Our Work & Practice
Heirloom garden design, intuitive living systems, and ongoing stewardship designed to prune away excess and help you rediscover the natural cadence of a life well-lived.
Our Packages
01 | The First Cut
A focused CONVERSATION for when the spaces you tend have grown beyond your capacity, and you aren't sure what to cut back.The First Cut is a 60-minute walk and conversation designed to prune overwhelm. Together, we look at your space and your daily routines to identify friction points, celebrate what’s thriving, and offer gentle, practical direction to prune away the excess and restore the natural cadence of a life well-lived.
Ideal For:Homeowners stuck with an overgrown, underwhelming, or new garden.
Anyone seeking clarity on layout and design direction before committing to major projects.
Gardeners wanting a fresh, systematic eye to streamline routines and elevate visual harmony.
What's Included:60-Minute Walk & Review: On-site or virtual evaluation of layout, site conditions, spatial flow, daily routines, and visual harmony.
On-the-Spot Feedback: Immediate guidance on placement, functional systems, and aesthetic direction.
Prioritized Action Roadmap: A custom post-session guide with clear steps, adjustments, and recommendations.
Sourcing Guidance: Honest vendor lists for any needed tools, plants, contractors, or resources.
Investment: $250(Note: The fee for The First Cut can be applied directly toward The Cultivator’s Framework should you choose to move into a full design.)
02 | The Cultivator’s
Framework
A comprehensive landscape design and living systems plan built to bring lasting order, beauty, and quiet rhythm to your space.The Cultivator’s Framework is a multi-phase master plan bridging physical landscape design with daily life. Through mindful research, spatial planning, and curated sourcing, we create a tailored site scheme - paired with bespoke household systems for what’s important to you (think indoor kitchen gardens, seed starting setups, DIY herbal teas, pet-friendly spots, engaging kids projects, or simply maximizing efficiency) - so your space grows effortlessly alongside you.
Ideal For:Homeowners seeking a cohesive, long-term master plan for their property.
DIY gardeners who want complete design blueprints, plant lists, and step-by-step project plans - with the option to hand them to a contractor if desired.
Anyone looking to align outdoor beauty with functional, low-friction living.
What's Included:Spatial Layout Plan: Custom site drawings mapping pathways, seating, utility zones, and plant beds.
Planting Palette & Future Growth List: Researched plant pairings and flexible lists to guide your garden from initial planting through maturity.
Bespoke Living Systems: Functional guides, features, and mini projects tailored entirely to your personal routines, interests, and how you want to live.
Adaptive Phasing Roadmap: A step-by-step multi-year plan designed to accommodate life’s natural fluctuations as you take your space from its current state through garden maturity.
Sourcing & Vendor Dossier: Vetted supplier lists, plant recommendations, and clear next steps for DIY or contractor execution.
Investment: Starting at $2,500(Note: Every Framework project begins with The First Cut consultation. This allows us to see your space, evaluate scope, and ensure we're a mutual fit before providing a custom project quote. Your $250 consultation fee is applied directly toward your final Framework proposal.
03 | The Growing
Companion
Ongoing guidance, seasonal nudges, and thoughtful support as your space takes root and grows.The Growing Companion is a flexible monthly partnership for clients who want a supportive partner as their garden develops over time. Whether you prefer working through your roadmap in small, gradual steps, need an encouraging second opinion, or want help adjusting plans as life changes, this service keeps your momentum steady at a natural, manageable pace.
Ideal For:Past clients who want to roll out their plans in gradual, budget-friendly monthly phases rather than all at once.
DIY gardeners who appreciate a thoughtful sounding board, timely seasonal prompts, and customizable next steps.
Anyone seeking a collaborative partner to refine layout ideas, plant choices, and daily routines as seasons shift.
What's Included:Direct Messaging Access: Open communication to share progress photos, ask quick questions, or bounce ideas around as they arise.
Custom Seasonal Prompts: Timely reminders for pruning, planting, and seasonal chores tailored to your site and personal bandwidth.
Tailored Monthly Guidance: Dedicated time each month for whatever your space needs next—from layout tweaks to exploring fresh ideas.
