Nature & kids are my passion!

I, Michelle, breath in rhythm with the natural world. Many of life’s lessons I have learned and many problems I have resolved while in Nature.

I am a permaculturist, horticulturist, landscape designer, and outdoor educator. With more than forty years of tending gardens, shaping parks, and guiding children through forests and fields, I thrive uniting people with plants in all kinds of spaces. I often say, “When in Nature, you tune into your own nature.”

Kids like to do what I enjoy, so playing with kids is very natural for me. At 10 years old, I cared for babies and toddlers. By the age of 16 years, I was the built-in babysitter, caring for three siblings who were all under the age of 6. I truly adored sharing life with them. In my twenties, I started coaching soccer to 13 year old girls. My youth soccer coach mentored me. Coaching showed me my true wiring: the quiet observer, the thoughtful problem solver. I watch children closely, sensing their strengths and their struggles, and I respond with creative support that helps them stretch into new abilities. My guidance is never one‑size‑fits‑all.

Eventually, my siblings had kids and I have been over the moon happy to explore life with them and watch them grow. Practically every day, I think about opportunities I can create and share with kids and adults. My purpose is to support people’s well-being. One of my favorite ways to support others, is to share Nature with them. That is why I created Within Our Nature. As a natured-centered teacher, I provide nature-based experiences that ground thoughts, engage the senses, and ignite wonder within Nature’s abundant environments.

I have achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture from Washington State University, along with certifications as a Professional Horticulturist, Professional Pruner, and Kid’s Yoga Teacher. While much of my landscape training is rooted in science, I am guided by observation, experience, and intuition. These guiding principles have been part of my world for over five decades. I listen to the land, observe natural cycles, and interact through my hands and senses with gardens. Also, my experience of being with kids for the majority of my life has fueled my observational skills and intuition.

In my late twenties, my friends led me to start my own gardening business. Alas, the business Garden Designz was born. Over time, clients called me Garden Angel, Elf, Elfness, and Garden Elf. Because I do so much more than design work, I eventually made Garden Elf my official gardening business name. Having gardened for decades, I blend my client’s wishes with the existing environments to build ecological gardens that teem with life. I also, design and advise accordingly to the client’s abilities so that they are able to maintain a thriving garden. Afterall, a thriving garden is a precious friend you can visit anytime.

My community work includes designing and clean-ups of local parks, supporting and educating kids with environmental nonprofits, and nurturing stewardship in neighborhoods and forests. Whether I am pruning an old tree, teaching a child to breathe with the rhythm of the earth, or restoring the life within a garden, my service carries the same intention: to help people feel at home in the living world.

Rooted in curiosity, creativity, and care, I invite you to tune into your connection with Nature — not as visitors, but as kin.

*Nature is purposely capitalized.