characteristics of a sustainanble landscape 
A sustainable landscape is is ecologically healthy, economically viable, aesthetically pleasing, and equitable in terms of access. Sustainable landscapes contribute to our cultural experiences and enrich our understanding of the human role in natural systems by fostering a strong sense of place. Sustainable landscapes have the following characteristics:
- Biological diversity of plants, animals, and other organisms that is appropriate to ecosystem structure and function.
- Diversity of habitats, as appropriate to the area, to support diverse organisms and foster diverse human experiences.
- Conservation of flora and fauna through the use of endemic plant community models; increased (but not exclusive) use of native species adapted to the region (in New Hampshire's case, cold, hardy, and rugged); sound management of exotic and invasive plant and animal species; minimal site disturbance and preferential re-use of existing plant materials during landscaping; and careful selection, siting, and proper installation of new plant material, including proper after-care, to reduce such problems as transplant shock, long-term stress, on-going maintenance, and mortality.
- Minimum usage of high-maintenance lawn areas.
- Reduced to little usage of mowing, raking, liming, fertilization, irrigation, aeration, soil amendments, pesticide application, etc.
- Reliance on integrated pest management to maintain pest species below action thresholds; limited to no pesticide use.
- Low use of toxic and/or hazardous materials, and lower use of chemicals, petroleum products, and fuels in general.
- Low use of rock-salt and related chemicals for snow and ice removal.
- Conservation of water.
- Conservation of soil through erosion control, retention of organic matter on site (grass clippings, chopped leaves, etc), and minimal to no use of soil pollutants such as salt, petroleum products, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals.
- Protection of vegetation and soils during construction projects and routine maintenance.
- Preferential use of local materials (such as stone and wood products, plants materials, etc.), renewable and recyclable materials, and materials with a small "ecological footprint" or "life-cycle cost."
- Inclusion of education and interpretation of the sustainable "learningscape" - from formal classroom activities to outdoor lab work to informal walks in the landscape.
