Everyone schemes from an early age. It’s a natural human activity. Now, as we enter the 21^st Century, it is important that we scheme together. Our future depends on us working together to plan and design new, and tune up existing, healthy and efficient living environments.

Today, individual consumers, as well as communities, are paying more attention to quality of life issues. At the same time they are interested in protecting and restoring the natural environment. The challenge of how to do both is the work of a human ecologist. As a human ecologist, I started greenschemes in 2006 as a way to guide the interactions between human beings and their social, physical and biological environments.  It is possible and necessary for these seemingly separate environments to be thoughtfully and purposefully integrated into future designs.

greenschemes forms customized teams of planning and design professionals who have complementary skills and expertise – architects, landscape architects, human ecologists,  planners and engineers.  The team facilitates the planning and design process so that human and ecological criteria are integrated in such a way that the project contributes to building a sustainable, satisfying and soulful way of living.

greenschemes believes in starting with a multi-disciplinary approach. Especially now, as new green principles and technologies are starting to be applied, it is necessary to bring several professionals together to work with stakeholders so that local knowledge and wisdom can come together to form a common mind. This common mind serves to sustain the vision and support the implementation.

Real benefits come from the greenscheming method and approach to human-ecological planning and design. Because stakeholders are engaged in the planning and design process, along with professionals, from the very beginning, much less time (and money) is needed than in the conventional planning process.

Drawing from my work and experience as a human ecologist, I provide insights and methods that can be used to guide the planning and design process to favor balance and harmony in ecosystems of which people are an integral part. I hold a graduate degree in Human Ecology from the University of Brussels and spent 20 years working with an international development organization that invented the highly participatory and creative methodology called Technologies of Participation (ToP^®).  I have developed the process of greenscheming based on this participatory methodology. As a human ecologist, or multi-disciplinary professional, I act as the interface or connective tissue for planning and design professionals and stakeholder groups who want to work together on a multi-faceted project but who may have very different values, perspectives or understandings.

Whether it is planning a water feature in a garden to enhance its beauty and ecology, a commercial green village that facilitates “slow shopping” of quality goods and services or a safe and healthy housing initiative that increases the livability of a community, each presents a challenge which can be met in an innovative, creative, integrated manner, by getting greenschemes involved in the project at the very beginning so that greenscheming can begin.

Elaine K. Stover is the owner of greenschemes™ a new green business serving the Triad.

Contact her at greenschemes@bellsouth.net. And visit  www.greenschemesnc.com.