Leah helped me on so many levels. She helped me pick a spot for the vegetable garden, guided me through building the beds, helped me figure out which soil/compost to use, the best plants to grow, etc. I was amazed at my success and had more fresh produce than we could possibly eat! Whenever I had questions or challenges, Leah was available for either a phone or in person consultation. I will definitely continue to work with Leah and encourage anyone that wants to garden successfully - either flowers or vegetables or fruit - to do so too!
Gardening Consults
I started my first vegetable garden in 2001 and the outcome from those first few years would’ve led one to believe that I had failed to inherit my mother’s green thumb. Two decades later and I’ve learned that green thumbs don’t actually exist. Gardening is a learned skill, not something you’re either born with or not.
Learning to garden is like learning a new language – the language of plants, soil, and the life that thrives in the spaces between the two. I’m here to guide you in discovering the intricacy of this language and impart the knowledge you need to cultivate success!
Who Can Benefit from a Gardening Consult?
My consults are for the busy mom who wants a small raised bed, the homeschool family that’s ready to improve their gardening efforts, the retired couple who knows it’s time to invest in their health, and everyone in between. They’re for:
Those who have never gardened but have visions of shoveling cherry tomatoes into their mouths, cucumbers being pulled straight off the vine, and buttery potatoes filling the oven.
Gardeners with a small amount of experience who are tilling or double-digging, adding a few bags of store-bought compost before planting, and watching yellow, stunted, and bug-infested plants slowly wither throughout the season.
Growers who are wanting to learn how to better manage soil fertility through no-till, no-dig techniques, cover crops, and other ecologically sound and regenerative practices.
Individuals who are ready to take gardening to the next level by focusing on food preservation, year-round production, and learning to incorporate chickens into their gardening system.
My Tried and True Methods
A quick internet search will yield a plethora of gardening options ranging from hydroponically grown lettuces, traditional methods that involve heavy tilling and chemical additions, to permaculture techniques that, at a glance, can seem wild and unusual. No wonder we feel overwhelmed when trying to start gardening!
My methods pull from organic, regenerative, and permaculture techniques in that I strive to maintain soil fertility using natural methods. I never till, double-dig, or heavily work my soil in any way. After two decades of growing, I’ve seen how undisturbed soils require the least amount of maintenance, produce the fewest number of weeds, and yield the most productive crops.
I strive to keep my soils protected using mulches, a variety of cover crops, year-round growing methods, living mulches, and succession planting. My small flock of chickens are an integral part of this system in that their properly managed manure provides the majority of my compost needs using a deep litter system.
I start all of my plants from seed which gives me the freedom to choose a number of lesser-known heirloom varieties that are grown for taste and uniqueness. Seed saving is something that I do minimally due to the complicated nature of preserving variety integrity, but I’ll save seeds anytime it makes sense to do.
My goal is to utilize as many free resources as possible since gardening can quickly become a major investment when having to purchase all of the inputs from a store. Learning to identify resources in your community is also the best way to reduce your carbon footprint and make growing your own food as affordable as possible.
What Do I Get and What Will It Cost?
Your investment in a gardening consult or coaching program will literally pay for itself in fresh fruits and vegetables. Not only that, but just think of your future goals and how this small investment will drastically improve your gardening success for years to come!
Consultation and Design Fees
Consultations include a site visit to evaluate your proposed or existing garden. Site visits start at $350. Driving fees and travel are billed on an individual basis. Consultations are generally offered on Monday’s.
Landscape and property design is offered at a rate of $150/hr.
Testimonials
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Leah’s expertise is unique in that she’s deeply educated yet accessible and practical about all aspects of a garden and home landscape. As a new property owner, I felt overwhelmed with where to begin. I had basic questions and felt at ease asking them all, sharing my ideas and goals. Leah is fluent in so many aspects of the garden, has a wonderful network of resources and is a delight to work with. A brief time with Leah saved us thousands of dollars and hours of research and effort. I will call upon her again and again as my property evolves.
Melissa M.
Get in touch below to schedule your consult!
*Fee and Cancellation Policy: Payment is expected when the consult is scheduled. Appointments must be rescheduled 24hrs in advance or payment will be forfeited.