Fire-safe, water-wise and ecosystem-friendly; free resource offers guidance and inspiration for local landscaping
By Victoria Smith EBS CONTRIBUTOR
The partnership Alpenscapes—formed between the local organizations Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO), Gallatin River Task Force, Big Sky Fire Department and Grow Wild—has released a new guidebook to further promote fire-safe, water-wise and ecosystem-friendly landscaping practices.
The 48-page Alpenscapes Guidebook provides inspiration and guidance on how to implement these practices. Information includes the ways in which fires can spread to homes, how non-native lawns and irrigation practices can affect water usage and how plants can affect the ecosystem. Copies are available for free at various locations such as the Big Sky Fire Department Station 1, Big Sky Thrift, the Big Sky Owners Association office, and BASE Community Center.
“We’re a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and as neighbors or kind of outliers on that ecosystem, it’s incumbent upon us to be responsible stewards of the land,” said Lizzie Peyton, director of community sustainability for Big Sky SNO. “Doing so in a comprehensive and thoughtful way is much more fruitful in the long run than being just targeted about just fire-wise, or just native or just water.”
The guidebook includes visuals, such as various potential landscape designs that consider different elements of living in Big Sky, and a collection of charts that list plants, detailing whether each plant is water-wise, fire-wise and native to Montana, along with its shade and sun tolerance. It also includes a step-by-step checklist, allowing readers to plan their own landscape through documenting goals and aspects of their property, noting water and fire risks, or sketching a design plan.
Alpenscapes has been planning the guidebook since launching in July 2024. The partnership began to receive funding for the guidebook project in fall 2024 and spring 2025 from Resort Tax, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation and Moonlight Community Foundation.
“One of our primary goals was to make sure we weren’t making a guidebook that just got set on a shelf or maybe got tossed away… We recognize the value and that word of mouth in Big Sky, and the ability to be at a dinner party and see a nice book on somebody’s coffee table,” Peyton said. “… It starts the conversation, and having that conversation constantly crop up is probably the most important way we can market and message this education.”
A digital, downloadable version can be accessed on the Alpenscapes website, and the partnership plans to make physical copies available at more locations.
Anyone interested in additional, in-depth landscaping information can access a comprehensive list of Alpenscapes Landscaping Best Practices, published in summer 2024 on the Alpenscapes website.
History and impact of Alpenscapes: ‘We’re in alignment’
Alpenscapes officially launched in 2024 after signing its initial partnership agreement in 2023. It was created as a result of community members expressing interest in how to tailor their landscaping to more than one area—fire-safe, water-wise and ecosystem-friendly.
“I think the partnership adds value because within those three topics, we have the expert on each of them,” said Ali Chipouras, marketing coordinator for Alpenscapes. “All the partners bring so much knowledge, and a lot of times, we’re working towards the same goal, and just maybe thinking about it from a different perspective.”
Since the launch, organizations involved have noticed impacts of Alpenscapes, particularly in the free site visits that GRTF, BSFD and Grow Wild offer to property owners. These visits focus on identifying ways to conserve water, reduce wildfire risk and identify noxious weeds and native plants.
According to the 2025 “Alpenscapes in Action” report, GRTF saw a 100% increase in site visits in 2025 compared to 2024. In 2025, BSFD conducted 70 home site visits and Grow Wild conducted 37 site visits, totaling 272 acres of local property.
Jennifer Mohler, executive director of Grow Wild, said that prior to the launch of the partnership, she completed 53 site visits in 2023. The following year, she conducted 91 site visits.
“Alpenscapes, for me, did what I was so hoping it could do, which is connect with and engage more landowners,” Mohler said. “And so it was a huge success.”
Peyton said Lone Mountain Land Company and many HOAs have adopted Alpenscapes guidelines and best practices into their policies. Alpenscapes has also been working with the Firelight Meadows neighborhood, and with Big Sky Community Housing Trust regarding the Cold Smoke workforce housing development.
“When you have a [partnership] that recognizes the importance of collaboration, all the messaging is going in the same direction,” said Jon Trapp, division chief of wildland fire at Big Sky Fire Department. “When we are all saying the same thing, it’s going to be better for the public. We’re in alignment, and we’re going to have better ability to influence change.”
Alpenscapes looks forward to continuing to provide inspiration and guidance, and plans include an upcoming garden day with Wellness in Action, and planting native plants this spring in the newly built firewise crevice garden at Historic Crail Ranch.
“We need to keep pushing the edge of being proactive, informed, engaged because it’s just such an important landscape,” Mohler said. “… Between drought, changing climate, increasing development, we can’t just rest on our laurels and everything is going to be okay.”
Leaders encourage community members to check out the Alpenscapes website, as well as each organization’s website for specific information and programs.
“We want to be here for folks. There’s no right or wrong way to go about using us,” said Jess Olson, GRTF conservation manager. “And if there’s a resource that you would love to see, please tell us, and we’ll figure it out… Our goal is just to be a resource for the community.”
