Shannon Mayhew

Ecological Garden Designer

The last eight years of my life have been dedicated to understanding and working with the ecology of my surroundings. I have worked as a farmer, a restoration practitioner, bee keeper, and gardener, melding these paths together into the farmscapes I tend. During this time I have learned much and with this has come a deep understanding of the importance of gardening for all in the ecosystem.

Over time my role as student has increasingly shifted to that of teacher, and with this came a feeling of urgency to expand my reach beyond the small patches of garden I tend. This has led to the creation of Meadowsweet Horticulture and Design, a garden consulting business whose focus is on restoring and tending garden spaces that benefit all members of the natural world.

Beyond just helping design gardens I also make available my advice and knowledge on how to process and prepare the produce, medicines, and flowers that grow in your garden. Having you personally know how to tend your own garden links you more deeply in the space, making our connections to our homes more meaningful.

I believe our gardens have the opportunity to sustain entire ecosystems, providing habitat for wildlife, spaces for learning, medicines, and nourishment. By creating spaces that mirror the natural world, in healing the land that surrounds our homes, we can heal ourselves. Using the therapy of gardening, we can create spaces that are not only aesthetically beautiful, but have deep meaning for the lives we share those spaces with.