About Urban Ecosystems LLC

Urban Ecosystems LLC stands apart through our deep understanding of urban ecosystems and how humans interact with these systems. We understand Urban Ecosystems down to a science...because it is a science! Urban ecosystems are complex ecological systems that are located within a city or densely populated areas, characterized by the interaction of living organisms, human infrastructure, and environmental processes.

Lead Steward and owner Jason Raschke brings a Master of Science in Environmental Science and 35 years of combined landscape construction knowledge. His synergistic understating of urban ecosystems brings a unique, educated, and unparalleled perspective to the landscape industry.

Additionally, our team brings extensive backgrounds in carpentry, construction techniques, landscape construction, horticulture, and ecological design. We specialize in building reality, you can trust our experienced professionals to bring your vision to life!

We focus on creating thriving habitats within the urban matrix that incorporate edible and usable plants with native plants, while seamlessly integrating with construction codes, construction techniques and design knowledge. Our approach prioritizes ecological balance and sustainable practices in every project.

We want to see edible, medicinal, and herbal plants permeate the urban environment, while providing pollinators with host and nectar plantings, wildlife with habitat, and ecosystem services to the region. Through permaculture principles, we utilize specific techniques and landscape elements that enhance ecosystem services, create vibrant communities, and connect our clients with the natural world around them by creating landscapes that synergistically integrate with nature!

Ounce we have our zone and sector site analysis done, we work with our client to develop a comprehensive plan to develop their property into paradise

Prior to design, we meet with our clients over an extended period. We listen closely to their design objectives and landscape needs. Once we establish the vision, we develop a comprehensive landscape design that exemplifies our client's needs, while incorporating ecological design. We strive to integrate our clients with their environment by incorporating edible and pollinator plants with usable herbs and native plants that benefit the region as a whole.

The areas directly outside of our home connects us with the natural world. Outdoor rooms, decks, and patios are the landscape elements that facilitate this transition.

Outdoor rooms are the ultimate interface between people and the natural environment. Whether summer or winter, a covered patio or deck provides an area to interact with and observe nature, while being in a protective human made structure.

We specialize in outdoor rooms that provide the opportunity to intimately connect with nature at your home, summer or winter.

Patios are the next element in ecological design. They provide a flat surface to entertain and relax. patios can be connected to the house or offer a landing to an elevated deck. Either way we've got you covered!

Flagstone is a durable and elegant addition to any landscape. Our team produces quality work with details that are unsurpassed! Notice the jointing in this patio...cut to perfection! Nooice!

Trellising and arbors are a beautiful way to add structure to a landscape. This design exemplifies form, pattern, and beauty.

Besides being cool, these structures can be utilized to create shade and to facilitate flowering vines such as honeysuckle, jasmine, and trumpet creeper. These plants are all great pollinator plants, helping to feed butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds.

Trellises and arbors can also be used to support edible plants such as grapes, kiwis, cucumbers, and beans. We design and construct unique trellises and arbors!

Pathways provide movement from place to place within the landscape. Pathways that are not utilized as primary ways of movement through the garden provide an opportunity to utilize flagstone steppers. By creating negative space, flagstone steppers present an inherent opportunity to plant additional plants and use sorted rock details.

This project utilizes blue star creeper and various thyme species adjacent to the steppers. The pathway is infilled with pebbles, stone, and cobbles. Additionally, the pathway is flanked by a pollinator garden, providing nectar and host material to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds! Together the pathway and the pollinator garden create a functional and beautiful landscape!

Paver pathways are the most durable and flexible option for high traffic areas of the garden. They can be straight or curvy, conforming to the surrounding landscape.

This project utilizes a paver pathway that is flanked by a spiral garden that is planted with usable culinary herbs, as well as pollinator perennials. The combination creates a beautiful landscape element.

Rock steps are a durable solution when options are limited. They provide a rustic, natural look to the landscape. This project utilizes a cedar tree handrail to accentuate the natural appearance of the rock. We design and build rock steps that will last forever!

Vegetable gardens are one of the main components of any landscape. There is nothing more fulfilling than growing your own vegetables! We integrate vegetable gardens into our designs to help our clients build a connection with their environment!

Spiral gardens are an unique permaculture concept that is utilized to create a landscape element that increases square footage in the garden. The cone shape created by the spiral increases the total planting area. Typically, spirals are utilized for herbs, but we have also designed them with pollinator plants.

Native plants are integral to maintaining ties to the natural world. They provide valuable ecosystem services, as well as symbiotic relationships with native animals.

The flowering red currant is a perfect example of plants that have a symbiotic relationship with wildlife. Rufous hummingbirds coincide their spring migration with the blooming of red currant, which provides a valuable food source on their arduous migration from Mexico and central America. Neotropical birds breed in the US and winter in the tropics. It is extremely important to have native and nectar bearing plants in urban ecosystems!

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program is an amazing project that fosters the development of Habitat in the Portland area.

Urban Ecosystems is proud to endorse and encourage the development of this program with our own efforts. Back in 2005, Jason(UE owner) worked with Audubon to develop their assessment protocols to develop the program.

While native plants are the primary focus of the program, Jason additionally emphasized the ecological and human importance of non-native edible, medicinal, and beneficial plants within the matrix of creating habitat and vibrant urban ecosystems. The vast majority of plants that are utilized by modern cosmopolitans are non-native edible plants that originated in all parts of the world. As a result, we utilize plants from all over the world~edible, medicinal, ornamental, native, habitat and pollinator species!

Food forests are a permaculture technique that utilizes plant guilds-or synergistic plant associations to create a unique landscape element that mimics natural systems.

Typically, we create and construct a design that utilizes fruit and nut trees as the overstory, fruiting and nectar rich shrubs as an understory, fruiting vines as a connector, and pollinator perennials and ground covers as a base vegetation to create a landscape that mimics a natural forest. This combination of plants is intrinsically synergistic, providing beauty and food for people, food for pollinators, and habitat for animals!

Water in the landscape is an essential element of the ecological landscape. Water is scarce in the urban environment, creating the need for supplemental, human created sources.

Water features come in many forms, from wall mounted fountains, to ponds with waterfalls. Water features not only create a unique element of the landscape, but also serve an important ecological role. Myriad bird species, as well as frogs and salamanders utilize water features in the Urban Ecosystem. We design and build tranquil, unique, and beautiful water features!