Sarah Gruver
Sarah founded her garden design and landscape business in 2010 in Southern Vermont. Sarah began gardening at an early age. She was excited to help with any garden-related activity--soaking and sowing morning glory seeds with her mother, planting annuals in her grandmother's garden every spring, even helping her Dad mow. She loved witnessing the miracles and rewards of growing plants. While studying at the University of Vermont, she enrolled in landscape design and horticulture classes. After graduating, Sarah began working in Gordon and Mary Hayward's garden in Westminster West, Vermont. She was introduced to the world of fine garden design, unique plants, and artful gardening techniques. In 2011, Sarah spent six weeks training at Hidcote Manor Garden in England. After returning from the UK, she moved to Seattle, establishing her business in the Pacific Northwest. She has volunteered at Dan Hinkley’s home garden, Windcliff, since 2013 and Heronswood Garden since 2014. In early 2020, Sarah and Jesse moved the primary office of Sarah Gruver Gardens back to where it originated: Dummerston, Vermont and are enjoying creating and evolving gardens on both coasts. In addition, Sarah offers naturalistic floral design services using hand grown and wildflowers whenever possible. Outside of work, Sarah loves to travel and observe wild landscapes both close to home and farther afield.
Jesse Ackemann
Jesse also began working with plants at an early age, helping his parents in the vegetable garden and making maple syrup. Both of those early passions—and many more—are part of Jesse’s work today. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture and is a skilled horticulturalist, landscape designer, vegetable gardener, maple sugarer, carpenter—the list goes on! Many clients who’ve worked with Jesse can attest he has many diverse talents. He has also worked on a number of special properties and farms over the last decade, including Windcliff, Heronswood, Walker Farm, Bunker Farm and Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd’s garden in Readsboro, Vermont. When not working in other people’s gardens, Jesse tends to a large vegetable garden in Dummerston Center, Vermont growing many unusual vegetables, greens, and herbs. He also loves to hike in the mountains and play bass in his band.