Family-Owned & Homegrown.
About Us
As a family-owned consulting firm, we bring a personal touch to every project, treating your home like our own. Dedicated to regenerative solutions for a sustainable future, we specialize in organic foodscaping, heirloom edible gardens, and community education — transforming everyday spaces into thriving, resilient sanctuaries.
Benjamin & Farris was founded with a simple philosophy: when we care for the land, the land cares for us.
Benjamin & Farris was born from generations of craftsmanship, land stewardship, and a deep-rooted connection to the Gulf region. Named in honor of our grandfathers — master carpenters, gardeners, and builders — our work continues the legacy they began: working with our hands in the soil, building from the ground up, and living in harmony with the land.
Our family has called the Gulf Coast home for over a century. The rhythms of this place — its heavy rains, fertile soil, and vibrant ecosystems — have shaped our philosophy and our practices. At Benjamin & Farris, we believe that tending the land is both an art and a responsibility.
As a family-owned consulting firm, we specialize in organic landscaping, heirloom edible gardens, food waste composting systems, and regenerative land solutions. We are committed to creating spaces that not only sustain the people who live in them but also enrich the soil, water, and communities they touch. Through education, hands-on collaboration, and a respect for traditional knowledge, we help our clients build thriving, resilient landscapes that honor the past while nurturing the future.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: when we care for the land, the land cares for us.
Meet Our Founder
Patrick "Shui" Guillory is a former Division I swimmer who found balance and restoration through yoga and meditation during his years as an elite athlete and led him to become a certified yoga and Qigong instructor.
For the past seven years, Shui has apprenticed under Master Gardener Terry Garner, learning the art and science of plant care, food cultivation, and large-scale garden management. Building on this foundation, he earned his Permaculture Design Certification from PermEco Inc., deepening his understanding of regenerative systems and ecological design principles. Last Year, Shui completed his Permaculture Teacher Training through Urban Harvest and Cascadia Permaculture, and continues to share these transformative practices with the Houston community via classes he collaborates withHouston organizations like Urban Harvest, Houston Botanical Gardens and others.
Inspired by his grandfather's legacy as a gardener, Shui has developed a deep love for growing that goes beyond the soil. Today, he designs edible landscapes, composting systems and food forests using permaculture principles to help families create abundant, self-sustaining gardens in their own backyards. He also consults with farms and communities on regenerative practices that heal the earth while producing nourishing food.
For Shui, gardening through a permaculture lens is not just practical but a spiritual practice that connects us to natural rhythms and cycles, fostering both personal growth and ecological restoration. His approach integrates the three core ethics of permaculture (Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share) into every design and consultation.
When he's not in the garden or studying ecological systems, Shui devotes his time to guiding Tai Chi Qigong classes for assisted living communities and teaching children and adults how to swim and build confidence in the water.
How It All Started
2019
Benjamin & Farris began with a grocery trip that transformed how our family thought about food. As COVID-19 approached, my dad and I found ourselves looking at empty fresh-fruit shelves while shoppers stocked up on toilet paper. Instead of following the crowd, we decided to start growing something of our own.
A trip to Home Depot for lumber and a local soil yard for soil became the beginning of a transformation: a bare yard with patches of grass slowly grew into an abundant food forest. What started as a way to feed our family became a living investment; in our relationship to each other, the land and our community…one we continue to nurture with the hope of feeding generations to come, and guiding them how to do the same.
2026
Today, Benjamin & Farris helps others discover that same possibility in their own outdoor spaces. Through foodscaping, edible garden design and installation, soil building, and hands-on education, we create beautiful, productive landscapes rooted in permaculture principles and suited to Houston’s growing conditions. Our work grows from a simple belief: the spaces around us can nourish our families, strengthen our communities, and leave something lasting for those who come after us.
Our Partners
Decentralized Farming is a Houston edible landscaping company that uses permaculture design to turn underused yards into productive food gardens. Their services include raised and in-ground beds, fruit tree guilds, water management, soil building, composting, and maintenance, all tailored to each client’s space, budget, and goals.
Harvey’s Landscaping
Harvey’s Landscaping specializes in transforming yards into beautiful, functional outdoor spaces through organic landscaping practices and thoughtful design. From refreshing overgrown areas to reimagining your landscape, we bring hands-on care to create a yard you’ll love spending time in.