Earth Designs, founded by Aja Hudson in 2001, began as a one-woman gardening business and has since evolved into a landscape & garden design company with over 15 employees. Our work focuses on the sustainable and artistic management of formal gardens and natural landscapes. We design, install and maintain ornamental, edible & medicinal gardens, native meadows, no-mow lawns, natural screening, and custom stone work. Earth Designs transitioned into an employee-owned cooperative in 2016, inspired by Aja’s desire to create more sustainable jobs and support social & economic change. Currently, six worker-owners oversee the company’s future, voting democratically on major decisions and growing the business together. The day-to-day work still operates on a hierarchy, with ownership responsibility delegated to developing departments within EDC (stonework, meadow management, irrigation department, etc). Aja’s secondary goal with the Coop transition is to establish the philanthropic side of EDC. During the off-season EDC will volunteer for disaster relief outreach or agricultural programs throughout the world, giving back to those in need by sharing our skills.

http://www.yourearthdesigns.com/

"Aja Hudson and Earth Designs have been remarkable collaborators, guiding us through the transformation of our property into something that is both consistent with its nature and history and reflective of our aesthetic. Aja’s stewardship, her wisdom and vision, the professionalism of the whole team, and the ease and precision with which all the work has been accomplished, makes the move into our new (but very old home) a joy. Aja brings a vast knowledge of the green world, coupled with an artist’s eye, and a work ethic that extends throughout the team. Joining up with them is something for which we feel immensely fortunate.” - Jay Anania and Jackie Sohier, Ulster County