From living walls and vertical gardens made entirely of
low-maintenance greenery, to budding art installations
and wall coverings comprised of self-sustaining
preserved moss, Bouchier's offerings build on what
environmentalist E.O. Wilson dubbed biophilia — the
innate human urge to make connections with nature.
"That's just our basic instinct," Bouchier says.
"Taking nature indoors helps people to make those
connections, and overall the health benefits are just
amazing."
Launched in 2015, Off the Wall got its start when reps
from a local office furniture retailer contacted Bouchier
about a living wall system they were about to add to
their showroom.
"They had me research it and plant it and take care
of it," she recalls. "As I was getting to know this
living wall system — and after talking to a bunch of
other people who do interior landscaping throughout
Canada and the U.S. — I discovered there were
lots of different systems that comply with different
applications and settings, and that worked in different
ways and with different budgets."
Having studied horticulture since high school, and
with years of experience working in landscaping
and forestry, Bouchier enrolled in a self-employment
program through the YMCA, and soon afterwards
branched off on her own.
THOUGH LIVING WALLS
AND OTHER INTERIOR
LANDSCAPING ELEMENTS HAD
CROPPED UP IN CITIES LIKE
VANCOUVER AND EDMONTON
A FEW YEARS EARLIER, THE
TREND HADN'T YET TAKEN
ROOT IN WINNIPEG.
GREEN IS GOOD
— Cont'd from page 39
40 Parade of Homes fall 2019
#paradeofhomesmb
www.homebuilders.mb.ca
Parade of Homes Hours:
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Friday: By appointment only
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Tuesday and Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
