My dream as a steward for the natural world really began to grow and shape when I started working with my mentor and friend with Oiko in the field as an Environmental Restoration Technician during Covid. 6 years later, I am devoted to trailblazing as a business owner & field operator in environmental restoration projects here in southern Indiana. Every transformation small or large, and every rock and ridge in the landscape beckons more curiosity, and understanding from me.

My name is Samantha Dennis. I am the sole owner, & principal environmental specialist behind Ephemeral Habitat Restoration.

I accrued a wealth of knowledge through my mentors in ecology, and professional peers whom I would call my friends. This is only part of what I have learned, as most of my experience and expertise has been sharpened at the hands of the plants & natural landscapes I’ve tended.

I’ve maneuvered over 500 acres between Monroe, Brown, Orange, & Marion counties with machines and backpack sprayers to remove invasive, non-native plants such as Autumn olive, Asian honeysuckle, Callery Pear, Japanese stiltgrass, winter creeper, burning bush, and much more. I’ve planted some 5,000+ native trees, seeded several local micro-prairies (>1 acre) and larger projects as well (1-10 acres). I’ve converted backyards and front yards of monocultures into thriving ecosystems that provide habitat for a myriad of different species. I am dedicated to restoring balance and diversity to our planet’s living ecosystems. My name is Samantha and much like ephemerals, I will continue to show up at the earliest opportunity to bring hope & restoration to the land.

Ephemerals are the first plants to bloom in spring. And though their blossoms are short lived, their presence often indicates a healthy, and stable ecosystem.