The Gardener's Post · founding orders open November 8th Join the waitlist
Garden design · Coaching · Fort Collins, Colorado

Helping people remember how to belong to the land.

Landscape design and installation, garden coaching, and plant sourcing for the northern Front Range.

  • Colorado Master Gardener
  • Gardenary Regional Coach
  • Zone 5b homestead
A Mother Gardener garden in Fort Collins
rooted in Fort Collins

Serving Fort Collins · Windsor · Wellington · Timnath · Loveland

Ways to work together

How we can work together

Choose the path that feels right for you.

A curved river-rock garden designed and installed by Mother Gardener
Landscape design & installation

A garden that truly belongs to the land it grows in.

Flowing, ecologically rooted design: soft edges, natives and plants chosen to thrive on your particular site, layers of texture and seasonal interest, and practices that support the soil, the pollinators and the wider ecosystem.

  • On-site consultation
  • Planting design & plan
  • Plant sourcing
  • Project management through install

Installations from $5,000 · Selective Front Range projects

  1. 1
    Discovery call
    Free, 15 minutes. We talk about your land and your hopes for it.
  2. 2
    On-site consultation
    We walk the land and look at what is already here.
  3. 3
    Design
    A planting plan built for clay soil, strong sun and Zone 5b.
  4. 4
    Installation
    Plants sourced and the project managed from start to finish.
Garden coaching session
Garden coaching

For large properties, perennial landscapes and kitchen gardens.

In person or virtual. Whether you have a yard full of potential you do not know what to do with, or a vision you are ready to bring to life, coaching is where we begin.

  • Better understand your yard
  • DIY solutions you can carry out yourself
  • Design and plant suggestions
  • Seasonal care support

One-hour session $130 · In person or virtual anywhere in the U.S.

Planted pots and grasses sourced for a client garden
Plant sourcing & project management

Already have a plan? I can bring it to life.

Plants chosen and sourced for your site's soil, light and water, and a steady hand managing the project through installation.

Recent gardens

Designed to grow more beautiful with time.

Working with Mother Gardener was an absolute pleasure, and the results speak for themselves- our landscaping looks nothing short of amazing. If you are seeking an expert with a vision, a deep understanding of horticulture, and a knack for bringing unconventional ideas to life, Mother Gardener is who you should be looking for.Jen
Incredible experience from start to finish! We felt like she really took the time to listen and understand our needs, and provide her knowledge in terms of long-term care. She delivered both a beautiful and sustainable design.Sarah
Working with Cortney was an amazing experience from start to finish. She is so knowledgeable and has the creative spirit to inspire beautiful design. She transformed our lifeless garden beds into an inviting entry to our home and a serene backyard living space.Rory
The Gardener's Post letters from the garden

Your personal garden coach, by post.

Not ready for a full project? Once a month, a handmade envelope arrives addressed just to you, with bite-sized coaching for the season you're in and something unexpected. Not your inbox.

  • A letter from the garden
  • A guide for the season
  • A tending list
  • A recipe card
  • A postcard
  • A monthly surprise

Founding orders open November 8th · First issue ships mid-December

A Gardener's Post envelope and its contents
Cortney Kern, Mother Gardener, in her garden
Hello, I'm Cortney

About Cortney, a.k.a. Mother Gardener

I tend two acres of recovering land in North Fort Collins, Colorado. Former horse pasture, slowly finding its way back to life.

Mother Gardener grew from that practice. From the belief that gardens are not projects to be completed but relationships to be tended.

  • Colorado Master Gardener
  • Gardenary Regional Coach
  • Former Peace Corps volunteer, Morocco
Begin here

Every project begins with a conversation about what your land is asking for.

Book a free 15-minute discovery call and we'll find the right place to start.

Not ready for a project? Start with The Gardener's Post, or follow along on Instagram at @_mothergardener.

Get expert garden consulting advice →

Hi, I'm Cortney!

Some call me mother (mostly my kids),

many call me Mother Gardener,

and most everyone who knows me knows I am happiest in the garden.

The why behind the who...

Mother Gardener was born from a simple belief: planting a garden is not enough.

To truly protect the natural world, we must see ourselves mirrored in it.

As an eco-spiritual practitioner and garden consultant, my mission is to guide you on a transformative journey—one where you grow more than just plants. You’ll cultivate a deep connection with the earth, nurture your soul, and become a guardian of the natural world.

At Mother Gardener, I offer services like garden consulting, native planting design, edible landscaping, and kitchen garden installations. Through these, we’ll work together to create thriving, sustainable spaces that heal the soil, support biodiversity, and provide for your family.

But my work goes beyond gardening. It’s about rekindling a relationship with the wild, living planet outside your door. It’s about discovering the joy of smelling healthy soil, feeling the sun on your face, and watching the ecosystem you’ve nurtured come to life.

This calling stems from my own journey. Growing up, I spent endless hours exploring the woods behind my grandmother’s house—picking wild blueberries, building rafts, and letting my imagination run free. Today, those same woods are a sprawling housing development, and similar stories are playing out everywhere. We’re losing our wild places, and with them, we’re losing creatures’ homes and our own wild spirits.

This loss fuels my passion to take action. From working at a plant nursery as a teen to serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco and studying with gardening institutions around the world, I’ve poured myself into understanding how we can live in harmony with the earth. I’ve learned that gardening isn’t just about planting—it’s about listening, learning, and seeing ourselves in the natural world.

That’s the foundation of Mother Gardener.

NOW LET ME ASK YOU:

Are you ready to deepen your connection with the natural world?

At Mother Gardener, I believe it’s time to shift from being gardeners to becoming guardians of the earth. Together, we’ll work with the land—rather than against it—and create spaces that sustain both humanity and the planet.

Through my services and the Mother Gardener Membership Society, I provide the tools, knowledge, and support you need to:

  • Grow food and cultivate native plants.

  • Support pollinators and regenerate your soil.

  • Build a garden that feeds your body and soul.

  • Reconnect with the wild, intuitive part of yourself that thrives in nature.

MY PROMISE TO YOU:

I want you to have a garden you’re proud of—a garden that provides, heals, and inspires. But more importantly, I want you to feel the joy of walking outside, connecting with the earth, and knowing you’re part of something bigger.

Let’s grow food, nurture the planet, and create a sustainable future together.

Join me on this empowering journey. The earth is calling, and I’m here to help you answer.

Get expert garden consulting advice →

Looking for Regular Support Without the Big Commitment?

Not ready to plan a larger garden installation or design but still want expert guidance to grow a thriving, sustainable garden?

The Gardener's Post is here for you!

Each month you will get delivered right to your front door a beautiful envelope full of seasonal wisdom, expert garden advice just when you need it and a seasonal checklist of what needs tending.

Perfect for busy lives, this membership takes the guesswork out of gardening and helps you learn at a pace that works for our busy lives.

Join the waitlist today to get in on the first issue being delivered in January 2027.

Contact:

Support@mothergardener.com

Fort Collins, Colorado

80524