Investment: $150 / month(Note: Available exclusively to previous clients who have completed The First Cut or The Cultivator’s Framework.)
Our Guiding Principles
"There is no wealth but life." — John Ruskin
We believe that tending a garden is an act of quiet service - to the land we inhabit, the neighbors who pass by, and the living world that shares our space.
Our work is guided by eight core convictions:
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Before we haul in new materials or buy into fleeting outdoor trends, we look closely at what the land has already given us. We honor what exists, reuse stone and soil whenever we can, and choose local, enduring elements over disposable convenience.
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A home does not end at its walls, nor does a garden belong solely to its owner. We design spaces that offer quiet refuge to people while restoring nourishment, shelter, and balance to the local earth, wildlife, and community.
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We favor stone that weathers, wood that shows its grain, and plants that belong to their climate. We build with time-tested materials that age with grace, proving that utility and natural beauty are one and the same.
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Beauty isn't applied like makeup or paint; it comes naturally when something is made well and serves a true purpose in daily life. A garden should be lived in, walked through, and used - not just admired from the window.
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Nature does not move in straight lines, and neither does human life. A good plan is not a rigid blueprint, but a flexible framework built to bend with shifting weather, changing family needs, and varying personal bandwidth. We design for growth, decay, and rebirth, embracing every season as it comes.
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We value human effort and patient persistence over quick, machine-made fixes. A garden cultivated by hand over three seasons will outlast and outshine a trucked-in weekend installation every time.
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We resist the urge to fill every square foot. The true steward knows when to stop, step back, and leave room for air, light, and life to find its own place.
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We are not here to conquer nature, dominate a lawn, or force living things into artificial shapes. We are here to listen, observe, prune away what overwhelms, and foster the conditions for life to thrive on its own terms.
The Recommended Path
01
The First Cut’s diagnostic site review and initial direction
02
The Cultivator’s Framework’s master site plan and living systems outlines
03
The Growing Companion ongoing monthly support & guidance
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Every project begins on the land with a 60-minute walk and conversation designed to prune overwhelm. Together, we look at your space and daily routines to identify friction points, celebrate what’s thriving, and give you immediate direction on site alongside a prioritized guide with clear next steps.
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When your space needs a comprehensive, multi-phase master plan, your $250 fee from The First Cut is applied directly toward The Cultivator’s Framework. We return with custom site drawings, researched plant palettes, bespoke living systems, and an adaptive phasing roadmap built for self-guided work or contractor execution.
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As your space takes root, you don't have to navigate seasonal shifts alone. Previous clients who have completed The First Cut or The Cultivator’s Framework can transition into The Growing Companion - a flexible monthly partnership for direct messaging support, custom seasonal prompts, and tailored monthly guidance as your life and space evolve.
IS SECATEUR RIGHT for YOU?
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This work is built for homeowners, DIY gardeners, and stewards who want to cultivate an intentional, living connection with their land. Whether you have an overgrown yard, a brand-new blank slate, or just want your outdoor space to mirror your daily routines, our services provide clear direction and unhurried support at every stage.
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No. We focus on design, spatial planning, living systems, and practical guidance. We do not operate heavy machinery or act as a landscape construction crew. For all installs, we provide clear blueprints, plant lists, and sourcing dossiers so you can execute the work yourself or hand the plans directly to a trusted contractor.
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Not at all. We design living systems that match your experience and the amount of energy you honestly have available, not an idealized version of it. If you want low-friction, simple routines, we plan around that. If you want to learn as you go, we guide you step-by-step.
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Every new relationship starts with The First Cut. This initial conversation allows us to see your space, understand your needs, and make sure we're a mutual fit before committing to a multi-phase design plan. Your $250 fee from The First Cut is credited directly toward The Cultivator’s Framework if you choose to move forward.
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On-site walks for The First Cut and The Cultivator’s Framework are available within Central Indiana. Remote or virtual walkthroughs and consultation options are available for clients nationwide. Our expertise is in English garden design and Midwest natives, but we are well versed in USDA plant zones 5-9.