Care + Time: Landscape Architecture and the Long Game

“The bulk of all land relations hinges on investments of time, forethought, skill, and faith rather than on investments of cash. As a land-user thinketh, so is he.”

- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

Hello! I’m Todd, the newest member of the design team at Indigenous Ingenuities. Before joining in June, I spent 16 years at Andropogon Associates — an award-winning landscape architecture and ecological restoration firm in Philadelphia. I started there right out of school and had the privilege of working on inspiring projects across the country, from public parks and school campuses to environmental education centers and new urban districts.

It was deeply fulfilling work with a truly talented team. But over time, I began to sense that something was missing from the traditional design process — especially when it came to creating landscapes that are meant to last. I found myself wanting more time on site, more connection to the communities we were designing for, and more continuity between the initial vision and the long-term life of a place. I was craving a model that kept me grounded — literally and figuratively — in the work: more local, more lasting, and more dirt under my fingernails!