The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

114. Stop Landscaping and Start Lifescaping: Regenerative Gardening with Monique Allen of The Garden Continuum


Listen Later

Today’s guest is Monique Allen, CEO and Creative Director of The Garden Continuum, a landscaping design company that brings the principles of regenerative agriculture to ornamental gardening. The central work of The Garden Continuum is to create outdoor living spaces, both public and private, that draw people out into those spaces and begin to build that reconnection with nature. 

In this episode, you’ll hear how Monique's approach infuses life back into systems and landscapes that have been abused by degenerative practices. You'll hear her explain the difference in a landscape as something pretty to look at, compared with what she calls a “life scape,” or a space that calls you in and actually asks you to interact with nature in an active and participatory way. You’ll also hear about her book, Stop Landscaping, Start Lifescaping. 

Through regenerative gardening, Monique breathes new life into the soil, and through her personalized landscape business coaching she helps clients build a high-integrity business reflecting care for the entire earth community.

Topics Discussed:

  • Monique's journey as a landscape gardener to regenerative ornamental gardening
  • Ornamental gardening means we aren't growing for food  
  • Monique's central work is to draw people outdoors and reconnect them with nature
  • The Lifescape method
  • Straw Hat Park and Pocket Parks
  • Creating a sense of place
  • The Japanese practice of Shinto 
  • How Monique applied regenerative farming practices to her ornamental garden designs and her business
  • Finding inspiration for her book project
  • Operating a hyperlocal business
  • The pricing challenge of regenerative landscaping/ incremental investing
  • Biochar
  • A discussion of tilling
  • How to prepare the soil for a garden
  • How gardens change people and their lives
  • Regeneration for entrepreneurs
  • Monique's ideas about slow living and good dirt
  • Monique's Book, Stop Landscaping, Start LifeScaping

  • Connect with Monique:

    • Monique's Website, thegardencontinuum.com/
    • On Instagram @thegardencontinuum
    • Monique's Book, Stop Landscaping, Start LifeScaping

    • About Lady Farmer:

      • Our Website
      • @weareladyfarmer on Instagram
      • Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC
      • Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!
      • Email us at [email protected]

      • Get 15% off your order of all-natural plant fertilizers from BIOS Nutrients with the code LADYFARMER15.

        Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball.

        Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        The Good Dirt: Sustainability ExplainedBy Lady Farmer

        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6

        4.6

        143 ratings


        More shows like The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

        View all
        MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN by Margaret Roach

        MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN

        673 Listeners

        Pioneering Today by Melissa K Norris

        Pioneering Today

        962 Listeners

        Herbal Radio by Mountain Rose Herbs

        Herbal Radio

        253 Listeners

        The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson by Urban Farm Team

        The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

        296 Listeners

        Cultivating Place by Jennifer Jewell / Cultivating Place

        Cultivating Place

        349 Listeners

        The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy by Jill McSheehy

        The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

        795 Listeners

        The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers by Epic Gardening

        The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers

        1,579 Listeners

        The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l by Joe Lamp'l

        The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l

        1,860 Listeners

        Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care by Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness

        Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care

        879 Listeners

        Sustainable Minimalists by Stephanie Seferian

        Sustainable Minimalists

        848 Listeners

        Old Fashioned On Purpose by Jill Winger

        Old Fashioned On Purpose

        1,761 Listeners

        Backyard Gardens - Gardening for everyone by Backyard Gardens TV

        Backyard Gardens - Gardening for everyone

        189 Listeners

        The Modern Homesteading Podcast by Harold Thornbro and Rachel Jamison

        The Modern Homesteading Podcast

        164 Listeners

        Garden Basics with Farmer Fred by Fred Hoffman

        Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

        262 Listeners

        Gardening Simplified by Newsradio WOOD 1300 and 106.9 FM (WOOD-AM)

        Gardening Simplified

        117 Listeners