Jaime Zaplatosch has been designing and installing gardens professionally since 1998. She focuses on low maintenance and native gardens. Jaime is a certified Permaculture Designer and integrates those philosophies in her garden work.

Jaime received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Education from Prescott College and her Masters in Education from DePaul University. This education background has allowed Jaime to understand both the ecology of a garden as well as how to communicate and explain what gardeners need to know about their green space. Jaime was awarded one of the "35 Under 35 Leadership Awards" from Community Renewal Society in 2009.

With the recent increase in enthusiasm for ecological gardening techniques, Jaime is excited to see more people working on their land with less impact.

Zap Gardens is available to consult with you on an hourly basis. Jaime welcomes the chance to join you in your urban garden project.

Jaime is the Chicago Gardening Examiner. Read her articles, published 2-3 times a week, here.

Jaime has also been cited as a gardening resource in several publications. They are listed by publication type and topic, below.

• HouseSmartsTV episode about preparing your garden (search "summer"), soil testing and lead information, Spring 2009.
• Chicago Parent Magazine article on School Gardening, March/April 2009.
• Chicago Tribune article on water wise gardening, Sunday, April 12, 2009.
• National Gardening Association on lead in soil, September 2007.