Business Details
18 Years
experience
Edible Landscape Design & Maintenance Services
Farmscape Gardens was founded in 2008 by Dan Allen and Lara Hermanson, who recognized the need for sustainable urban agriculture in California. Our team of experienced farmers, builders, and designers has created hundreds of organic urban farms across California, serving residential, multi-family, and commercial clients. We combine edible gardens with native, low-water landscaping to address climate change and water shortages while reconnecting people with fresh, local food. Our dedicated urban farmers maintain weekly visits to ensure thriving gardens, and we prioritize eco-friendly practices like drip irrigation and gopher wire protection. As Californias largest food-focused landscaping company, we hold licenses for landscape contracting and specialize in design, installation, and maintenance services. Our projects include rooftop farms for Silicon Valley campuses and agrihoods like Rancho Mission Viejo, supporting 50 full-time green jobs and growing over 150,000 lbs. of food annually.We emphasize transparency, offering end-to-end services without third-party coordination, and maintain certifications such as LEED Associate Professional and Watershed Wise Landscape Professional. Our commitment to professionalizing farming ensures fair wages, benefits, and a supportive work environment for our staff. With offices in Los Angeles and Oakland, we serve all of California, focusing on sustainable solutions that align with local ecosystems. Our expertise spans 15+ years in dynamic California gardens, ensuring long-term usability and beauty for every project.
Services
Design
Installation
Maintenance
Agrihoods
Farm Parks
Commercial Gardens
Details
- Year established: 2008
Highlights and features
- We offer end-to-end design, installation, and maintenance services with no third-party vendors.
- Our projects use 70% less water than traditional lawns through drip irrigation systems.
- We grow over 150,000 lbs. of organic produce annually for clients including Fortune 500 companies.
- Our licensed landscape architects hold certifications in California native plants and sustainability.
- We support 50 full-time green jobs with fair wages and professional development opportunities.
Services
Design
Farmscape Gardens's landscape design team creates spaces that combine fresh food crops with California natives, pollinator plants, and drought-tolerant landscaping. Every garden emphasizes ambiance, usability, and longevity using sustainable materials. Our licensed architects integrate endemic plant communities while respecting local climate conditions to ensure thriving outdoor environments.
Installation
We tailor installations to client needs using natural materials and expert craftsmanship. Services include raised beds with organic soil, drip irrigation, gopher wire, trellising, and pathways with mulch or decomposed granite. Our team handles site preparation like turf removal and connects existing irrigation systems to new drip networks for optimal water efficiency.
Maintenance
Professional urban farmers visit weekly to maintain gardens through eco-friendly practices. Services include seasonal planting, pest control, crop harvesting, and irrigation system checks. Our team suggests personalized fruit and vegetable varieties while ensuring long-term garden health through regular professional care and sustainable techniques.
Agrihoods
We create large-scale agrihoods for developers and HOAs, allowing residents to grow fresh food onsite. Projects include neighborhood farms integrated into residential communities like Rancho Mission Viejo, combining recreational spaces with functional food production. These installations strengthen community connections while promoting sustainable living practices.
Commercial Gardens
Farmscape Gardens designs commercial gardens for Fortune 500 companies, Michelin-starred chefs, and sports teams. Services include rooftop farms at locations like Levi's Stadium and Silicon Valley campuses. We tailor crop lists and layouts to client needs while maintaining aesthetic appeal and high productivity for corporate environments.
People
Dan Allen
CEO
Co-founder of Farmscape Gardens with a Master Gardener certification. Dan grew the company from Claremont origins into California's largest urban farming firm while maintaining its core mission of connecting people with local food sources.
Lara Hermanson
Principal
Co-founder running the Bay Area branch. Licensed landscape contractor with experience in organic farming and project management since 2010. Specializes in integrating sustainable practices into large-scale residential and commercial projects.
Catherine McLaughlin
Design Studio Principal
Licensed landscape architect with 15+ years creating California gardens. LEED Associate Professional and Watershed Wise Landscape Professional. Focuses on blending endemic plant communities with functional, climate-resilient designs for residential and commercial spaces.
Matthew Geldin
Farming Director
Co-owner managing maintenance across hundreds of projects. Cal Poly Pomona graduate in Landscape Architecture with decade-plus experience overseeing backyard gardens and neighborhood farms to ensure optimal productivity and aesthetics.
Nicki Sherman
Operations Director
Operations expert with environmental policy degree and decade of urban farming experience. Focuses on organizational development, finance, and human resources to support Farmscape Gardens's growth while maintaining fair labor practices and staff well-being.
Questions
What does Farmscape Gardens specialize in?
We specialize in sustainable, edible landscaping combining food crops with native plants for residential, commercial, and community projects across California.
How is Farmscape Gardens different from regular landscapers?
We focus on food-producing gardens using 70% less water than lawns, with end-to-end services from design to ongoing maintenance by professional farmers.
What areas do you serve?
We operate throughout California with offices in Los Angeles and Oakland, serving residential, commercial, and community projects statewide.
What's included in your raised bed installations?
Our installations include custom wood frames, organic soil, drip irrigation, gopher wire, trellising, and pathway materials like mulch or decomposed granite.
Do you offer maintenance services?
Yes, our urban farmers provide weekly maintenance including planting, pest control, irrigation checks, and harvesting services for year-round garden productivity.
How much do projects cost?
Raised bed projects typically start at $10,000, with final pricing depending on scope, complexity, materials, and site-specific requirements like accessibility.
