John has spent the last 14 years as a profesional purveyor of landscape design. He started his career by pursuing his education at UC Santa Cruz, where he studied Agro-Ecology. He took a $4/hour job at a nearby organic farm two times a week, just "to keep my hands dirty" he says. Soon after he started working at a store while taking Landscaping and Gardening classes at the UC Berkley Extention and consecutively attended irrigation classes at City College.
In 1995 John got his first big client that would propel his career as a designer and contractor. He landed the opportunity to be the Garden Designer and Manager of Three Groves in Mill Valley, a private residence that borders Stolte Groves public park. Three Groves has been featured in many Garden and House Tours of the area since John has become manager.
"I remember in my first meeting with the owner Sheila Neilson, and I asked what her vision was for the garden? She responded "I want a First Class garden". When I first started the property was covered under thick ivy. Well, I rose to the challenge and by unanimous opinion Three Groves is a first class garden. I've been able to create a beautiful sanctuary without having to alter the natural topography of the land, something I alway look at when I access a property."