From philosopher to farmer to landscape designer.

About

For as long as I can remember, I've had two great loves: nature and growing food. As a philosophy major at Purdue University, I experimented with vegetarianism and learned to cook and bake using vegan and macrobiotic techniques. I followed my love of food and adventure to Mt. Vernon, Washington, where I worked as an organic farmer, learning responsible and sustainable ways to grow food. 

My career “aha!” moment was a happy accident. The farm I worked at all those years ago practiced something called “permaculture,” and one of their main produce buyers at the Skagit Valley Food Coop was a permaculture teacher.

This proved serendipitous as I made my way to Seattle to attend grunge shows (it was 1992, after all!) and figure out what was next. After taking a Permaculture Design certification course, I soon enrolled in a graduate program at Antioch University, where I earned a Masters in Whole Systems Design. In 1995, I founded WeDesign as a way to help West Seattle homeowners grow food in their own backyards while giving them sustainable, ecologically sound landscapes to enjoy, and I haven't looked back since.

25 years later, I am more dedicated than ever to ecological landscaping. I love collaborating with sustainability-minded homeowners in West Seattle to design beautiful, creative garden spaces that draw inspiration from the principles of nature. My goal is to help homeowners create affordable designs and healthy landscapes that work within the larger ecosystem.

—Michael Lockman