From The Dirt To The Walls, The Table, & Better Health.

When I was a child, I remember walking into my grandparent’s yard and from the moment you got out of the car and looked at their house compared to the others it just looked so beautiful, a jungle behind a small red brick wall with black fencing on it. When you look toward the house and all you can see is the beautiful lushness and big trees with fresh fruits hanging all over. The red concrete pathway led to a small fountain in the middle of the front garden(yard) which went right and left, but either way there was green grass, big bushes, beautiful flowers, and fresh fruits surrounding the property like you walked into a secret garden. As you passed the fountain the pathway narrowed back to one path and on each side of the path there were tall evergreens on each side as if they were fencing the pathway and above hung grapevines that one could just pick from and eat as you walked to the front door (that was my favorite part). Most people go to the grocery stores to get their fruits, but not me especially with my grandparent’s delicious fruits just hanging ready to be picked… all you had to do was walk outside and pick whatever it was you wanted to have. There were lemons, limes, grapefruit, grapes, chilies and many other fruits in the back. I assumed that was how the house came, but one day as my grandfather was showing me old photos when they came to America, I found an old picture of my grandparent’s property and the only thing besides the house was the little brick wall and first thing my grandfather put in was the fountain. There were no trees, bushes, or anything in the picture except the dead grass all around. That was when I realized my grandfather’s garden was made from scratch, his hard work and love. That is when I knew that I loved nature and what it can provide, especially with the proper time, love, and care.

When people think about nature, they think about a good old time outside whether it be camping, going for a nice hike or to the beach; however, when I think about nature I think home, décor, love, and health. I am known for having a jungle in my little apartment (because I do not have a porch or yard of my own), which is the best décor, for it provides fresh air, (and yes there are debates on how many plants one would need to have for that to be true but let’s just say my jungle consists of over 200 plants) tranquility, and healthy options for food, medicine, and skincare. I love being able to cut fresh veggies or pick fresh fruit from my grandparent’s yard, my mother’s garden, or my little kitchen garden. It is nice not having to pay high prices for healthy options and to know what was used to grow them. This love for nature has created a great opportunity for me to share my beautiful passion with friends, family, and my community. It is the best thing to be able to gift to someone even a stranger. The best feeling is seeing someone smile when given an unexpected plant, flower or fresh fruit and it brings joy to see their day brighten up even if it is just for the moment. I know many may think collecting plants and growing food became a new hobby like to many individuals during the pandemic, but this love for collecting plants and growing food and supplies had been a passion of mine since I first saw what enchantment my grandfather was able to do with time, love, and care.... oh, and don’t forget the natural elements. However, I was happy to see how the love and interest for plants grew within society during the pandemic, this gave my friends the idea to try to get me to make my own business to sell plants, fruits and my services etc.

First off real live plants make for perfect décor for any space. I remember when I first invited my friend’s sister, Jazz, over and she asked me “would you mind if I copied you and started to collect house plants, your place looks beautiful?” I laughed and said of course I would not mind that is my whole point of wanting to show off my beautiful décor and love for plants. I want to spread the love for nature and get people to be passionate about growing and caring for plants for they can benefit us humans in many ways. People who buy fake plants for décor are missing out on the great benefits that real plants can provide. They liven up a room and create such beauty with the different sizes, types, and colors. The power that plants have in an indoor space is magical. I’m used to hearing people say, “I love coming to your house its calming and it is like a Zen place, the moment you walk in any worry, sadness or anger just goes away”. This is the feeling that I enjoy and want others to feel because everyone deserves to be at peace when they are in their personal space without being anxious, stress or sad.

Secondly, plants have many benefits for one’s mental and physical health. They bring tranquility to one who may be stressed or anxious and even sad. Planting seeds and watching them grow is so exciting and stimulates the ability to be able to do anything. The repotting and cleaning and caring for live plants take time which helps free oneself from the rush of life and the illnesses and diseases that can come with it. For example, my little sister has seen me collect, care for, and grown my own plants for the last decade, and I tried forever to try get her interested but it just never happened. One day my mother and I gifted her a couple plants, but she still did not see what was so great and was blah about it. One day she had revived a plant that was one the verge of death and in that moment when she saw the plant coming back to life after a few days is when she said she felt something she had been missing for a while. She was battling postpartum depression after her second child was born and she said caring for plants fulfilled the thing she was missing, and it made her feel worthy and like herself again (she said she couldnt exactly explain how it made her feel but this was the closes she could put into words). Of course, she knew she was needed in her household and loved, for it wouldn’t function without her, but she said she still felt depressed, and nothing changed that until she saw that little plant come back to life knowing that she was the one who made it happen. That is when her plant journey started and helped her get out of her post-partum depression. If caring for a plant can help this mother get out of a funk without medicine imagine how growing and having and edible garden can do for those who may need a better alternative than actual drugs. It is a therapeutic hobby that can revitalize one’s life. Not to mention the actual health benefits of growing your own food and having herbs and plants to make home remedies for illnesses, diseases, and preventative measures as well.

