CONSULTATION SERVICES

One of the most impactful pieces of wisdom I’ve ever received about land design came during a 2008 Permaculture Design Course in the Upper Midwest: “Walk your land and see what it’s doing—and what it wants.”

This is far easier said than done. Reading land is a learned practice. And yet, it’s also an innate capacity we all carry—the ability to listen, sense, and enter into relationship with place. When we walk land with intention, especially where the land’s purpose is woven into our own visions, something shifts. A healthy energetic resonance emerges—one we can feel in our bodies. Renowned architect Christopher Alexander referred to this as “The Quality Without a Name.”

Having farmed and designed diverse landscapes across the Western Hemisphere—from the high deserts of the Mountain West and Southwest, to the remnant savanna soils of the Upper Midwest, through the moist hollers of the Southeast, and into equatorial tropical systems—I’ve developed a deep, practiced way of reading landscapes.

Through my work, I support land stewards, farmers, and organizations in discerning how their visions can authentically and effectively translate into place. Whether the project is a farm, homestead, or land-based enterprise, I help clients identify what the landscape is inviting, where constraints and opportunities lie, and how to move forward in practical, achievable steps—while avoiding common misalignments (often referred to as Type I errors).

If you’re seeking guidance rooted in ecological literacy, lived experience, and respect for land as a living system, if you’re curious about what your land may be asking for, I welcome you to explore the offerings below and begin a conversation.