About

Hi, I’m Gretchen.

As a garden coach and consultant, I offer personalized guidance and practical support for everything from small container gardens on stoops and patios to larger in-ground spaces.

I help you understand your space, make thoughtful choices, and care for your garden in a way that feels manageable and enjoyable. My approach prioritizes encouragement, problem-solving, and skill-building so that you can make the most of what you have and feel more confident.

My garden knowledge is the result of hands-on experience with maintaining gardens in urban, suburban and rural settings, as well as informal and formal study, including completion of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Certificate in Horticulture.

In addition to personal gardening in Brooklyn and Columbia County, NY and supporting clients, I’m a volunteer gardener at Fort Greene Park and a NYC rain garden steward. I continue to learn through self-study and classes, in particular those with a focus on ecological practices that support healthy soil, plants, and ecosystems over time. 

Prior to starting The Persistent Gardener I spent decades working with non-profit organizations, supporting educators in effectively planning lessons, connecting with their learners and cultivating observation skills. My garden coaching draws on this understanding of constructivist learning theory (which prioritizes learning through active experience and collaboration) to inspire lasting growth in both gardens and people.

Through coaching and consulting, I strive to support the establishment of diverse habitats that bring joy to humans and benefit the species in their local environments. I’d love to work with you.

Photo by Anna Campanelli

  • "Gretchen is wise without being intimidating and helped me improve my garden without spending a fortune. Now I have a plan and someone to turn to when I run into problems! "

    — Victoria, Brooklyn, NY

  • "The presentation of the conceptual design was professional, yet fun, including beautiful layouts, with pictures depicting possible outcomes, making it easy to envision what we wanted."

    — Susan & Irena, Brooklyn, NY

  • "With Gretchen you will get a bespoke garden that reflects who you are and your environment. The added bonus is that she is super knowledgeable and so much fun to work with!"

    – Nadine, New Jersey

  • "My plants are memory things, special gifts that I have gotten from friends and family, but I needed guidance and some coaching. Gretchen made a housecall, helped repot the plants in fresh soil, taught me how to prune, and diagnosed an over-watering situation. My plants look so healthy and beautiful!"

    – Anna, Brooklyn, NY

  • “I know very little about gardening, but she gave me the courage to prune bushes that were running wild and transplant perennials that I was scared to touch (they survived!)… I have a new enthusiasm for gardening and am so excited to keep working with Gretchen as I put my new skills into action.” 

    – Meghan, St. Paul, MN

  • “She arrived with terrific ideas for the areas I’d identified beforehand … and was such a terrific thought partner for the new questions I was tussling with… It was the most productive and supportive hour and half (in the drizzling rain)!”

    – Amy, Millerton, NY

  • “Working with Gretchen (Persistent Gardener) has been transformative. Our recent consultation was both grounding and energizing, bringing clarity to what had felt like a tangled web of “what next” in my garden. She has a gift for breaking down an overwhelming project into motivating, manageable steps.”

    - Miriam, Brooklyn, NY