landscape firepit drawing

Our Philosophy -

Your Home Tells a Story. Your Backyard Should Too.

Inside, your home is a reflection of who you are—the guitar in the corner, a cherished photograph, a piece of art collected abroad. But too often, that identity stops abruptly at the sliding glass door. We grew tired of stepping into backyards that felt entirely disconnected from the people living there—or worse, landscapes built as monuments to a contractor’s aesthetic, rather than reflections of the homeowner’s life.

Bridging the Gap

The turning point for us was recognizing the power of a shared vision. By integrating visual technology into our design process, we bridge the gap between your personal desires and the final physical space.

  • True Collaboration: When a homeowner is truly heard, they become deeply invested in their environment.

  • Expert Curation: We pair your unique vision and story with our craftsmanship, material knowledge, and refined taste.

  • A Different Approach: We don't just build yards; we design personalized sanctuaries.

Landscapes With Real Utility

A landscape is not a mere ornament. It is an opportunity to expand your living. We built Arbor & Earth on the belief that a well-crafted space should yield a daily return on well-being and connection.

You work hard to earn your living, and we work just as hard to build your retreat. We do not chase volume.

The Arbor & Earth Promise

We provide a precise process to transform uninspired spaces into enduring living areas.

We are here to reclaim your outdoors, building highly functional, enduring craftsmanship that serves as the permanent stage for the moments that matter most.

Your Questions, Answered

My Background

From the classroom to the landscape: I build relationships on trust to design spaces that resonate

At the age of 12, working alongside my father, a landscape contractor, I learned early that true craftsmanship requires grit, patience, and a deep respect for clients. Yet, my path to founding Arbor & Earth wound through a different terrain. For over a decade, I dedicated my life to education—first teaching English in Japan, and later serving as an educational non-profit program manager in Sacramento. In the classroom and in leadership, I discovered a fundamental truth: you cannot guide someone toward a meaningful outcome without first building a relationship of absolute trust. Every child, parent, and school came with highly specific, individual needs. To be effective, I had to listen intently, understand their unique perspectives, and establish a shared vision. Education, I realized, was never a transaction. It was a transformation.

When I returned to the trade full-time—after years of moonlighting on weekends and summers—I wanted to ground my practical experience in deep, rigorous expertise. I participated in the UC Davis Master Gardener program, eventually being recognized as Volunteer of the Year for my dedication to local horticulture. This blend of education and scientific study is why I look at your property differently. Most contractors want to impose a generic will or build a monument to their own ego. I treat every project as a deliberate conversation. My background taught me how to solve problems before they happen, communicate with total transparency, and incorporate your unique lifestyle into the physical design. We don't just shift soil and plant trees; we pair your vision with our refined taste and material knowledge to build an enduring sanctuary that yields a daily return on your well-being.

- Shane Brock


Contact us

Great projects begin with listening. To ensure every client receives our full attention, we start with a dedicated on-site consultation. This allows us to evaluate your property in person and offer honest, accurate advice from day one.