Expertise:
Landscape Design, Firescaping, Fire & Landscape, Gardening, Drought-Resistant Landscape, Foraging, Land Management (Ecological), California Landscape, California Gardening, California-Friendly Plants, Sustainable Gardens, Soil Erosion, Topsoil Loss, Wildfire Damage (Landscape, Yard Recovery), Efficient Irrigation, Rain Water Capture, Storm Water Management, Watershed ProtectionDouglas Kent is an author, activist, educator and specialist in ecological land management. He is the Principal of Douglas Kent + Associates and has been working in California’s landscapes for over 30 years. His designs and projects have been featured in publications across the nation, including Los Angeles Times, Fine Gardening, Sunset Magazine, HGTV and National Wildlife.
On behalf of public agencies, he has presented workshops and classes for several public education campaigns. His most frequent topic at workshops has been firescaping. Funded mostly by FireSafe Councils and water districts, the work has toured the state and led to appearances on KOCE (TV), CNN Comcast (TV), KSFO many times (radio), and public radio in Marin and Nevada Counties. He has also presented on “California friendly maintenance,” energy smart landscapes funded by the Southern California Gas Company, ocean friendly gardens and guilt free gardening.
The author of eight books, Kent is currently working on a book about “Ecological Land Management: An Introductory Guide to Sustainable Land Management Practices,” which is being used in two Cal Poly Pomona classes. He has also written more than 50 articles published in various newspapers and magazines including CoastKeeper Magazine, Fine Gardening, Los Angeles Times, Marin Independent Journal, Orange County Register, and the Southern Sierran.
Selected Publications:
- Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape (Wilderness Press, 2nd ed., 2019)
- Foraging Southern California (AdventureKeen, October 2019)
- California Friendly: A maintenance guide for landscapers, gardeners and land managers (Muni 2017)
- Ocean Friendly Gardens: A how-to guide to help restore a healthy coast and ocean (Surfrider Foundation, 2009 – Book and national education program)
- Firescaping: Creating fire-resistant properties, landscapes, and gardens in California’s diverse environments (Wilderness Press, 2005)
- A New Era of Gardening: A guide to gardening for oxygen and a healthier atmosphere (Garden Shed Productions, 2001, of the Los Angeles Times’ best new gardening books in 2002)
- A Guide to Your Natives (Newport / Mesa School District, 1987, guide was written for the students of the school district)
- With Jeanette Marantos, “6 Things you can do to protect wildfire-scorched yards from the rains,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 20, 2018
Interviews:
- “Foragers build a community of plants and people while connecting with the past,” NPR, Dec. 29, 2023
- “A city park means green space and a place to forage for meal ingredients,” NPR “Morning Edition,” Dec. 27, 2023
- “How to bring some colorful plants into your winter garden,” Orange County Register, Dec. 16, 2023
- “Studio RPV,” Rancho Palos Verdes Television, Nov. 16, 2023
- “Why gardeners should consider growing weeds in Southern California,” Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Feb. 14, 2023
- “Earth’s Produce Section Is Free if You Know How To Forage Safely,” Well+Good, Jan. 26, 2023
- “How gardening may extend your life and make it better,” Los Angeles Times, Sept. 1, 2022
- “Your Lawn Care Tech Is Killing the Planet. Here Are 4 Ways to Fix It.” The Daily Beast, Aug. 12, 2022
- “Leaf blowers, lawn mowers and fertilizer: How lawns contribute to climate change,” Yahoo!News, June 22, 2022
- “Why vinegar might be your secret weapon to fighting weeds,” Los Angeles Times, April 23, 2020
- “Tips to harden your home from wildfires,” Sonoma Index Tribune, March 26, 2020
- “Author Douglas Kent coming to Mendocino College for fire safety talk on Nov. 21,” Ukiah Daily, Nov. 11, 2019
- “Gardening: How firescaping your home and yard creates a needed safety zone,” Orange County Register, Oct. 12, 2019
- “Firescaping and Wildfire Recovery: An Interview with Douglas Kent,” Fine Gardening, Nov. 25, 2018
- “Firescaping: Plants that Help Protect Your Property from Fire,” Fine Gardening, Nov. 25, 2018
Education:
B.A., Sociology, California State University, Long Beach
M.S., Regenerative Studies and M., Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic University, Pomona
Languages:
English only