Can you sometimes no longer see the (food) forest for the trees? Fortunately we do!
The most comprehensive design package you will find
Why do we get up every morning?
95% of our planet will be degraded by 2050 if we stay in bed.
Over the last 5 years, I and the team have expanded Commensalist® from a one-man show into a successful international landscape architecture firm.
With an incredibly driven multidisciplinary team: landscape architects, agricultural engineers, food forest, market garden and CSA experts.
We design projects from several thousand square meters to large-scale developments of 300 hectares or more in Belgium and abroad.
We design edible landscapes for people & nature: food forests, regenerative agriculture projects, permaculture projects, nature restoration, afforestation, natural gardens and much more.
I quickly decided not to make any compromises in terms of quality and depth.
If you are looking for the most well-thought-out and comprehensive plan to realize your dream on your piece of land and also want to make a difference yourself, you have come to the right place.
Below you can see in detail what is included in our package.
Hope to see you soon,
Louis De Jaeger
CEO of Commensalist®
Customers love Commensalist
(and we theirs)
A sustainable landscape design is only successful if there is a sustainable relationship
Please note: to guarantee the best quality, we only accept 4 customers per month (both national and international)
Update: our appointments are almost full until autumn, if you want an appointment before New Year 2022/2023, please mention this in the request.
The Commensalist World Improver Package
The most thorough design package to really get the most out of your place
#1 Extensive preliminary research
(file worth >€3,500)
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Soil maps
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Potential natural vegetation
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Historical maps (>250 years old)
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Heritage
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Flood hazard
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Legal framework
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Climatic factors (micro and macro)
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Consultation of RGB and regional plan
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VEN & IVON (nature)
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Biological valuation cards (existing valuable nature)
#2 A master plan to frame
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Division into different layers:
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High-stem
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Half-stock
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Low stem
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Shrubs & Small fruit
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Perennials & Flower bulbs
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Mowing zones & the right mix
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Water zone & planting
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Agricultural production
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Animals in the design
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Paths & Infrastructure
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Swimming pond
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(Maybe not everything will apply to you)
#3 Plan of action: do this and you will survive the next heat wave
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Approach to different zones
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Listing of activities
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List of best nurseries
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Do's and don'ts
#4 "If you wonder 10 years later what plant is there" - reference book (booklet)
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Dutch & Scientific name of plant
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Flowering period
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Maintenance period
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Photos
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Characteristics (flower color, shape, height, inflorescence,…)
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Soil type
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Description
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Pruning/care info
#5 “You don't just see us through a screen” service
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Brainstorming session & observation
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2nd site visit
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Final presentation of plan on site
* To protect the environment, this may differ if the project is located far away abroad
#6 (BONUS) Because-we-you-
wanting to unburden yourself completely
Soil research
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Research into heavy metals
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Acidity (pH)
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Carbon content measurement
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Analysis of nutrients present
#7 (BONUS) Who knows, you may earn back our design package twice with subsidies
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We will inform you about the most important subsidies
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Municipal
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Flemish, Walloon, Brussels
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Agroforestry
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Food forest
Please note: there are many subsidies, we will point out the most important ones, although there is of course a chance that you are not eligible for any of them or that it is not worth it.
The Commensalist trajectory
A very concise representation of the design process - just a matter of keeping an overview
Introduction
The most important thing: feel if there is a click between you and the Commensalist philosophy!
Start
Introduction
The most important thing: feel if there is a click between you and the Commensalist philosophy!
4-6 months
Delivering a complete package
Our hard work all comes together here in a very clear and comprehensive package.
6-9 months
Exploration
First visit of the team. An intense brainstorming session and observation area.
2-4 months
Planting
Drawing up a planting list and planting plan
6-9 months
Party time!
A good design
brings in money
A standard design (which we no longer do) costs money, the extensive design package that we offer costs even more money. If you look above at what is included in the package, you will understand why.
What we deliver is craftsmanship. Commensalist team members are much more than just landscape architects, green managers or agricultural engineers.
Through years of additional study and experience, every member of our team has grown (and we are still growing) into a true expert, which is rare.
Thanks to the individual expertise on the one hand, but also to the fireworks when our team members work together, you have a super brain that makes the most of your place.
The development of your piece of land is delicate: after all, we have to work together with nature. Because we know nature inside and out, we know how to do this.
By properly understanding natural processes, we can ensure (sometimes with small details) that expensive mistakes are avoided.
A good design literally makes money: you save a lot of tuition money because we immediately provide the right advice, create a well-thought-out design, based on fundamentally good research.
What after it
design package?
#1 You roll up your sleeves
The advantage of our design package: you are 100% free to do whatever you want with the design. Installing it yourself is a lot of work, but it is also very nice: you get to know your place and the plants on a much deeper level.
#2 You arrange the construction yourself
You may know some handy Harry's or Henriette's, maybe your brother-in-law is a gardener or you know a good contractor? Then, thanks to the design package, they have everything they need to keep the project on track.
#3 We coordinate the construction
Our core business is: research and design. We are a design agency and not a construction company. When projects become too complex, it can be useful to relieve yourself and call on us to coordinate the construction.
Because every project has different needs, the hours are very variable, which is why we do not include this in the package. Also, not everyone needs this.
As a coordinator, we bring together the right contractors (each of whom remains independent of us, is responsible for their own work and invoices you directly) and ensures that you can rest easy. We do this per half day at standard consulting rates.
Who are our customers?
Their °1 motivation:
They want to be part of the solution
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Celebrities with a chic villa who want a sustainable garden
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Do-gooders who want a food forest
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Ordinary people with large gardens who want more experience
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Crypto millionaires who want to save nature
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Yoga retreats
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Event locations
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Nature campsites
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Bed & Breakfasts
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Permaculture projects
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Companies that want a picking garden
Why do we only take on 4 projects per month? Impact!
We can only be the best design agency in our niche if we maintain our focus.
We are in the middle of the impact economy: every hour we investing as a team must make maximum impact. This is the only way to think if we want to save nature.
That is why we are very selective in choosing our new projects.
Impact is very broad: biodiversity, climate, water management, erosion, but also strengthening communities, social fabric, creating sustainable jobs and magical experiences.