Ocean Friendly Gardens
The Ocean Friendly Gardens program (OFG) sees landscapes and streets as solutions to water pollution - and more.
A Simple Approach
OFG standards use this simple approach everywhere possible: contouring landscapes for rainwater retention; creating living soil to sponge up water, filter pollution and sequester carbon; and installing climate-appropriate plants to create wildlife habitat and a sense of place.
The Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) Program is Surfrider Foundation's volunteer-run landscape education, hands-on training and advocacy program. In addition to providing valuable information to property owners on how landscapes and hardscapes can prevent water pollution, Surfrider chapters are using this program to encourage landscape professionals to incorporate the program’s principles into their business practices. Chapters also use the program to motivate local governments to support OFG-oriented policy changes for existing and new development.
Water runoff is the #1 source of ocean pollution in urban areas, contributing to flooding and wasting water that can irrigate landscapes and replenish groundwater.
What Is An Ocean Friendly Garden?
OFGs apply CPR – Conservation, Permeability and Retention – to landscapes, hardscapes and streets. They allow soil to act like a sponge to help restore the helpful functions of watersheds like protecting local water supplies and preventing pollution from reaching the ocean. They also reduce flooding during storm events, pull carbon from the air and into plants and soil, and create wildlife habitat (above is a typical OFG and below is a curb cut flowing into a bio-swale).
OFGs apply what is coming to be known around the country as the watershed approach. The principles are the same: healthy, living soil; retain rainwater; climate-appropriate plants; efficient supplemental irrigation as needed.
You can stay in touch with OFG through our national OFG Facebook page. Please connect or volunteer with one of the Surfrider chapters or student clubs.
Learn More About The Program
Resources
Surfrider Publications
Program Criteria
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for OFG Activities
Benefits of Healthy Soils and Ocean Friendly Gardens
Toolkits and Online Tools
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Toolkit for Planning an OFG Program & Activities - tabling, walks, talks, workdays, policy meetings, plus sample flyers/hand-outs.
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Insurance coverage - request form for hands-on activities.
Participatory waiver - PDF version (request .doc version to customize it). Not a substitute for insurance coverage.
Workday Agreement Form (Residental & Public Site)
Walks - example from West LA/Malibu Chapter.
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Signs, Brochures, and Educational Resources
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To order an Ocean Friendly Garden Sign, please email Mara Dias, mdias@surfrider.org
Intro to Ocean Friendly Gardens Slideshow
Clean Water Tips Handout - things you can do at home to protect water quality at the beach
Surfrider's short, animated film about a holistic approach to water called ”The Cycle of Insanity” (Disponible aquí en Español)
Guidelines and How To's
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Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens How-To Gardener's Guide Book
Guidebook following the watershed approach - how to evaluate your site, remove turf without chemicals, grade for rainwater capture, sheet mulch, and more. It was created by G3/Green Gardens Group and applies to areas beyond Southern California (unlike what the title suggests)
Steps to Creating an OFG - template for identifying resources in your area
Install rain barrels and be a part of the “Get Barreled” Program
Get involved!
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Volunteer - locate the Surfrider chapter and student club closest to you
Contact them to see if they are running an OFG program or offer to help start one
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Resources for Chapters
OFG Webpage Templates - West LA/Malibu, New York City
OFG Logos (PDF Version)
Activity Data Tracker Form for annual reporting
Instructional Videos - installing an OFG, how they work, adding parkway curb cuts (green street), case studies, and more.
Ways To Get Involved
Volunteer
Join our network and help us tackle the issues that face our ocean, waves and beaches.
Donate
Support Surfrider and our network of coastal defenders.
Take Action
Take action right from your computer by contacting your elected officials.