Business Details
11 Years
experience
Edible & Medicinal Landscaping Services in Michigan
Sacred Earth Edible Landscaping Initiative was founded on the principle that the Earth is sacred and that sustainable, nature-based landscapes can heal both people and the planet. Our team combines decades of experience in sustainable agriculture, permaculture design, and ecological restoration to create edible and medicinal landscapes that serve as pollinator sanctuaries and community resources. We specialize in converting lawns, vacant lots, and farms into low-maintenance, high-yielding ecosystems that align with permaculture principles. Our work bridges environmental stewardship with social transformation, offering educational workshops and hands-on training for individuals, families, and communities. With projects ranging from urban homesteads to large-scale food forests, we emphasize biodiversity, soil health, and accessibility to natural medicine.Our founders, Eran and Stephanie Rhodzell, bring formal education in sustainable agriculture and herbal medicine, along with practical experience from organic farms across North America and Brazil. We prioritize local materials and ecological construction methods, as demonstrated by our 68-acre Laughing Linden Farm in Michigan, which serves as both a living laboratory and a model for regenerative land use. Our commitment to environmental justice is reflected in our advocacy for native plant conservation and our efforts to make edible landscapes accessible to all. Through collaborative design and implementation, we empower clients to reconnect with nature while fostering resilience in both urban and rural environments.
Services
Edible Landscaping
Permaculture Design
Educational Workshops
Plant Nursery Services
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- We offer 15+ years of combined experience in sustainable agriculture and permaculture design.
- Our team holds formal education in herbal medicine and sustainable systems from The Evergreen State College.
- We implement pollinator-friendly landscapes that double as food and medicine sources.
- Our projects integrate wildlife conservation with community education initiatives.
- We provide hands-on workshops for all experience levels in ecological gardening practices.
Services
Edible Landscaping
We design and implement edible landscapes that integrate fruit trees, berry bushes, and perennial vegetables into aesthetically pleasing ecosystems. Our approach combines permaculture principles with pollinator conservation to create low-maintenance, high-yield gardens. These landscapes provide fresh food while restoring ecological balance to urban and rural properties.
Permaculture Design
Our permaculture designs create self-sustaining ecosystems that mimic natural patterns. We focus on soil regeneration, water conservation, and companion planting to establish resilient food-producing landscapes. This service includes site analysis, custom design plans, and implementation guidance for both residential and commercial properties.
Educational Workshops
We offer hands-on workshops covering organic gardening, wild foraging, and ecological restoration techniques. Participants learn practical skills like sheet mulching, plant guild creation, and herbal medicine making. Our programs cater to families, schools, and community groups seeking to reconnect with nature through sustainable practices.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
We create habitats that support pollinators and native wildlife through strategic plant selection and ecosystem design. Our sanctuaries combine medicinal plants with native flora to attract beneficial insects and birds. These spaces serve both ecological conservation and educational purposes while producing useful harvests.
Plant Nursery Services
Our nursery provides regionally appropriate plants for edible and medicinal landscapes. We specialize in hardy perennials, heritage fruit trees, and native pollinator plants suited to Midwest climates. This service supports our landscaping projects and offers the public access to ecologically valuable plant material.
People
Eran Rhodzell
Founder
Eran graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture. He has worked on organic farms across North America and brings expertise in permaculture design and ecological restoration to the initiative.
Stephanie Rhodzell
Co-Founder
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Herbal Medicine and Sustainable Agriculture from The Evergreen State College. She received Permaculture Design Certification in 2008 and combines her expertise in herbal medicine with landscape design.
Questions
What types of landscapes do you specialize in?
We specialize in edible and medicinal landscapes using permaculture principles, including food forests, pollinator gardens, and regenerative farm systems.
Do you offer services outside Michigan?
While based in Benzie County, we travel throughout the Midwest and have completed projects as far as Oregon.
What educational programs do you provide?
We offer workshops on permaculture design, wild foraging, plant identification, and ecological gardening for individuals and communities.
How do your landscapes benefit the environment?
Our designs promote biodiversity, improve soil health, support pollinators, and create sustainable food sources while reducing maintenance needs.
Can I visit your demonstration farm?
Laughing Linden Farm hosts educational workshops and may be available for private visits by arrangement with the owners.
