About
Native plants transform our yards into dynamic, ecologically thriving spaces, with almost immediate benefits for local wildlife. Gardening therefore represents one of the most straightforward tools that we–as individuals and in community–can deploy in the fight against climate change and biodiversity collapse, issues that often feel overwhelming.
We launched Swamp Rose because gardening with native plants has deepened our relationship with the land and developed our sense of reciprocity with the natural world that sustains us.
No Jefes!
Or, why we’re a worker co-op
Swamp Rose is owned and managed by its workers. We make decisions collectively, share all profits, and pay sustainable wages.
The average landscaping worker in the metro DC region earns $15.85 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many landscapers are Latino immigrants who earn even less than this while working in harsh conditions for exploitative bosses. At Swamp Rose, we index our rates to the Living Wage Calculator designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
One of our founding members who is a native Spanish speaker used the phrase “no jefes” – no bosses – when explaining Swamp Rose to another landscaper who now works with us. We found that it was very helpful in showing the difference between our company and the conventional approach in our outreach and recruitment efforts with landscape workers.
Why Swamp Rose?
The swamp rose is a beautiful plant native to the vast wetlands that covered the Washington, DC area before colonization. Like another native plant and similarly-named swamp rose mallow, it provides critical habitat and sustenance for native bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. These wetlands were part of highly functional watersheds that helped manage and utilize stormwater naturally.
Wetlands are now understood to be among the most ecologically important ecosystems. With so many wetlands lost to development and agriculture across our region, we are now faced with increasingly daunting stormwater management challenges – something Swamp Rose works with many of our clients to help address. And because of their inaccessibility often served as places of refuge for oppressed communities and people who were struggling to create a better world.
