ABOUT US
OUR STORY
Earth Designs Cooperative is a worker-owned co-op connecting people and plants in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
Our progressive approach to landscape design and garden care aspires to ecologically benefit all life-forms and is driven by nature-inspired aesthetics. The services we provide are focused on facilitating the connection to nature for our clients and staff. We are passionate about the profound beauty and resilience of a well-designed garden and are committed to responding to the regenerative needs of our landscapes while fostering knowledge and respect for the intricacies of the ecosystem in which we live and work.
In 2016, the company converted to the current model of employee ownership with founding prop Aja Hudson. The years following have been spent shaping shared values into practices and policies that challenge traditional workplace standards and give employees a voice in their work and in company-wide policies. Earth Designs also emphasizes personal growth by providing opportunities for professional development on principles of integrity, communication, work ethic, cooperation, and heart.
As the cooperative navigates the trajectory of the new economy and climate change, we aim to lead by example. Creating an environment of transparency, connection and education builds trust, empowerment,and overall abundance. In 2022, Earth Designs established new roots on Forty-five acres of conserved farmland in Kingston, NY where we will continue our tradition of land stewarding and fostering community.
WHAT IS A COOPERATIVE?
The Worker Owned Cooperative Model as a Template for Social Change
A worker cooperative is a business that is owned, managed, and governed by its employees. At Earth Designs Cooperative, we strive to create meaningful social & economic change through modeling a business structure that bolsters each of us individually & collectively through the principles of the quadruple bottom line: People, Planet, Purpose, and Profit. We are devoted to challenging oppressive workplace standards by integrating restorative practices, open book management, and democratic decision making into our framework, and by creating fulfilling and financially sustainable jobs. Opportunity to join the cooperative is available to all employees, on the basis that they meet criteria set by the cooperative and are voted in by the current worker-owners. Co-op members participate in the oversight and direction of the business in a democratic manner by electing a Board of Directors who oversee the Management Team who, in turn, oversee the daily work flow. All major cultural and financial decisions are voted on directly by the members. Each member holds one share in the company and has one vote. Profit is shared equally among owners, based on the number of hours worked throughout the season. A portion of the profit is retained in the company for employee activities like field trips and education, donations, and general operating expenses.
At Earth Designs Cooperative, we see the cooperative structure as an element of cultural, social, and economic change—a viable business model for creating companies that are sustainable for both the co-op members and the communities they serve. Worker cooperatives offer the individual employee financial security and a voice in the future of the company, while promoting a culture of sharing and collaboration.
Interested in forming a cooperative?
OUR PRACTICES
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our work with the land and into our business structure.
As a worker cooperative, we are making strides toward social change by securing financial equity and civic engagement for each of our members and directing our company toward creating a socially and environmentally conscious future. The cooperative model supports and strengthens the business, its workers, and the community, by creating fulfilling and financially sustainable jobs that inspire members to be invested in their work and socially & financially able to engage deeply with their community.
