About Us

Our Mission

The mission of Cape Ann Gardens is to develop land care plans and designs that increase biological diversity, build soil health, and bring joy, all while providing meaningful work compensated with a livable wage.

We are committed to realizing your vision with the utmost attention to ecological integrity, growing interesting and beautiful plants in ways that enhance the health and vitality of soil, air, and water.

At the core of our mission is meaningful engagement, evidence-based horticultural practices, and worker-centered policies.

  • Horticultural Technique

    Garden and plant care methods are based on scientific evidence and emerging research. We confer regularly with qualified experts at extension programs throughout the country, soil health consultants, ISA Certified Arborists, and accomplished growers throughout the northeastern US.

    We are ecologically focused, prioritizing organic, biodynamic, and sustainable practices developed through decades of experience.

  • Client Engagement

    We value open, honest, collaborative relationships with people who love (or want to love!) their outdoor spaces. Homeowners are close partners on design, installation, and care for their gardens, as well as annual and container plantings.

    We’re always excited to collaborate!

    We welcome subcontracts with landscape designers and architects, horticulturists, and land care companies for installations; garden, greenhouse, and conservatory maintenance; and special projects.

  • Our Labor Practices

    We prioritize the health, safety, and morale of our workers above all else. Our staff are the heart, soul, and reason why we can do what we do. Therefore, our wage structure, benefits, and scheduling are all intended to honor each worker’s commitment to this company.

    We believe that we are lucky to have every worker that’s with us. Therefore, we customize employment to the interests, skills, and needs of each employee. This means that our gardeners are always happy, healthy, and eager to return season to season.

Our landcare practices and decisions are based on observation. We utilize a diversity of resources in making our decisions and implementing our landcare plans.

  • Living Soil Lab

    Our in-house processes and capacity to analyze soil and develop remediation plans.

  • at Blue Sky Farm

    We lease a small piece of land at Blue Sky Farm in Essex, Massachusetts where we produce seeds, compost teas, and develop “wild sauces,” or various types of ferments.

  • Northeast Participatory Seed Catalog

    Our mission, as a land care company curating and supporting a seed catalog, is to integrate interesting and unique seeds into our landcare practices; perpetuate the culture and activities of high quality seed production and saving activities amongst farmers and gardeners in the northeastern US; and to model participatory production practices that financially benefit the grower and distributor equally.

Meet the Team

  • Alessia S.

    LAND CARE CREW MEMBER

    Alessia hails from Gloucester and is a Jane-of-many-trades. With a cursory background in farming, gallery curation, and landscaping, she joins this team with a sense of humor, creativity, and grit.

    Here she is pictured on the job with one of the many creatures we encounter while working.

  • Liam T.

    ASSISTANT MARKET GARDENER

    Liam began working as the Assistant Market Grower early in the 2024 season. He tends the two market plots where Cape Ann Gardens produces seeds and a variety of specialty goods, including cut flowers, dried calendula, and inoculated salt marsh hay.

    Liam attends high school in Beverly. Here he is seen with the broad fork, a tool that he’s been using constantly all spring.

  • Haley H.

    FINE GARDENER & SOIL HEALTH SPECIALIST

    Haley brings a superior familiarity with plants and an acuity for detail-oriented work like weeding and microscopy. She has an educational background in biology and a robust work history in laboratory settings.

  • Maarit O.

    Maarit oversees product development, our seed operation, and assists with administrative tasks and special projects. With a background in dairy and cheese production and affinity for both organic gardening and local farming, Maarit brings the spirit and understanding of land-based work rooted in the organic movement.

    Here she is pictured with her pup, Pippin.

  • Natalie H.

    FARM MANAGER

    Natalie manages hand scale market garden at Blue Sky Farm where Cape Ann Gardens produces seeds for the Northeast Participatory Seed Catalog and specialty product for unique collaborations with local small businesses. She has a background in farming and also works on special projects with Black Earth Compost.

  • Sophia J.

    FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

    Sophia formed this company in 2021 and acquired her Accreditation as an Organic Landcare Professional with the Northeast Organic Farming Association in 2023. She's passionate about integrating seeds into garden care processes, and engaging with plants throughout their entire lifecycle from seed to compost and seed, again.

    Sophia currently manages all the services, projects, strategic partnerships, and operations.