Stephanie Kotsifas Karner was raised in Auburn, Maine by parents who were, and continue to be, avid gardeners and there the ‘seed’ of a garden lover was planted.

When Stephanie and her husband Derek moved to Vermont, and bought their first home she began to experiment with her plantings. Steph soon discovered she had a knack for gardening. Family and friends soon started asking questions and wanting help in their gardens.

While being employed at The Vermont County Store in Weston, VT she was able to create their outdoor planting for two major growing seasons; last year installing 350 plants for them alone. She soon realized a business was in the making and enrolled in a ‘Master Gardener’ certification class through the University of Vermont Extension Services.

Steph and her husband began searching for a vintage truck that would artfully and practically express her business. The result was a 1958 Ford F100 pickup truck, complete with the ever classy logo – ‘ Traveling Hoe Gardening’.

Stephanie loves teaching people how to create sustainable organic gardens. She designs and installs both flower and organic vegetable gardens for her clients. Her primary concentration is flowers, with a particular love for container gardening.

For Stephanie the real thrill of having this business is the quiet inner knowledge that the gardens she has created for each unique client will last and evolve over many years. She envisions her clients looking out at their gardens and smiling, appreciating their natural beauty throughout the seasons.

Stephanie creates both residential and commercial planting and designs. She is involved in the maintenance of her gardens, at the clients request. If a client would prefer to do the garden work themselves she is happy to consult with them also.

This has now become her passion and finds ‘playing’ in the Earth very therapeutic and relaxing and hopes that her clients will see her passion in their gardens as well.

Stephanie is also the owner of Silklets, hand dyed beaded silks worn as bracelets, anklets and necklaces.www.silklets.com

Steph is current a member of the following associations:
Member of the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce
Master Gardener of Vermont’s UVM Extension Services