GREEN IS GOOD — Cont’d from page 39
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.
Parade of Homes Hours: Winnipeg and Surrounding Areas: Monday to Thursday: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday: By appointment only Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Brandon only: Tuesday and Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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40 Parade of Homes fall 2019
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