Bridghe McCracken
Bridghe McCracken, Founder of Helia Land Design, has over 20 years experience in land stewardship, as well as designing landscapes, gardens and beautiful food systems.
Bridghe has a BA in Biology from Colorado College, is a certified Organic Landcare Professional from the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, a certified Horticulturist from MCLA, is a Massachusetts Master Gardener and is a graduate and advanced practitioner of the Four Winds Society.
In 2006 she began a partnership with Project Native, as their Chief Landscape Designer, which allowed her to stay abreast of the latest available native plants. In 2006 she was honored and delighted to be the lead landscape designer and mentor for Project Sprout, an award winning student garden in Western Massachusetts.
Bridghe has also taught Permaculture as an adjunct professor at Simons Rock College of Bard. Her speaking engagements include the Master Gardener symposiums of Massachusetts, the Richmond School, CO-ACT and Miss Hall’s school. Corporate and consultation clients include:
Skidmore College, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Berkshire Community College, Hudson Valley Association, Tanglewood, The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Chesterwood, The Trustees of the Reservation
As a Peace Corps volunteer Bridghe had the opportunity to work directly with underserved communities toward their goal of food security and greater health, which continues to inform her work today.
Post the closing of Project Native in 2015, Bridghe launched Helia Native Nursery, continuing her mission of bringing native plants into the public domain. That same year, the nursery found its permanent home, Sky Meadow Farm -a 109 acre farm in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Here, Bridghe has founded her own workshop series, educating landscape professionals, homeowners and land managers around sustainable land stewardship, native plant design and propagation
Jonathon Williams
Jonathon Williams formative years were spent in Colorado hiking alpine meadows and climbing cushy sandstone, now calls the Berkshires his home. He graduated from UMass Amherst with a BA in Natural Resource Management and a MA in Public Policy. When not in the orchard or apiary on Sky Meadow Farm, he can be found foraging, fencing and being a dad.
Michelle Von Schilgen
Raised in New York just over the Massachusetts border, Michelle spent many hours outside with nature. She completed a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management and then dove into management at high end resorts in Vail, Napa, and Santa Fe. Upon returning home and not feeling inspired by her profession, Michelle was introduced to Bridghe through a mutual friend and began her journey with Helia Land Design in 2009 when it was originally named The Country Gardeners. Michelle started as a land care and installation crew team member and unsurprisingly rose to management. Michelle joined the office to help facilitate the business from behind the scenes as it grew. Michelle has enjoyed her time growing and being immersed in all aspect of the Helia Land Design Family. As they say, the rest is history.
Rachael Desmond
Growing up on the Great South Bay, Rachael has always connected with the open sea and the unique land. Her interests were focused on the animals, flora, and fauna discovered on the ocean floor and on her hikes through the Sunken Forest. Most of her time in high school was spent surfing and exploring at the beach and interning at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center where she was on staff as an Educator.
After her time on Long Island, she moved North and studied at the University of Maine; where she immersed herself in Marine Biology, Peace Studies, Communications, Native American Studies, and filled lots of spare time in the gardens at the Terrell House Permaculture Living and Learning Center. Rachael is thrilled to be a member of the Helia team where she is able to expand her plant knowledge & learn how to be a steward of the land. Even though she is the Office Manager, she still rolls in the soil at least once a day.
Jonah Millett
Jonah earned dual BA and BS degrees from The Evergreen State College with a focus on Sustainability Studies and Ecological Design. He is also certified in Permaculture Design and is a Wilderness First Responder. Jonah brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Helia team with decades of experience stewarding the land as a farmer, landscaper, and forager. As a farmer and local food advocate, he founded the New Lebanon Farmers Market and implemented numerous community initiatives to forge new pathways to food access. In his free time, you’ll find Jonah playing in the mountains and wandering through the forest.
Greta Hough
Greta is an Educator, Shamanic Practitioner and creator of a wellness curriculum called The Alchemy Wheel, Course for Teens where she works with young people, helping facilitate deep growth and change. During her summers, she works with Helia Land Design on the maintenance team as a team leader and enjoys working with the Earth and Native plants. Originally from Philadelphia, Greta now resides in the countryside of Becket with her partner, Three Trees, and their dog, Marley Bear.
Eliza Koch
Growing up in New York City, a landscape dominated by concrete but surrounded by rivers and an ocean, Eliza Koch learned early in her life to value spaces where natural systems were allowed to express themselves. Her desire to experience and create less regimented environments led her to study art and design, and since 2015 she has been applying her focus specifically to landscaping and horticulture, working first on the west coast and more recently transitioning home to New England. Eliza holds a BA in Fine Arts from Oberlin College, is a University of California Master Gardener, and recently completed her certification in Organic Land Care with the Northeast Organic Farmers Association. She is passionate about sharing her love of plants through her designs as well as through leading classes and workshops, and considers the natural world to be her greatest teacher.
