Let’s Make Orinda Beautiful and Resilient

 
 
orinda firewise planting example.jpg

Rome wasn’t built in a day…

It all begins with a few simple steps. It can feel overwhelming to think about how to make your garden and backyard wildfire resistant, but once you start, it gets a lot easier. The Orinda Firewise Council will be reaching out with classes, how-tos and lots of information about creating fire-safe, but gorgeous landscaping.

Below is a list of resources. Get on our mailing list to hear about classes and other information.

Fire Safe Landscaping Resources

You can check out sites individually below or you can download a handout with all of the links. In addition, the Lamorinda Weekly published a great article, “Digging Deep…” by Cynthia Brian with plant lists and landscaping advice for our environment.

  1.  Fire Smart Landscaping by Marin Master Gardeners. A great, 7-minute, high level description and examples of fire smart landscaping do’s and don’ts.

  2. The California Native Plant Society, East Bay Chapter has a one hour video with lots of before and after photos of fire safe landscaping and homes that were saved by their fire safe landscaping.

  3. Watch recorded webinar “Firewise Landscaping: Preparing Your Home and Property for Wildfire”, by Contra Costa County Master Gardeners Steve Danziger and Hedwig Van Den Broeck.

  4. EBMUD’s excellent Fire Safe Landscaping brochure: read PDF online or order your own free copy.

  5. Book “Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape” by Douglas Kent & recommended by Hedwig Van Den Broeck. Order from Orinda Books or Amazon.

  6. List of Prohibited Plants in Orinda and Moraga AND a list of disallowed vegetation with photos for those us who have a black thumb.

  7. List of fire-resistant plants – Diablo Firesafe

  8. Fire resistant ground covers – MOFD

  9. Fire safe mulches by Fire Safe Marin

  10. Fire resistant landscaping – Cal Fire

  11.   Defensible Space – Cal Fire

    Fire resistant ground covers