What is the Garden of Ideas?

Approximately twelve acres of marsh, woodland, meadow and vegetable plots coalesce to form the Garden of Ideas, featuring an arboretum-like collection of plants grown by owners Joseph Keller and Ilsa Svendsen.   Vegetables, unusual woody plants, herbaceous perennials, annuals, and tropicals all find a home here amongst a unique array of garden art.     Four seasons of interest make repeated visits desirable.   The trip is suitable for all ages, young and old.    Vegetable production also follows a four-season schedule with harvest offerings from March 1st through December 31st.  

Previously, in the early twentieth century, the garden was  part of a large neighborhood farm and grist mill.  Mid-century, farming stopped and a few houses sprung up. Joe’s parents, Terry and Traug Keller purchased the gray ranch house (#647) in the late 1960's and raised him and two brothers (Traug and Matthew) here.  The boys roamed the large backyard and helped their mother grow organic vegetables.

Joseph developed a love of the natural world. He spent summers working outdoors, learning about soils, trees, and water. In 1987, after college, he returned to Ridgefield and slowly took over his parent’s yard, to their chagrin and amusement.  The beginning was tough, but Joe had a vision.  He worked mostly alone on weekends and undertook landscape design work to pay his bills.  Slowly he eliminated much of their lawn, removed poison ivy, took down and pruned existing trees and planted, planted, planted.    Anyone who’s gardened will know what happened next:  the deer visited, some things died,  but others prospered, flowered, spread.

In 1996 Ilsa Svendsen began to work with Joe on the gardens.  Their collaboration allowed for changes and refinements and, ultimately, an increase in the size of the garden when they purchased additional land.    

New projects continue.   The restoration of a healthy woodland, a project currently underway, offers guidance to many homeowners dealing with shade, deer, and sickly trees.   A flock of free-range chickens recently joined our ranks. The Garden evolves from year to year, from season to season.  Trees planted in the beginning now cast shade.  It will never be finished. 

For info and ideas about additonal local destinations, click here.

About Us

Joseph Keller studied english at the University of Pennysylvania.   He started gardening as a child with his mother Terry and grandfather Henry.  His interest evolved into a passion and career.  Recognized in the industry as a savvy plantsman and designer, Joe writes about gardening for publications including Fine Gardening and the New York Times.   In his spare time, he enjoys analyzing biotech stocks, reading poetry, and cooking.  He loves brussel sprouts.

Ilsa Svendsen trained at the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture.  She has worked in almost all facets of horticulture including commercial plant propagation and production.  She dreams of being a goat farmer, learning to play the piano, and improving her spanish someday in the near future.

Terry Keller worked as the Director of Bronx GreenUp and Green Guerillas.    She’s travelled the world, educating people about sustainable vegetable growing.