Yellow Springs Farm Relocates to Talbot County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Yellow Springs Farm relocated to Talbot County, MD in 2022, where we continue the mission of designing sustainable landscaping with native plants to bridge land and water through art and science. Yellow Springs Farm serves clients in MD, PA, and DE.
Yellow Springs Farm began in Chester County, PA with founder-owners Catherine & Al Renzi in 2001. The PA farm and native plant nursery included a historic 19th-century farmhouse, dairy barn, and a pond with a spring house. Originally a cow dairy farm over 150 years ago, the Renzis took care to steward the farm, plant nursery and goat dairy from 2001-21. They protected its land, water and resources from future development with a donated conservation easement.
Over the last 20 years, they have visited Maryland’s Eastern Shore many times and reveled in the treasures of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounds. The regional focus on land conservation and restoring the Bay attracted them to Talbot County, MD. Relocating to the Eastern Shore is a natural transition for them as a couple, and advances their interest in helping businesses and homeowners further their goals of environmental stewardship with conservation-minded landscape.
Yellow Springs Farm’s focus on conservation landscaping comes from the knowledge that preserving our environment is necessary to ensure the future health of our communities. Since 2001, YSF participated in Save the Bay Programs, and hundreds of regional landscape projects through their native plant nursery sales, and consulting services. The Renzis’ efforts help to create sustainable landscapes benefits people, pollinators, and our planet’s air, water, and environment.
Yellow Springs Farm consulting and naturalistic design services for homeowners and businesses emphasize an environmentally-friendly approach to design, plant selection and maintenance with the goals of providing wildlife habitat, improved soils, and less surface water run-off. The Renzi’s environmental and conservation approach emphasizes year-round beauty with attractive colors and textures. The low-maintenance sites welcomes people, but also serve the needs of diverse birds, butterflies and beneficial insects. Catherine and Al Renzi provide selective installation services and coordinate projects with local providers and DIY and property owners.
For the cost-conscious, do-it-yourself homeowners, YSF offers private consultation at your property within 20 miles of Talbot County, or via Zoom where travel distances are less practical. They provide expert advice on property management, aesthetic choices and challenges, plant identification, as well as successful native plant selection for new gardens, or restoring existing planting areas.
Yellow Springs Farm– Landscape Design & Restoration Specialties
· Natural Ponds & Bog Gardens
· Woodland Design & Restoration
· Riparian Buffers & Forested Riparian Buffers
· Meadows — Lawn substitutes
· Rain Gardens
· Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens
· Shade Gardens & Deer Resistant Gardens
About Yellow Springs Farm LLC, with Al and Catherine Renzi
Yellow Springs Farm began in Chester County, PA with founder-owners Catherine & Al Renzi in 2001. The PA farm and native plant nursery included a historic 19th-century farmhouse, dairy barn, and a pond with a spring house. Originally a cow dairy farm over 150 years ago, the Renzis took care to steward the farm, plant nursery and goat dairy from 2001-21. The dairy produced many award-winning cheeses, and enjoyed distribution around the Mid-Atlantic region.
Catherine Renzi studied architecture and finds her training in design and art history helpful in creating gardens using native plants to provide an aesthetic appropriate to the site and characteristic of the local region. She became interested in landscape and conservation through a lifelong passion for growing food, flowers, and raising all sorts of plants and animals. Catherine’s oil painting and drawings are naturally inspired by her love of the outdoors. For information on her fine arts work, visit www.catherinerenziart.com
Al Renzi brings his experience in biology and microbiology to plant selections and sustainable practices for landscape care and stewardship. Prior to establishing Yellow Springs Farm in 2001, Al had a lengthy career in the pharmaceutical industry. Al volunteers for various non-profits and watershed conservation organizations including Trout Unlimited.
Together, Catherine and Al’s mix of arts and science makes for productive teamwork. They also offer informative presentations on conservation landscape topics via Zoom or in person. Please ask about offerings and fee schedule if your event, group or organization is looking for speakers.