
Ocean Friendly Gardens
A Natural Solution for Stormwater Pollution
The Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) is the Surfrider Foundation’s sustainable landscaping and education program that provides beautiful, inexpensive and natural solutions to reduce polluted runoff and to support resilient coasts. 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.

Slow the Flow
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.
Water runoff is the #1 source of ocean pollution in urban areas
A Watershed Approach
OFGs apply CPR – Conservation, Permeability and Retention – to landscapes, hardscapes and streets. They allow soil to act like a sponge, restoring the vital functions of watersheds to protect local water supplies and prevent 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.
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.


Get Gardening with Dashboard.Earth
Surfrider Foundation has partnered with the Dashboard.Earth app to create pathways to learn about Ocean Friendly Gardens, get involved at home and in your community, and track your positive impact on the environment.
Find resources and step-by-step guides to make your own space more ocean friendly!
Resources
Get Inspired
- What can an OFG look like?
- Find an OFG near you - map coming soon
Creating Healthy Soils
- DIY worm compost bin
- Drop off your food scraps with Long Beach Community Compost
- Pick up free mulch at Willow Springs Park
Remove, Reduce, or Sustain your Lawn
- Long Beach Lawn to Garden Rebate Program
Building Habitat with Native Plants
- Shop Palos Verdes Land Conservancy's
native plant nursery - Explore native plants with Bloom California
- Long Beach Native Plant Parkway Program
- Shop Theodore Payne Foundation for native plants & seeds
- Learn about native plants on Beachapedia
Reduce Hard Surfaces
Get Certified as an OFG
- For questions about the OFG program please contact:
Southern California Ocean Friendly Gardens Coordinator
Kathryn Dressendorfer kdressendorfer@surfrider.org