Meet the gardening team behind Koh Samui's sustainable beauty and serene landscape
As custodians of maintaining, shaping, and nurturing the wonderful natural beauty of the stunning hillside, the gardening team at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui plays its part with purpose and precision. Rich in tropical flora that attracts a beautiful ecosystem seasonally, there is meaning and mindfulness in every day. "Their movement around the resort is ritualistic," observes Jasjit Singh Assi, General Manager of the resort. "Pruning, sweeping, and designing the natural environment with care." Besides the apparent tropical beauty their role in the resort is pivotal in cultivating the peaceful, grounding energy that guests feel from the moment they arrive.
Rooted in Samui: A Deep Connection to the Island's Landscape
Nestled within a well-preserved hillside orchard with more than 850 coconut trees, the resort is a living testament to its enduring commitment to sustaining nature's beauty in its true form.
Sustainability Manager Thada Whasagool's deep-rooted connection to the resort brings thoughtful stewardship, as the team's efforts mirror a philosophy of minimal intervention. "Our daily routine extends beyond the landscape," asserts Thada. "We are committed to preserving a legacy of quiet and restorative impact, rooted in sustainability, care, and connection to place." It is with this earnest intention that the gardeners go about their assigned tasks. "Guests connect with the genuine heart instantly," remarks Hannes Schneider, Resort Manager. "When the team stops whatever it is they are doing, and 'wai' with a beaming smile."
Sustainable Landscaping and Community Impact at Koh Samui
Among the team's core initiatives is the composting program: a sustainability effort developed in collaboration with the local municipality, through which coconut waste from across the island is collected, repurposed, and transformed into nutrient-rich fertiliser. "The compost is then shared back with the community as part of our Four Seasons for Good initiative," explains Thada. Ensuring that the sustainability loop between the resort and the community is closed, this initiative supports local vendors by promoting non-chemical farming across the island. Sustaining the narrative of a non-invasive approach to landscaping is key to Thada's focus, as the garden team's broader sustainability initiatives reflect the resort's long-standing philosophy of shaping beauty through gentle human care. "Through the implementation of an industrial-sized wood-chipping machine, the coconut waste produced enriches the soil and fosters a circular economy that harmonises with Koh Samui's ecological equilibrium," adds Hannes.
Balancing Nature and Design: The Resort's Minimal Intervention Philosophy
The research into the dynamic tropical setting of the resort speaks of authenticity grounded in nature, rhythm, and restoration. "From the outset, we embraced minimal intervention," says the award-winning architect and landscape artist Bill Bensley. "When we discovered the coconut plantation on our first visit, we made a commitment to preserve them. Nearly two decades later, those trees stand tall as our commitment to sustainable practices." This underscores the wisdom of allowing the natural beauty of a site to shine, with architects playing a supporting role through restrained intervention.
"Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is a long-term resident and collaborator here on the island and we remain committed to our local partnerships and sustainability initiatives," insists Jasjit. "By championing the island's legacy through future-forward practices, we look forward to supporting the local economy through our maverick gardening team."