ABOUT ECOLOGIC CONSULTING
I began this business in 1998 after being a nurseryman and landscape designer all of my adult life. I came to the realization that the conventional landscape and garden design process was inadequate in addressing aesthetic, resource, maintenance and environmental concerns and in many cases was a part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
Plants have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up my parents had a vegetable garden and perennial beds that I worked in as a child. My first garden at age 4, (about 44 years ago) was a small corner of our vegetable garden where I grew zinnias, marigolds and scarlet runner beans. My maternal Grandfather who lived downstate grew lots of different ornamental plants, while my paternal Grandmother who lived next door to us had a utilitarian garden of raspberries, blueberries and rhubarb. Both of these Grandparents as well as a close family friend all had a profound influence on my development as a plant addict. I also think it’s in my genetic makeup as I am obsessed with plants. I worked in nurseries during high school and attended the BOCES horticulture program. I attended SUNY Cobleskill after high school where I earned my A.A.S. in Plant Science. After owning and operating a nursery/landscape business for many years, I returned to college to earn my B.S. in Ecology and then my M.A. in Ethnobotany. I spend my work time designing gardens and consulting, as well as teaching freelance (and as an adjunct Professor for SUNY Empire State College) about horticulture, botany, ethnobotany and ecology. -Drew Monthie
Plants have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up my parents had a vegetable garden and perennial beds that I worked in as a child. My first garden at age 4, (about 44 years ago) was a small corner of our vegetable garden where I grew zinnias, marigolds and scarlet runner beans. My maternal Grandfather who lived downstate grew lots of different ornamental plants, while my paternal Grandmother who lived next door to us had a utilitarian garden of raspberries, blueberries and rhubarb. Both of these Grandparents as well as a close family friend all had a profound influence on my development as a plant addict. I also think it’s in my genetic makeup as I am obsessed with plants. I worked in nurseries during high school and attended the BOCES horticulture program. I attended SUNY Cobleskill after high school where I earned my A.A.S. in Plant Science. After owning and operating a nursery/landscape business for many years, I returned to college to earn my B.S. in Ecology and then my M.A. in Ethnobotany. I spend my work time designing gardens and consulting, as well as teaching freelance (and as an adjunct Professor for SUNY Empire State College) about horticulture, botany, ethnobotany and ecology. -Drew Monthie