Regenerative Gardening Projects With Stephanie Rose

In her new book The Regenerative Garden, blogger, master gardener and disability advocate Stephanie Rose shows readers how to create a beautiful, self-sustaining garden ecosystem, one project at a time.

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April 20, 2022

By: Kelly Smith Trimble

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Photo By: Eduardo Cristo

Photo By: Cool Springs Press

Photo By: Eduardo Cristo

Understanding Regenerative Gardening

Beyond sustainable, regenerative gardening is about creating a garden that will thrive on its own, as a natural ecosystem would, without much input from the gardener. That means "less work and less money" on your part, Stephanie explains. Her own regenerative gardening practice is informed by permaculture, which, at its heart, is about small steps that add up to a holistic approach. That's why Stephanie focused her new book on small projects anyone can do to create a regenerative garden.

Learn More: Creative Genius: Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy

Gardening for Therapy

Vancouver-based Stephanie began gardening for physical and emotional therapy after a sudden illness left her disabled for nearly two years. She started her blog and business, Garden Therapy, to share the healing power of gardening with others. "I want to bring more light to disability," she says, "and to the healing, joy and wellness that gardening can provide."

Learn More: Creative Genius: Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy

The Regenerative Garden Book

The Regenerative Garden is the next step in Stephanie's Garden Therapy mission, as it teaches people to create gardens they can enjoy with less of the work that often turns people off of gardening — and in the process, using regenerative techniques, create gardens that are better for the world around us, too.

Get your copy of The Regenerative Garden and try some of Stephanie's 80 projects that make permaculture both beautiful and approachable.

Wildlife Pond in a Pot

Stephanie created this wildlife pond for inviting diverse pollinators and predators of pest insects to the garden, proving that you don't need a lot of space to creating a garden ecosystem. The pond starts with a half barrel planter and pond liner, plus river stones that not only secure the pot and integrate it into the garden, but also provide an access ramp for wildlife.

Best Plants for a Wildlife Pond

Stephanie's rule of thumb for planting a wildlife pond is to cover 30% of the surface area with purifying plants and plant the edges with reed or tall grasses. Here, yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) provides both height and colorful blooms along the edge, where it's been propped up on a pot so the roots stay below the water line.

Learn More: Choosing Pond Plants

Olla Water Catchment System

A traditional watering technique used around the world, ollas are vase-shaped water catchment systems made of unglazed clay, partially buried in soil to irrigate over time as soil needs it. Stephanie's miniature version uses two terra cotta pots, a coin to cover one drainage hole, and silicone caulk to secure the coin and to attach the terra cotta pots together along their top rims, creating the bulbous shape. A saucer can be used to cover the top of the olla, which has the remaining, uncovered drainage hole where water can be added.

Checking the Olla for Water Level

Stephanie checks the water level of an olla in a raised garden bed. This olla is attached to a solar irrigation system connected to a rain barrel. The system's solar-powered pump naturally draws more water from the barrel on sunny days than on rainy ones.

Keyhole Bed

A keyhole bed design maximizes garden space by minimizing the amount of pathing needed for access. In permaculture design, the keyhole is roughly a horseshoe shape with a central entry point, like, as the name says, a keyhole. When laying out a keyhole bed, make sure you're able to reach all parts of the garden bed either from the keyhole path area or from outside the bed.

Umbrella Greenhouse Cloche

Stephanie's umbrella greenhouse cloche idea makes good use of something you might already have around, clicking the box on the permaculture principle of reuse. Sticking a clear umbrella over a wide planter in late winter to early spring creates a greenhouse effect, trapping warmth and humidity to keep seedlings safe during cold snaps. When the weather warms, just remove and store the umbrella for covering yourself during spring showers.

Regenerative Gardening Projects With Stephanie Rose

Related To:

Shop This Look

Understanding Regenerative Gardening

Gardening for Therapy

The Regenerative Garden Book

Wildlife Pond in a Pot

Best Plants for a Wildlife Pond

Olla Water Catchment System

Checking the Olla for Water Level

Keyhole Bed

Umbrella Greenhouse Cloche

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