hand illustration and rendering

RAIN GARDEN INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGECITY OF FORT WAYNE

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, 2010

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Images: Completed 24”x36” interpretive sign for the Westbrook Rain Garden (center), hand sketched and rendered illustration of typical rain garden plants (above).

+ project infoAs an Environmental Designer, I rely on the numerousecologicalbenefitsofnativeplantsto meet both the practical and aesthetic goals of my projects. Designing ecological restorations, rain gardens and other sustainable landscapes, I bring previously underutilized native plant species into higher demand. Recognizing a lack of high-quality landscape-grade native plants in the market, I worked with Heartland Restoration Services, sister company toEarthSource,tofillthisnicheinourregion’splant market.

Combining my knowledge of the greenhouse industry, the sustainability market, native plants, and graphic design, I assisted Heartland with the development and branding of “Heartland Heirlooms,” a selection of native plants for the landscape. I designed and created a new company catalog featuring native plants and seed mixes. I also created a marketing package for retail greenhouses selling Heartland’s native plants, which included display posters and unique plant tags.

native plant marketing & graphic design

+ project skillsPhotoshop; Indesign; photography; graphic design; native plant expertise; knowledge of plant marketing in the horticulture industry

NATIVE PLANT MARKETING HEARTLAND RESTORATION SERVICESFORT WAYNE, INDIANA, 2005-2010

Images: Native plant marketing poster (top), pages from new seed catalog (bottom left), new plant tags for native plants (bottom right).

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garden writing

+ project infoAs a freelance garden writer, I am recognized for my ability to combine my knowledge and enthusiasm for garden-related topics with a knack for story telling. I have written numerous newspaper and magazine articles and maintain a popular gardening blog, From This Dirt Forward. My areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, ecological landscape design, edible landscaping, organic gardening, companion planting, food preservation and garden mixology. I am an active member of the National Garden Writers Association and have published pieces in Fine Gardening, GrowerTalks, and Indiana Gardener. I frequently cover trade shows and conferences as a member of the press, mostly recently attending the Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show, Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Independent Garden Center Show, Chicago Flower & Garden Show, OFA Short Course, and the American Nursery & Landscape Association Management Clinic.

+ excerptsThe images to the left are excepts from features in GrowerTalks Magazine, Fine Gardening Magazine, and Indiana Gardener Magazine.

+ editor’s comments“Your text flowed so nicely, it made my joba breeze. Working with you was incredibly easy and I hope that you’ll entertain working together again.” - Danielle Sherry, Associate Editor, Fine Gardening Magazine

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international experience

+ project infoDuring the summer and fall of 2004 I worked as a landscape restoration intern at Tenuta di Spannocchia, an 1100-acre historic farm estate in the Tuscany region of Italy. This 12th century pastoral estate serves as a living museum and an active model for responsible environmental and cultural stewardship. My responsibilities at Spannocchia included the maintenance and restoration of historically and culturally significantlandscapesthroughouttheproperty.I developed and executed a restoration plan for an abandoned chestnut grove, participated in the design and restoration of a secret garden, and assisted with routine farm activities such as animal care, organic gardening, and crop harvesting alongside local Italian farm staff. Following my internship in Italy, I used my profound and colorful experiences at Spannocchiaasinspirationformyfinalprojectin a Graphics for Designers course. I completed a series of hand drawn and rendered plans, sections, and perspectives of the Spannocchia landscape and farm community.

+ project skillsApplied landscape maintenance and restoration; organic farming and gardening; international community living; hand drawing and rendering

LANDSCAPE RESTORATION INTERNTENUTA DI SPANNOCCHIA

CHUISDINO, SIENA, ITALY, 2004

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Images: Hand drawn and rendered illustrations of the Spannocchia landscape (top and left), collage of photographs of landscape maintenance and harvesting activities on the estate (center)

horticultural experience

+ the family businessMy experience in the green industry spans nearly the full breadth of my life. Horticulture has been the White family’s passion and profession for many generations. As a child, I was immersed in the lifestyle of a horticultural family, touring pack trials throughout the northeast and caring for the 10,000 sf of greenhouse space in our front yard. Over the years, I became increasingly involved in the family’s business, and as a teenager, oversaw the growing and marketing of all herb plants at Maidstone Plant Farm. Today, I maintain a close connection to the horticulture industry through my freelance writing work and regular attendance at horticultural trade shows and conferences. Images (left): The greenhouses and display gardens at Maidstone Plant Farm, Maidstone, Vermont, c. 1996

+ green thumbsI continue to maintain a strong passion for plants and gardening, despite my professional transition from applied horticulture into design. I embrace the sustainable and edible landscaping practices that I preach professionally within my own home landscape. My landscape features local hardscape materials, water catchment systems, a restored prairie, native plant gardens for attracting pollinators, a fruit orchard, and extensive vegetable gardens. I routinely experiment with the purported benefitsof companion planting as an organic strategy for discouraging harmful pests while still accommodating forbeneficialallies.Theresultofcarefulcompanionplanting are edible landscapes that are as beautiful as they are productive.

Images (right): Productive and purposeful gardens at my Indiana home, 2010

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volunteer community project - schoolyard garden

+ project infoAs both a designer and passionate gardener, I volunteered my services to create an outdoor learning area in memory of a teacher at Eel River Elementary School. I prepared design concepts and construction details and offered guidance to Eagle Scouts during the construction process. The project includes an outdoor classroom area, handicapped accessible raised vegetable gardens, fruit orchard, rain water harvesting system, rain garden, pollinator gardens, and composting area.

+ project skillsKnowledge of fruit and vegetable gardening; knowledge of native plant gardens; knowledge of accessible gardens; hand sketching

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING GARDENEEL RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HUNTERTOWN, INDIANA, 2009

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Images: Hand sketched conceptual plan for the schoolyard garden (above), newspaper article celebrating this unique memorial garden (right)

volunteer community design projects

+ project infoWith little separation between my professional life and my personal hobbies, I donate much ofmyfreetimetolocalnon-profitorganizationsand school groups who need, but cannot afford, professional-quality environmental design, garden design, graphic design, illustration, or drafting services. These are examples of several pro-bono conceptual designs and illustrations I have completed in recent years.

+ project skillsEcological design; AutoCAD software; hand illustration and rendering; SketchUp software; InDesign software

VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY PROJECTS

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Images: Conceptual watercolor rendering of a 716-acre wetland restoration(top left), rendering of a schoolyard habitat installation (top right), Illustrated section of a green neighborhood development (bottom left), illustration of a memorial design for a natural area(bottom right)

+ contactAnnie W. Stoffel4254 East Hartman RoadColumbia City, IN 46725anniewstoffel@gmail.com260.479.5457

portfolio of design work 15