Drainage & Garden
Consulting & Design
Services
$150/hour
A one-hour site visit led by a PhD-level Environmental Engineer:
Assessment of standing water, soil saturation, and surface drainage issues
Evaluation of gutter, downspout, and grading performance
Recommendations geared toward ecological drainage solutions—like rain gardens, swales, and infiltration zones
Practical advice for preventing erosion, directing flow, and improving yard health
You’ll receive a follow-up email detailing actionable, prioritized strategies tailored to your space. Full drainage solution designs and/or project management will be quoted if desired.
$100/hour
A one-hour site visit led by a 72-hour certified Advanced Permaculture Garden Designer:
Evaluation of sunlight patterns, soil health, and existing vegetation
Diagnosis of garden concerns—like poor soil structure, lack of pollinators, or layout inefficiencies
Suggestions for native, edible, and deep-rooted species (think comfrey, perennials, native wildflowers)
Simple, practical design ideas tailored to your space and family life
You’ll receive a follow-up email with a clear, doable action plan, grounded in ecological gardening principles. Full design plans and installation pricing will be quoted if desired.
$200 flat fee
This combined on-site session brings you a nature-based solutions approach to
Thorough evaluation of sun patterns, soil health, existing plantings, and water flow
Full assessment of standing water, saturation zones, gutter, downspout, and property grading
Customized solutions including rain gardens, swales, planting strategies, and ecological drainage design
A cohesive plan to transform your yard into a functional, beautiful, and resilient space
You’ll receive a follow-up email that addresses both garden and drainage needs, rooted in whole systems thinking and focused on nature-based solutions that will last in our changing climate. Full design plans and installation costs will be quoted if desired.
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I’m Dr. Jenn Pickering Auchter, AKA Jenn of Earth in online circles, and I’m an earth scientist (BS’10 from MTSU, MS’13 from Vandy), environmental engineer (PhD’16 from Vandy), and permaculturist (72-hr PDC’22). I worked for a Fortune Global #1 company in my early career before transitioning to academia as a soft-money research professor. I specialize in understanding how water flows along and below the ground, and I am passionate about transforming soggy, waterlogged yards and public spaces into thriving, rain-fed gardens that nurture both people and our local water resources.
GDCD’s Mission is to provide eco-smart drainage solutions that fix standing water issues, improve soil health, and support vibrant landscapes, rooted in rigorous scientific and environmental engineering practices and permaculture principles.