Whether he's leading a full Permaculture Design Certificate program, speaking at a garden club or public library, or guiding a homeowner through a garden consultation, Todd brings the same infectious wonder and grounded wisdom to everything he does. His workshops and talks, which span topics from living soils and native plants to ecological restoration and regenerative design, have reached audiences at venues across Massachusetts, from the Boston Flower & Garden Show to dozens of public libraries and garden clubs.

Tuesdays with Todd, his popular monthly workshop series, offers accessible, hands-on learning for gardeners at every stage. And his newest venture, The Ecology of You, extends the ecological lens inward — exploring how the same principles that heal landscapes can restore balance in our own lives and health.

Todd is available for garden talks, keynotes, and permaculture garden consultations. If you're interested in bringing him to your organization or would like a consultation for your own land, we'd love to hear from you.

Known by many as The Grateful Gardener, Todd Breitenstein has spent a lifetime cultivating deep relationships between people, plants, and the planet. His journey began in the family garden as a toddler and grew into a decades-long career in sustainable landscaping, ecological restoration, and permaculture education.

Todd holds a background in Environmental Policy and Ecological Restoration, and has earned his Permaculture Design Certificate, NOFA Organic Land Care Professional designation, and MAAC Conservation Commissioner certification. He founded The Grateful Garden, a sustainable garden center dedicated to growing not just plants but vegetable gardeners, before channeling his expertise into South Shore Permaculture — where he teaches, designs, and leads the community he's spent years building.

Jennifer joined the South Shore Permaculture community the way many good things happen — unexpectedly, and while picking blueberries. A volunteer in the Weymouth Food Pantry Garden, she struck up a conversation with Todd that quickly turned into a collaboration. Call it kismet, call it synchronicity: she was soon on the board of Our Grateful Garden and helping shape the growing South Shore Permaculture community.

Jennifer brings over two decades of marketing experience across healthcare, startups, events, and retail. Most recently, she led marketing and business development at a healthcare technology startup, and today she runs Mercaldi Ramella Marketing, her own consulting practice helping small businesses build brands, reach customers, and grow. At SSP, she handles marketing and operations — the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the community connected and the calendar full.

She describes herself as not much of a Permie yet, but she's working on it. She does hug trees.