Who We Are
Founded in 2022, Natural Living Landscapes serves the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts with ecological, high-quality gardening & landscaping. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for our clients, provide meaningful work for our team, and create sustainable landscapes.
We are a worker-owned cooperative, which means the people doing the work are the ones running the business. Every team member has a say in how we operate, and we all share in the success of every project. Our clients get more than just gardening & landscaping services.
Every project is handled with care, expertise, and a genuine sense of ownership. We are supported by Wellspring Cooperative, a local network of community-focused co-ops. We help clients move toward healthier, more sustainable solutions: using electric equipment to reduce air and noise pollution, avoiding synthetic pesticides in favor of organic alternatives, and approaching every property systemically, without shortcuts.
We don’t just want you to feel good about the work we’ve done — we want you to feel like your property contributes to a healthier community and environment, while supporting a business where your choices make a real difference.
Who We Serve
Most of our projects are for homeowners seeking beautiful, sustainable outdoor spaces, though we also work with builders, businesses, and municipalities. We tailor our services to each property, from small backyard gardens to larger landscapes.
What We Do
Our focus is gardening work and lawncare services, using electric equipment and organic fertilizers for healthy, eco-friendly results. Services include:
- Lawn maintenance and care
- Garden bed management and plant care
- Organic fertilization and sustainable weed control
- Design and plant installations as part of our gardening services
Our Members
Eric
Eric grew up landscaping his parent’s backyard and exploring nearby woods. Since then, he has visited over 75 organizations worldwide that work with issues of economic development, sustainable livelihoods, and renewable energy. In the process he spent 1 ½ years working with Grupo Fenix in Nicaragua; and 5 weeks in Brazil where he studied a fish and biogas system based on traditional Chinese agriculture. Eric has worked extensively in technology organizations, where he has worked across the whole gamut from programming to graphic arts to IT support.
He has also earned the following certificates:
- Systems Design through ZERI (Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives),
- Permaculture Design (PDC)
- City & Guilds Basic Carpentry
- LEED Green Associate
- System Thinking certificate through the Haines Institute.
Eric has served the board of Wellspring Harvest, the urban hydroponics business established by Wellspring Cooperative.
Luis
Luis has 16 years of experience working in landscaping in the United States. Prior to that he was a founding member of an aquaculture cooperative raising tilapia in the area of Piedras Blancas, Mapastepec, Mexico, where he also served as president of the executive committee for Piedras Blancas; and where he continues to maintain a small fruit farm, including avocado and mango trees. Later, in the US he began to work in landscaping. He also participated as a community representative for immigrants in working with the Pioneer Valley Worker Center, located in Northampton, MA. Luis has worked with members of Wellspring Cooperative in the past.