Business Details
22 Years
experience
Sustainable Home Orchards & Edible Landscapes in Santa Cruz
Since 2004, Orchard Keepers has been dedicated to creating sustainable home orchards, edible gardens, and native landscapes. Our team combines deep horticultural expertise with a commitment to organic practices, prioritizing soil health and ecological balance. With decades of collective experience, we offer tailored design, installation, and maintenance services that transform outdoor spaces into productive, beautiful environments.Our approach emphasizes clear communication, client collaboration, and environmental stewardship, ensuring long-term success for both plants and communities. We invest in staff training and professional development, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in every project we undertake.
Services
Home Orchard Installation
Veggie Garden Installation
Native Plantings
Irrigation Systems
Maintenance Services
Pest Management
Soil Management
Educational Consultations
Landscape Design
Retaining Walls
Details
- Year established: 2004
Highlights and features
- We have 20+ years of experience in sustainable horticulture and landscape design.
- Our team includes certified professionals with specialized training in organic practices.
- We prioritize clear communication and collaborative client relationships throughout each project.
- Our maintenance services include water-wise irrigation and seasonal feeding programs.
- We offer comprehensive solutions from initial design to long-term landscape stewardship.
Services
Home Orchard Installation
We create customized home orchards using organic methods and sustainable practices. Our team considers soil health, climate conditions, and client preferences to design productive, aesthetically pleasing spaces. From site preparation to tree planting and irrigation setup, we ensure long-term success for fruit-bearing plants.
Edible Garden Maintenance
Our maintenance services focus on sustaining healthy edible landscapes through organic soil management and water-efficient practices. We provide regular pruning, pest control, and seasonal feeding programs to maximize productivity while maintaining ecological balance in vegetable gardens and fruit-bearing plants.
Native Landscaping
We design drought-tolerant landscapes using native plants that thrive in California's climate. Our approach reduces water consumption while creating habitats that support local wildlife, combining environmental benefits with aesthetic appeal for sustainable outdoor spaces.
Irrigation Systems
We install efficient irrigation systems tailored to each landscape's specific needs. Our water-wise solutions include drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler systems that optimize water use while ensuring proper hydration for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and ornamental plants.
Pest Management
Our integrated pest management approach uses organic solutions to protect plants while maintaining ecological balance. We implement preventative measures like Tanglefoot barriers and OMRI-approved materials to address pest issues without harmful chemicals, ensuring safe environments for families and beneficial insects.
People
Matthew Sutton
President
Matthew founded Orchard Keepers in 2005 after completing training at UCSC's farm and garden program. With horticultural experience from Italy, Wisconsin, and California, he brings over 20 years of expertise in sustainable agriculture and fruit tree cultivation to lead our team.
Kim Mayer
Maintenance Team Manager
Kim has over 15 years of experience with Orchard Keepers, combining her UCSC environmental studies background with practical expertise in ecological gardening. She leads our maintenance team with a focus on sustainable practices and community-oriented landscaping solutions.
Andy Webster
Installation Manager
Andy leads our installation team with a unique blend of hydrology expertise and landscaping experience. With a background in habitat restoration and organic farming, he bridges technical knowledge with practical implementation to create lasting garden designs since joining in 2016.
Kate Silver
Maintenance Team Manager
Kate brings expertise in soil health and landscape architecture to our team. With a background in small-scale farming and nutritional sciences, she focuses on creating productive edible landscapes that integrate ecological principles with functional design since joining in 2020.
Amy Jackson
Office Manager
Amy manages administrative operations with 10+ years of experience in organizational leadership. Her psychology background helps foster positive workplace culture while ensuring efficient coordination across all teams at Orchard Keepers since joining the company.
Questions
What services does Orchard Keepers offer?
We specialize in home orchard installation, edible garden design, native landscaping, irrigation systems, and ongoing maintenance using organic practices.
Do you work with organic methods only?
Yes, we exclusively use organic growing practices and materials to ensure healthy soil and sustainable ecosystems in all our projects.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Santa Cruz and the broader Bay Area, creating customized landscape solutions for residential properties.
How often are maintenance visits scheduled?
We offer monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly maintenance services tailored to each client's specific needs and landscape requirements.
Can you help with both new installations and existing landscapes?
Yes, we provide complete installation services for new projects and maintenance/renovation services for existing orchards and gardens.
What makes Orchard Keepers different from other landscaping companies?
Our specialized focus on edible landscapes, combined with our commitment to organic practices and ecological stewardship, sets us apart in the industry.
