James Ulmer, owner of Back to Nature Landscaping, can attest: there’s something about the New River Valley that makes it easy to put down roots.

When James graduated Virginia Tech with a horticulture degree in 2014, he and his wife McKenzie knew: Blacksburg was where they wanted to call home. With a small loan for initial equipment and a few employees, the business grew into what we see today.

Now that the company has been around for a little over 5 years, it has grown to be a powerhouse of lawn care, landscape design, and construction. What started as a dream when James was working out of one truck with his trusty lab, Ace, riding shotgun, has transformed into a company that employs over 30 people here in the New River Valley.

With a strong vision for amazing work and respect in the workplace, James and McKenzie have truly grown a company that they believe in.

The Ulmers have created a workplace where everyone is valued and each person’s unique skills are nurtured. Whether someone comes to them with little landscaping experience or decades worth of knowledge, the leadership at Back to Nature finds a spot where they can fit in and excel.

The Ulmers practice what’s called “Open Book Management”, where every employee becomes familiar with the financial side of the company and partakes in profit-sharing and on-the-job training opportunities year round.

Scaling a landscaping business can be hard. With the large labor needs and difficult work of landscaping, it can be hard to find dedicated employees who are looking to grow alongside the large company. We’re hiring for full-time crew positions, a position that sets you up well to grow and develop your skills as you advance in your Back to Nature Career.

All this trust and respect amongst staff members culminates with routine breakfasts and larger projects, like the Yard Angel’s program, where the crew donates their time to give back to the community that has treated us all so well over the years.

Whether it’s routine maintenance, snow plow services to keep our community safe, or large design-build projects that will last for decades, we’re proud of the work our crew does to benefit folks in our community. As we look towards the future, we want to continue to honor this area and its amazing people through top-quality services and philanthropic efforts when we can.

If you’d like to learn more about Back to Nature’s history or our portfolio of projects in this community, get in touch today!