Our Past

Since the start of our FFC/GCI program, a school-sponsored program that allows students to work on a project of their choosing, we knew we wanted our project to be focused on addressing the pressing issue of climate change. In our search for solutions, we came across Xeriscaping, a promising but lesser-known practice that can significantly reduce water usage and promote healthy, native plant growth in any landscape. Recognizing the lack of awareness around Xeriscaping, we set out to devise a way to bring it to the masses. After weeks of researching and brainstorming, we concluded that with our software engineering and data science backgrounds that creating an app would have the greatest reach and the most significant impact in encouraging users to adopt Xeriscaping. Before creating the app, we needed to deepen our understanding of Xeriscaping, so we delved into case studies around the world and consulted with experts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the practice. Unfortunately, given time constraints, we were not able to complete a full working app, and decided that creating a website (you’re here right now!) would be similarly accessible. Before switching over to creating a website, we created a full, working wireframe of the app that even included limited functionality ( Link to our wireframe if you’re interested ). Our vision was to create an app that would help users identify the most suitable plants for their local environment, empowering them to easily create their own Xeriscaped gardens and make a positive impact on both their wallets and the environment.