Meet Our Team
We are a creative group of planetary stewards and landscape storytellers. As a company committed to ecologically-sound practices and the healing benefits of nature, we strive to provide each of our clients with honest, quality work and flexible solutions. The Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens’ team thrives on six guiding values:
HORTICULTURAL PASSION
A primal fascination with plants and ecology is key to achieving our mission.
AMBITION & DEDICATION
Anything worth doing is worth doing well, a belief that upholds our commitment to exceed expectations.
TEAMWORK
We promote synergy among our team in a concerted effort to achieve a collective goal.
CARE
We operate with mindfulness and intention, being conscious of our impact so that we can make effectual decisions.
POSITIVITY
We believe the most constructive way to create change is to approach every situation with an optimistic outlook.
FLEXIBILITY
Our ability to adapt as individuals and as a business is deeply rooted in our biological connection with nature.
Work with Our Landscape Specialists
Heidi Heiland, CEO
Our founder and Chief Experience Officer (CEO) Heidi Heiland debuted her landscape gardening company, Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens (HLG), in 1979. Heidi’s great-grandmother was an award-winning gardener and a member of Garden Club of America, a rich heritage that’s stayed with Heidi throughout her life. With a deeply-rooted passion for nature’s healing power, Heidi helps her clients connect with nature through horticultural therapy, inspiring ecoscapes, and holistic gardening. After graduating from the Constance Spry Flower School in England, Heidi continued her education and became a Certified Professional through the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), for which she formerly served as the third female president in MNLA’s over 90-year history. A Professional Master Gardener, Heidi holds a certificate in Horticultural Therapy through Colorado State University and the Horticultural Therapy Institute (HTI) and has a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). Her prowess as a gardening professional led her to serve as President of the Wayzata Garden Club and become actively involved with the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club, a Garden Club of America. She frequently presents seminars to students, colleagues, and other growers. For 10 years, she created monthly segments on the local NBC affiliate, KARE 11.
Accreditation & Education:
- President, Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA)
- Constance Spry Flower School, London, England
- Professional Master Gardener
- Certified Professional, Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA)
- Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) and Horticultural Therapy Certificate
- Pesticide Applicator
Kari Schutte, Vice President
Kari joined our team in 2014. She is deeply rooted in our Corcoran community and left her corporate career to work closer to home and be more available for her family. She was curious enough to respond to our employment ad on Craigslist many years ago. She cashed in her corporate suits and fancy shoes to join our team. Eight years later she is wearing jeans and has dusty shoes but she is loving every minute of it. She brings years of retail operations and process improvement experience. She is even learning a lot about plants and the green industry. She wears many hats and helps us all perform at our best every day.
Caroline Bristol, Garden Services Operations Manager
Caroline moved to Minnesota from Virginia in June of 2022 to manage the day-to-day field operations of Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens and ensure our Fine Gardening crews maintain our client gardens at consistently high horticultural standards. As an organic gardener for more than twenty years, Caroline believes in applying sustainable solutions to garden challenges whenever possible. Before joining us, Caroline worked in a range of horticultural related roles at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Longwood Gardens, and The American Horticultural Society.
Accreditation & Education:
- Sandhills Community College, AAS Landscape Gardening
- Sustainable Landcare Accredited, Phipps
- MNLA Certified Professional - Landscape Specialization
- Virgnia Pesticide Applicator, VDACS
- Compost Facility Operations Training, CREF
Andrea Schneider, Fine Gardening Account Manager & Lead Designer
Andrea had an internship at Chicago Botanic Garden in college and realized the perfect combination of plant science, creativity, and relationship building that garden design held. In a world where people are increasingly disconnected from the natural spaces they encounter every day, Andrea strives to strengthen those connections by creating an appreciation of one's own home landscape. Her ultimate goal is to educate and guide her clients through each project, ending in beautiful and unique results to enjoy for years to come.
Accreditation & Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Botany from UW-Stevens Point, Minoring in Ethnobiology and Business
- Certifications in Grounds Maintenance and Landscape Horticulture from Gateway Technical College
- MNLA Certified Landscape Professional - Landscape Specialization
