I have volunteered with Backyard Abundance plenty of times and love what they do! It's a small operation that does a lot of good for our community! Fred, the executive director, also teaches a couple of gardening classes at the University of Iowa, and I feel lucky to have been able to learn how to grow my own food, protect our environment, and be more sustainable. A lot of the community gardens in Iowa City are thanks to Backyard Abundance!
Review from Guidestar
What an amazing program! I have learned so much from BYA - they offer a variety of environmental programming.
BackYard Abundance is one of the most effective environmental outfits in Iowa City!
The landscaper charged $1180 for a landscape plan only, and apparently felt his role and responsibility was finished after receiving the check. It took hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars of plants to implement. No information was given about where to obtain many of the highly unusual plants. Not even the local nurseries could find them. Sea kale was in the plan, when I finally found one internet source, I find out that it needs at least a Zone 7, not a Zone 5. The rain garden location did nothing for the flooding in the back of the yard after a heavy rain. The aronia bushes and blueberry bushes died because of their prescribed location in the shade. There was a large area, approximately 1200 square feet that I planted in a beautiful herbal groundcover--coreopsis, creeping thyme, oregano, foam flower, lovage, asters, yarrow, and so forth. Unfortunately, the plan also included a perennial "white clover" (trifolium replens) to be planted between them. The groundcover looked splendid until cooler temperatures, when the clover became so aggressive, the runners, legs, with long, long roots, took over all the expensive groundcover. Unfortunately, the designer and executive of this nonprofit, has stalled in taking responsibility. As much as I am a supporter of ecological landscaping, I feel greatly let down. I paid a lot of money for his expertise. He certainly had good intentions, however his knowledge was lacking. I still support his mission, however his business practices need great improvement.
Review from Guidestar