Jason Rathe

My goal is to help each client find both clarity and genuine excitement as we shape the vision for their outdoor space. I find it easy to get inspired by a new project.  When I talk with clients, I’m listening for how that person will truly experience the environment. Maybe that’s a peaceful view from the kitchen window while doing dishes, the energy of hosting friends for a backyard barbecue, a natural play area for children, or the joy of harvesting vegetables from their own garden. Ultimately, I want the landscape to be more than just a design; I want it to make a meaningful difference in their daily life.

I always knew I wanted to do work that enabled people to experience “quality of life”. That journey led me to narrow my focus to food and cooking, or landscaping.  I spent some time in the restaurant world and quickly discovered that much of the creativity was in the initial envisioning of a restaurant.  In landscaping, I found almost limitless capacity for learning and creativity.  Even now, I love being the person at a backyard gathering who gets an arm tapped for questions about a plant or a landscape issue in their yard.  

Growing up in the suburbs, I was surrounded by the standard aesthetic of rock mulch, junipers, and big random rocks on the corner of the lot.  I remember the day in high school when I looked out a window at the Hennepin County Library and saw a vibrant, installed prairie. That juxtaposition stuck with me. It ignited a desire to bring a sense of full-blooded naturalness to residential landscapes.

Before founding Field, I spent seven years in sales support for a global telecommunications firm. Traveling the world during the rise of employee-centered cultures at companies like Patagonia and Microsoft inspired me to think about how a business could operate.  In 2005, I started Field with a simple but clear goal: to create the kind of company I actually wanted to work for. One that makes a tangible difference in how people experience their lives.

Landscaping is one of the few remaining industries where craftsmen still use their hands, heads, and hearts to see a project through from the first tear-out to the final stone. In the modern world, I think this is a unique opportunity and one that continues to inspire me.