In memoriam: Alison Peck was pillar for sustainable practices |
Written by Colorado Green NOW |
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 04:00 AM |
Alison Peck, founder of Matrix Gardens in Boulder, passed away unexpectedly on April 15, 2021 after a stroke. She was 63. The Colorado landscape industry will remember her as a champion for landscapes that embraced sustainability, water conservation, wildlife habitat and the use of native plants. She founded, owned and operated one of the first woman-owned landscape businesses in the area; one that promoted drip irrigation and Xeriscape. Alison was mentored in her early profession by Jim Knopf, a local landscape architect, who has written several books on Xeriscapes. “She was such a driving force for sustainability,” recalls Becky Garber, who managed the Sustainable Landscape Partners program at ALCC. “I think many of her clients were both attracted to and educated by her work.” Among Alison’s other contributions was passing along her wealth of knowledge to her employees; teaching both design and sustainable landscaping classes at Front Range Community College and at Harlequin’s Gardens; and lecturing at both Colorado Native Plant Society and Audubon Rockies Conferences. Her colleagues note that “Matrix Gardens continues to operate, embodying her vision of a high-quality, supportive workplace creating world-class, earth-sustaining landscapes.” Peck is survived by her husband Milan Pipersky and their son Orion. A small celebration of life was held in June at Chautauqua Park in Boulder. Read more about her life and accomplishments at bit.ly/cgapeck. Those wishing to make a donation in her memory can contact the local SOIL organization (Slow Opportunities for Investing Locally) at slowmoney.org. Read more in this issue of Colorado Green Now: |