about us
Adapt Landscapes is a design-forward ecological landscaping company based in southeast Michigan. We specialize in creating native plant and perennial food landscapes that are both beautiful and deeply functional—spaces that support biodiversity, reduce maintenance, and connect people more closely with the land around them.
Our work blends ecological expertise with artistic design, producing landscapes that feel intentional, grounded, and alive through every season. We collaborate closely with homeowners to understand their goals, study each site’s unique conditions, and design spaces that thrive with minimal intervention. Whether we’re replacing lawn with a sculpted native meadow, establishing a shade-tolerant understory, or creating structure with stone and perennial architecture, our aim is to build landscapes that evolve gracefully and provide lasting ecological value.
Adapt Landscapes believes that well-designed gardens can be both restorative and resilient. Every project is an opportunity to help clients reimagine what their land can be.
our story
Adapt Community Supported Ecology began in 2019 with a simple goal: to bring native plants to neighbors’ homes in Ann Arbor and help them plant small gardens together. What began as a small local effort has grown to serve communities across three states, offering education, programming, and hands-on ecological outreach while putting thousands of native plants in the ground free of charge each year.
As our work has expanded, so has our educational programming and outreach—allowing us to support larger-scale ecological projects in places where increased habitat and community engagement can make the greatest impact. Through crowdfunding, hands-on education, and dedicated volunteer involvement, Adapt Community Supported Ecology builds connected communities that restore native plant and perennial food landscapes and create long-term pathways for ongoing ecological stewardship.
As this work grew, so did the requests for more in-depth services—larger-scale designs, complex installations, and ongoing stewardship support. In response, Adapt Landscapes emerged as the professional design-and-build branch of the Adapt ecosystem. Today, we offer full-service landscape design, installation, and care for homeowners, businesses, and organizations across Southeast Michigan—giving clients a clear path to meaningful, long-term ecological transformation.
Adapt Landscapes’ design and installation work helps support the ongoing projects of Adapt Community Supported Ecology. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with great clients and apply our experience to a wide range of landscapes.
Meet the team
william kirst, co- owner
William Kirst is the founder of Adapt Landscapes and Adapt Community Supported Ecology, bringing over 20 years of experience as an ecologist to his work.
At Adapt, William co-leads full-service landscape design, installation, and care for homeowners, businesses, and organizations across Southeast Michigan. He combines ecological knowledge with hands-on experience to create landscapes that are both beautiful and naturally resilient. Passionate about teaching, William frequently speaks on ecological topics, sharing his knowledge and inspiring others to engage with their local environment.
A lifelong gardener and Chicago native, William studied Botany at the University of Illinois and spent many years with Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation, where he developed deep expertise in ecological restoration and native plant systems. In 2019, he founded Adapt Community Supported Ecology to connect people with the land through education, volunteerism, and community-driven projects. He brings a passion for teaching and a commitment to creating landscapes that are resilient, expressive, and rooted in place.
katelyn baskin, co- owner
Katelyn Baskin, joined Adapt in 2022 after volunteering with the crew and realizing how much she loved hands-on ecological work—especially cutting back invasive plants and helping landscapes recover. After her first season, she stepped into a co-owner role alongside William, bringing humility, energy, and a genuine appreciation for the work.
Katelyn co-leads landscape design, installation, and care for homeowners, businesses, and organizations across Southeast Michigan. Her gardening background was in food production, and that work has grown into a love for creating integrated landscapes—combining foodscapes, native plant gardens, and perennial edibles that are thoughtfully designed and functional. Her connection to ecology began in childhood while wandering the Cleveland Metroparks, where she first found a sense of calm and belonging in the natural world. She enjoys the hands-on work of building outdoor spaces—whether that’s operating larger machines, shaping materials, or helping bring a design to life. She brings heart, intention, and a quiet love of beauty to everything she builds.
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