about us
our practice
Widening Circles is an ecological land stewardship and design practice based in the Hudson River (Mahicantuck) Valley, NY.
Widening Circles cultivates wild, beautiful, and native landscapes that integrate with the surrounding ecosystems. We prioritize planting native species in order to create habitat and food for the insects and animals in our bioregion.
Our work seeks to increase the biodiversity on a site, while creating beauty, joy, and the opportunity for connection for the people that cohabitate on the land.
our approach
Widening Circles focuses on cultivating landscapes that honor both place and process. What does that look like?
We incorporate plant species into our designs that are appropriate for the site conditions (habitat, soil, exposure) and reflect the existing native habitats on site.
We prioritize plants that are native to the Hudson Valley bioregion - because they are adapted to local conditions, and support the life cycle of native insects, birds, and other animal species (but we aren’t purists and are open to hearing what plants you love and want to grow).
We recognize that landscapes take time to mature and also evolve over time, and we appreciate this dynamic process.
While we seek to 1) increase the presence of native plants and 2) manage the presence of invasive or introduced species, we don’t apply language like “good” or “bad” to describe plants; rather, we consider the role of each species within the context of each specific site and the goals of each project.
All the while, we support our clients’ goals and vision in a collaborative way. Building and deepening relationships is core to our work!
about nellie
Nellie weaves together her background in botany, gardening, and art to inform her ecological designs and land stewardship.
She studied studio arts at Bard College and received a masters degree in ecological landscape design from the Conway School (‘25). In between those degrees, Nellie immersed herself in farming, native plant landscaping, and ecological fieldwork at various places including the Farmscape Ecology Program at Hawthorne Valley, Helia Native Nursery, and Arthur’s Point Farm. Nellie has also been involved with Kite’s Nest, a youth empowerment organization in Hudson for many years as an educator, and feels inspired by being in a community that is rooted in experiential learning, social justice, and stewardship of the living world.
Nellie loves nothing more than spending the day working or exploring in woods, gardens, and meadows with her dog Ollie.
our name
The name Widening Circles comes from a Rainer Maria Rilke poem, translated by environmental activist Joanna Macy, which underscores the reach of our impact and our interconnectedness.
While we cannot heal or hold the immensity of the challenges our world is facing, we channel our energy and intention into the areas that we can tend to—our gardens, yards, and fields—knowing that our impact radiates outwards.
We believe that nurturing climate-resilient landscapes that enrich biodiversity is a crucial way to support the earth and ourselves.