Lastly, plants are the original medicine and are way better than what pharmaceuticals sell you. It is the natural way of curing the human body. With the web at our fingertips, it is easy to look up what plants are useful to cure and aid in any health problem. Of course, it takes time but is a good life changing habit to have (better than being on medications with possible side effects for the rest of your life). One small but irritating issue I dealt with was dry skin. I struggled with dry scalp for many years and always spent tons of money on different products to rid of it, and they sometimes worked and the ones that did would work for the first few washes but then cease to work after that. It was not until I looked up what natural remedies I could try to see if that would work and of course, one of the first things that came up was aloe vera (my mother had been telling me to try it) and guess what I had at my front door a beautiful aloe vera plant my grandmother gave me from my grandfather’s garden. I went outside that same minute and cut a piece off and did as instructed and OMG kid you not my head felt so much better right after washing it out, and I continued the remedy for that week and have yet the need to do it again. That is when I knew my ancestors were not kidding when they said the earth will provide you with what you need if you care for the earth, you will never be without food or medicine. Nothing feels better than being able to completely care for yourself without the need of big corporate, especially when you are a struggling student trying to keep up with basic life. Knowing that I will not go hungry if I have seeds and all-natural elements is a gift because in the modernized world, we live in now, greed is still the number one thing that people cannot see past, and many folks go without necessities. I am very grateful to have all-natural elements and knowledge to grow food and make medicine I need because there are people out there without any of it and they would give anything to have life's necesities. That is why I try to teach my nephews and niece the importance of being able to care for nature because it can provide you with everything you may need.

Teaching them how to care for a plant and to be grateful and use all of what it provides is an important life lesson that our education system does not teach. I think is important because if you cannot make it in the world and there is one thing no one can take from you which is knowledge. This became a significant part of my life when I was attending college. I worked three jobs and went to school full time, but with the little hours I had to give to all three jobs I was barely making it. I was able to keep a roof over my head and a vehicle to get me to and from work and school, but I did not have enough to keep food on the table and believe it or not the system we have built did not qualify me for food aid. So, I had relied on being able to grow veggies and went to my grandparents when I could to pick fresh fruits. Eventually, I had loss the vehicle that helped me get back home to get fruits or to get to work but that is beside the point; however, I joined a botany class so I could have access to the community garden on campus. There I was able to grow all kinds of other veggies I could not get to grow in my apartment. We grew kale, chard, artichoke, and so much more. Of course, there were pantries provided by the school and local charities, but it was all preserved food and unhealthy, so knowing how to grow food and have a place to grow it was the best thing that happened to me in college. After that I continued to attend the garden even though most classes abandoned it during the summer and winter but that meant there was more for me to take home and distribute among those in need.

Over time, my friends kept telling me “you should start a business, sell your propagated and potted plants that you grow…you are really good at it, and they are so beautiful, oh, and don’t forget the advice you’re the plant guru we all go to any way!” But truth be told I enjoy gifting my accomplishments and love giving away the fruits and veggies to those who enjoy the simple pleasures of a great tasting fruit/veggie at least for now unitl I know it is an actual possibility for me. However, during the pandemic I had lost both jobs and have dedicated my time to growing more and have thought about trying to turn this hobby into a business. It would be nice to work for myself and do what I love while enhancing the lives of others around my community. Of course, it is not realistic for I do not have the funding but maybe one day I will be able to expand my passion and create this business I have envisioned and contribute to the community, but until then I’ll gift away. Being able to make someone smile with the pleasure of gifting something I grew is the greatest feeling. I enjoy sharing what I can with the world and those around me. With the use of social media, I have been able to share my passion with people beyond my community. I provide advice on how to care for plants, how to cure a plant of disease, and even how to revive a dying plant. It is amazing how the little knowledge I have can bring people from around the world to my social media. People are always amazed when I tell them I do not charge for the advice, and the people are so grateful for the help, and it is nice to follow up and see how things turned out. I have followers from all over the world and follow other plant enthusiasts and enjoy seeing how other people use nature to their benefit and every day I learn something new. Seeing all these ideas of different ways to make a green house and different things I could sell if I were to make it a business is amazing and motivates me to be able to do that one day for myself.

I would have a small space where one can come to relax, learn about gardening and purchase established fruit and veggie plants where they can also purchase rooted propagated plants from my collection for décor. This space will carry out my Zen feeling that my apartment gives to those who visit it and will also be a place where the needy can come if they want free fruits and veggies. This is one thing that would be important to me because when I was in need and hungry, I had people who opened their gardens to me and feed me without asking for money, so I feel like it would be a big part of my business to be able to provide healthy options for those in need. Being able to turn my passion into what stabilizes my life (career) would be a great benefit for myself and my community because every community needs a place where you can go to feel at peace and that can provide life changing habits. Whether it be growing your own fruits/veggies, creating a calming place to be, livening up a workspace, or even learning how to use natural remedies to substitute for basic medicines. This passion I have has been noticed on my social media and I love how friends, family, and even strangers come to me with questions of how to care for something, advice for growth or even to just to get a name of a plant that they have been searching for. It fills my soul with joy and love to know that I can help and contribute to the world in this way.

Long ago, when I first started collecting plants my friends and family gave me a nickname of “Poison Ivy” which I was not aware of it until later, but it stuck. At first, I was not sure what to think when people called me that I thought they were mimicking me because of all the plants I had, but once I noticed they were asking for advice and refering people to or showed their appreciation of my gifts, I realized it was a complement and I enjoy being that plant lady they called “Poison Ivy”. I have people ask me things that I did not know I could answer. Like how to use certain herbs for different dishes, or what herbs can be used for different health problems down to where should I put this new plant or how to care for it. It is still a learning experience for me but every day I help someone I learn something new myself. This passion of mine has opened a new world to others around me and has even helped them change to having better eating habits and helped many discover the plant power of holistic remedies which really is the best alternative to actual drugs. This is what brings me true fulfillment. Being able to change the simplest actions of one person and help make their life better. The only way I can monetize this passion in a perfect world is to have investors, for the licensing and requirements are just a matter of filing paperwork. I have the knowledge and experience in what I would want to provide for my community and just need the money to start. Once I accomplish that I can disburse my products and knowledge to my community while helping the needy and supporting myself.