Howard has developed site-specific soil resource assessments, import and amendment strategies, specifications and implementation trainings for varied landscape projects. He has also provided construction observation and post-construction troubleshooting services for other Landscape Architects, construction managers and developers. Projects include:

Expedia Group Headquarters, Seattle. (Seneca Group). Provided construction observation and quality control for “natural” soils strategy on 40 acre site, and developed remediation strategies for problem areas. Providing ongoing guidance for landscape management, and evaluation of biological amendment program.

Waterfront Seattle. (Land Morphology/Fieldworks). Assisted with development of soil specifications featuring use of natural soils, evaluation and acceptance of soils and amendments. Trained project engineers to evaluate and verify soil quality and placement practices.

Parklane Park, Portland Parks and Recreation. (Walker-Macy). Evaluated on-site resources, drainage and other conditions for development of 25-acre reclaimed gravel quarry into a regional park. Developed soil reuse, import and amendment strategies and specifications. Ongoing involvement with bid evaluation, construction observation and quality control.

Montlake Triangle Garage, University of Washington. (Cedar Grove Composting Co.). Evaluated extent and causes of drainage and horticultural problems at renovated landscape on top of underground parking structure. Assessed field conditions, studies conducted by Owner’s consultants, specifications and geotechnical lab results. Helped remediate and avoid proposed replacement of 9,000 cubic yards of soil mixes.

Howard managed a multi-disciplinary team to develop specifications and implementation standards for Washington State’s ground-breaking Post-Construction Soil Quality & Depth BMP. He subsequently helped King County DDES and City of Seattle DPD create permitting and inspection protocols, train code inspectors and project engineers.  

Howard also developed training workshops on Soil BMPs and rain gardens for Puget Sound Action Team, Washington Organics Recycling Council, International Erosion Control Association, CECSL certification trainings, University of Washington Department of Landscape Architecture, WSU Extension and Stewardship Partners 12,000 Raingardens for Puget Sound.

Howard has assisted Cedar Grove Composting Co. with quality-control and market development programs since the start of Seatle's Clean Green collection programs in 1989. For the past dozen years Howard has been consistently involved with product testing, registrations and certifications; regulatory compliance, customer education; and development of products and services for the Low-Impact Development, consumer and agricultural markets.

link to pdf

Stenn Design has developed audit and technical assistance programs to help large water consumers irrigate efficiently and protect water quality. Howard has audited over 1,500 facilities, trained irrigation managers and gardeners, written educational materials, and evaluated conservation measures for clients including: City of Olympia Water Resources, City of Mercer Island Public Works, Cascade Water Alliance, Woodinville Water District, Sound Transit, and Seattle Public Utilities.

Howard helped Engineers and Landscape Architects from Seattle Parks, Utilities and DOT reorganize and rewrite Seattle's standard soil and planting specifications. The results are clearer for bidders and contractors to follow, easier to enforce and verify, and more likely to produce the healthy landscapes. They also protect water and soil quality from overuse of fertilizers and poor cultivation practices enabled by the old specifications. Howard has worked with specifiers and several municipalities and Landscape Architecture firms to adopt similar provisions.

http://www.seattle.gov/util/cs/groups/public/@spu/@engineering/documents/webcontent/01_029215.pdf

Howard developed a comprehensive set of guides on sustainable gardening for the Saving Water Partnership, covering topics from soil preparation and backyard composting to selecting plants and watering efficiently. He later refined a set of leaner, meaner, and snazzier-looking updates for the City of Bellevue and Cascade Water Alliance. 

https://utilities.bellevuewa.gov/conservation-and-the-environment/natural-yard-care 

Since 1992 Stenn Design has assisted Bellevue with public education programs ranging from workshops, interpretive signage & brochures, to television spots and utility bill inserts. We have also supervised maintenance of the garden by a hearty group of volunteers, and directed professional contractors and Parks Department staff involved in expanding and renovating the garden.  These materials were generated in collaboration with Partners In Design.

Other resource conservation demonstration gardens by Stenn Design include:

Auburn Water Conservation & Backyard Wildlife Park

Kitsap P.U.D. Water Conservation & Composting Demonstration Garden

Larry’s Market Organic Apple Orchard

Tacoma Metro Parks Headquarters Sustainable Landscape Master Plan. (with Hough, Beck & Baird).

Woodinville Water District Water-Conservation Garden and Compost Demonstration

Composting demonstration gardens for Seattle Public Utilities, King County DNR, Snohomish County DNR, Portland Metro, Spokane Solid Waste Disposal, City of Plano, Texas; and others.

Howard Stenn was lead trainer for Seattle’s Master Composter program for 22 years, and created the Natural Soil Building curricula and Resource Guide.

Howard also developed curricula and trained staff for many similar programs across the country, including:

US Composting Council’s National Backyard Composting Training Program Manual

Texas Natural Resources Commission’s Backyard Composting Program Planning Guide

King and Snohomish Counties’ Master Recycler / Composter Programs

Stenn Design has conducted technical and policy reviews, surveys and field assessments to analyze the water conservation potential of varied practices and technologies for municipal utilities, including:

Smart Irrigation Controller Technology Assessments
National Survey of Residential Water Conservation Programs
Woody Mulch Benefits Review and Specifications
Soil Improvement Case Studies and Marginal Costs Assessment
Xeriscape Rebate Program Cost/Benefit Model
Specifications for Efficient Irrigation Systems and Soil Amendments

Howard helped Garden Grow permit its Oregon composting site, and provided technical oversight for composting over 100,000 tons of agricultural wastes and forest by-products per year. He provided technical support to the sales team; wrote The Dirt newsletter, website and sales materials.

Howard has provided a range of related services to clients including:

The Clean Washington Center & US Composting Council, Compost Utilization Guidelines.

Engineered Compost Systems.

King County Commission for Marketing Recycled Materials.

Metro (Portland, OR).

Howard has designed and installed drip irrigation systems in landscapes, restoration plantings, nurseries and small farms. He has also instructed classes on drip design for landscape and irrigation professionals, home gardeners and small farmers.

Howard's Drip Irrigation Design Tips - Vashon Garden Tour

We have practiced and taught intensive food gardening at urban P-Patches, elementary schools, compost demonstrations sites and various public gardens. Howard apprenticed and taught organic horticulture for two years at the UC Santa Cruz Agroecology Program Farm.  In Seattle, Howard trained staff, developed curricula and demonstration gardens to start the WSU-King King County Urban Food Garden Program. Howard was also the President of Seattle Tilth for 5 years, leading it's transformation from an all-volunteer group to a professional organization with over $500,000 in annual events and programs.