July 2024 - 52

PERSPECTIVES | BY HANNAH BROOKFIELD
Turning a lifelong
education into
a business
I was 16 when I fell in love with plants, 18 when I
started my horticulture education and 30 when I started a
business that allows me to share my passion with others.
The year 2020 brought many changes, but it was the
year that kick-started my entrepreneurship. At the time,
I was eight years into a horticultural therapy program
manager position, a position I thought I'd have for many
more years. I was managing a greenhouse and providing
job training and horticulture therapy services to adults
with developmental disabilities. I loved what I did, but I
hated the hour-long commute.
During my commute I would drive past an abandoned
greenhouse property daydreaming about bringing it back
to life. During one morning drive, there was some life on
the property. Over time, curiosity got the best of me, so I
stopped in to see what was happening. I learned that the
property was going to become a year-round farm market
and they were accepting vendors.
Putting yourself
out there can be
nerve wracking and
anxiety provoking but
conversations are the
building blocks of
every business.
52
JULY 2024 GPNMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2024 GPNMAG.COM
Thinking of the many propagations I had at home,
I asked if I could start selling houseplants there. This
one conversation started what is now Carroll County
Maryland's only houseplant shop, BotaniGal.
LESSON 1
Don't be afraid to start the conversation.
Putting yourself out there can be nerve wracking
and anxiety provoking, but conversations are the
building blocks of every business.
Inside the farm market, I set up two small shelves of
plants on consignment. I quickly realized that I would
have to purchase additional inventory to supplement
my propagations. Overtime, I expanded inside the farm
market to an entire corner of the store and started
conducting horticulture therapy classes. Selling at the
market allowed me to grow a customer base without
taking a large risk on overhead.
LESSON 2
Dip your toes in, test the waters. Find a way to ease
2
into your business with a scale you are comfortable with.
As my business inside the market grew, I had a
decision to make. What next? Did I want more? Did I want
to leave my full-time position? Ultimately, I did, and it was
honestly the easiest decision I ever made. I owed it to
myself to try, I was enjoying owning a business. Deciding
on a location was easy too, I knew I wanted my shop to
be in Historic Sykesville, Maryland.
1

http://www.GPNMAG.COM

July 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2024

Table of Contents
Editor's Report | Summertime decisions
Lighting Research | Supplemental lighting strategies
Technology | Transforming with automation
CAST 2024 | Remarkable releases for 2025
CEA | The importance of canopy ventilation
Climate Control | Enhancing greenhouse management
Special Advertising Section | Grower's Guide: Professional Growing Media and Biologicals
Variety Information | New take on smooth hydrangeas
Big Grower | Hydroponic farming
Product Showcase
Plant Health | Setting ground rules
Forty Under 40 Perspectives | Turning a lifelong education into a business
Culture Report | Grama grass
Technically Speaking | Why crops don't flower (on time)
Product Marketplace
Industry News/Events
Classifieds/Ad Index
July 2024 - 1
July 2024 - 2
July 2024 - Table of Contents
July 2024 - Editor's Report | Summertime decisions
July 2024 - 5
July 2024 - Lighting Research | Supplemental lighting strategies
July 2024 - 7
July 2024 - 8
July 2024 - 9
July 2024 - 10
July 2024 - 11
July 2024 - Technology | Transforming with automation
July 2024 - 13
July 2024 - 14
July 2024 - 15
July 2024 - CAST 2024 | Remarkable releases for 2025
July 2024 - 17
July 2024 - 18
July 2024 - 19
July 2024 - 20
July 2024 - 21
July 2024 - 22
July 2024 - 23
July 2024 - 24
July 2024 - 25
July 2024 - 26
July 2024 - 27
July 2024 - CEA | The importance of canopy ventilation
July 2024 - 29
July 2024 - 30
July 2024 - 31
July 2024 - 32
July 2024 - 33
July 2024 - Climate Control | Enhancing greenhouse management
July 2024 - Special Advertising Section | Grower's Guide: Professional Growing Media and Biologicals
July 2024 - A2
July 2024 - A3
July 2024 - A4
July 2024 - A5
July 2024 - A6
July 2024 - A7
July 2024 - A8
July 2024 - A9
July 2024 - A10
July 2024 - A11
July 2024 - A12
July 2024 - A13
July 2024 - A14
July 2024 - A15
July 2024 - A16
July 2024 - Variety Information | New take on smooth hydrangeas
July 2024 - 36
July 2024 - 37
July 2024 - 38
July 2024 - 39
July 2024 - 40
July 2024 - Big Grower | Hydroponic farming
July 2024 - 42
July 2024 - 43
July 2024 - 44
July 2024 - 45
July 2024 - 46
July 2024 - Product Showcase
July 2024 - Plant Health | Setting ground rules
July 2024 - 49
July 2024 - 50
July 2024 - 51
July 2024 - Forty Under 40 Perspectives | Turning a lifelong education into a business
July 2024 - 53
July 2024 - Culture Report | Grama grass
July 2024 - 55
July 2024 - 56
July 2024 - 57
July 2024 - Technically Speaking | Why crops don't flower (on time)
July 2024 - 59
July 2024 - Product Marketplace
July 2024 - 61
July 2024 - 62
July 2024 - 63
July 2024 - 64
July 2024 - Industry News/Events
July 2024 - Classifieds/Ad Index
July 2024 - 67
July 2024 - 68
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/new-varieties-digital-guide-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2024-guide-to-cannabis-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/new-varieties-digital-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2023-guide-to-hemp-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2023-guide-to-cannabis-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/gpn-new-varieties-digital-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/californiaspringtrials-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/californiaspringtrials-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/undercontrol-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2019
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