Ocean Friendly Gardens
"Be Part of the solution, not the pollution"
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 our Program Coordinator.
Learn More About The Program
Read about the World's Largest Ocean Friendly Garden!
Resources
Surfrider Publications
- Surfrider's Clean Water Annual Report 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
- Ocean Friendly Garden's Annual Report 2014, 2013, 2012
- Ocean Friendly Garden Handout
- Coastal Blog Topics: Ocean Friendly Gardens, Garden Assistance Party, Lawn Patrol, Homeowner Workshop
Program Criteria
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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.
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Participatory waiver - PDF version (request .doc version to customize it). Not a substitute for insurance coverage.
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Workday Agreement Form (Residental & Public Site)
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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
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Intro to Ocean Friendly Gardens Slideshow
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Clean Water Tips Handout - things you can do at home to protect water quality at the beach
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Surfrider's short, animated film about a holistic approach to water called ”The Cycle of Insanity” (Disponible aquí en Español)
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Harmful Algal Bloom Social Media Toolkit (FL)
Guidelines and How To's
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Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens How-To Gardener's Guide Book
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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)
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Steps to Creating an OFG - template for identifying resources in your area
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Install rain barrels and be a part of the “Get Barreled” Program
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Get involved!
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Volunteer - locate the Surfrider chapter and student club closest to you
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Contact them to see if they are running an OFG program or offer to help start one
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Resources for Chapters
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OFG Webpage Templates - West LA/Malibu, New York City
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OFG Logos (PDF Version)
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Activity Data Tracker Form for annual reporting
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Instructional Videos - installing an OFG, how they work, adding parkway curb cuts (green street), case studies, and more.
Our Chapter's programs operate solely on your kind donations
