
Help Launch Habitat at Home, an Eco-Landscaping Worker Co-op
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$420 raised of $10K
8 donations
Help us launch Habitat at Home!
We are a worker-owned landscaping company with a mission to create biodiverse, waterwise native habitats as alternatives to traditional lawns that are accessible to everyday homeowners and businesses.
As Colorado faces increasing drought, rising water costs, and recurring watering restrictions, the traditional Kentucky bluegrass lawn is becoming harder and harder to justify. Yet many people who want something more eco-friendly and lower maintenance don't know where to begin. Removing a lawn can feel daunting. What should replace it? Which plants belong here? How much will it cost? Will it actually look good?
What we do:
We design and install landscapes centered around native plants, pollinator habitat, edible gardens, and other ecological alternatives to conventional lawns. These landscapes require little maintenance and irrigation, provide critical habitat for birds and pollinators, and create year-round beauty. In other words, we're helping replace thirsty lawns with thriving ecosystems -- what we call ecological landscaping.
What we mean by ecological landscaping: native and near-native plant-focused design that creates low-water, low-maintenance landscapes while restoring ecosystems and supporting biodiversity.
Our approach includes:
- Regenerative practices that naturally deter pests and weeds
- Professional installation and design services
- A climate-adaptive approach incorporating hardy, edible plants that may be non-native in the context of food forests
- Broader permaculture concepts like water catchment, composting, and food forests
- A focus on serving both environmental health and community resilience
Why a Co-op?
The landscaping industry often relies on low wages, unsafe conditions, and limited opportunities for workers to build wealth or have a voice in the businesses they sustain. Several of us have experienced firsthand what happens when workers are treated as expendable rather than essential.
That's why we're building Habitat at Home as a worker cooperative.
As worker-owners, we share decision-making, responsibility, and profits. We're creating the kind of workplace we wish existed: democratic, sustainable, and inclusive.
Next Steps:
We’ve assembled our founding team, developed our business model, and begun growing the roots of the cooperative. We're currently finalizing our membership structure, business systems, and marketing so we can begin serving clients across the Denver metro area.
Now we need your help getting the business off the ground.
Your contribution will help us cover critical startup expenses such as:
- Initial project costs like tools, wages, and PLANTS!
- Website and marketing materials
- Accounting and operational systems
Your donation helps us grow a business designed to create lasting benefits for both people and the environment.
The challenges facing Colorado are real. Water is becoming more precious. Habitat is disappearing. Too many workers lack ownership, stability, and a meaningful voice in their workplaces. But there’s also tremendous possibility.
We envision a future in which Denver is a haven for wildlife, where lawns are replaced with biodiverse prairies, and where weekends wasted on yard maintenance are a relic of the past. Together, we will lead the expansion of the ecoregion's native plant landscaping industry, through an equitable worker-owned business, by creating ecological habitats across metro Denver.
Thank you for helping Habitat at Home take root.
Alex, Caden, Sev, and Wagma (and Layla - woof!)
Founding Team
