Life and Work with Lauren Wilson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Wilson.

Hi Lauren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved Horticulture and landscape design. I took classes though high school but when college came, I couldn’t afford it and financial aid didn’t care that my dad wasn’t helping me, they just cared he made too much money for me to qualify (I didn’t even live there!) I could barely feed myself let alone pay for CSU. I was working at Bath Garden center at the time making $9/hr and trying to go to Front Range Community College when I could afford too. I eventually traveled to New Zealand and Australia doing a program called Willing Workers of Organic Farms (wwoof.org) after living out of a backpack for a year I decided I needed to make some real money. Cooking is my other passion so when I got a job making $12/hr I was so happy. I ended up cooking for Uchealth kitchen for 11 years. Then 2020 hit and as a mom of two small children, there was nothing worse than working on the front lines of Covid in weld country. I had to find a way out but with a job that if I needed to homeschool my kids, I could. I had always done design and small landscape projects for friends and family but now I was determined to get out. I bought a computer and program and just started. I got my EIN number, I got business card and started promoting like crazy. I took any job and any advice I could get while still working at the hospital. Within two years my husband and I felt that we could afford for me to quit the hospital and to never look back. Today I have so many wonderful clients that I get to take care of, and I get to talk about plants all day long. It’s a dream come true and it’s a wonderful industry to be a part of!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some struggles along the way where definitely finding companies to install my designs for my clients. I still have this problem today. I have so many homeowners that have small jobs that need to be done that it’s hard to find the right help to get things taken care of correctly. I have accepted that labor will always be a struggle even if I do pay $20/Hr. to pull weeds. Other struggles as a mom will always be keeping up with everything else. Thankfully I have an awesome husband who is so supportive, helpful and doesn’t care if the laundry room looks like a bomb went off. He just doesn’t love that I take care of everyone else yard and weeds and not my own. LOL Thankfully my cooking skills keep him happy!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What do you specialize in?
I specialize in Landscaping, if I can’t do the job, I have a few friends in the industry that can. I specialize in selective weed control, so no chemical used if possible. I specialize in small jobs. Doesn’t matter what the size is, people still need to get HOA approved and they still need their problem area fixed. I love doing xeriscape designs and nothing is most beautiful then shade gardens! I also do property management, so deadheading everything, weeded and just general upkeep of properties.

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of myself. I didn’t give up and I just kept posting and having faith that this door was opened for a reason.

What sets you apart from others?
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to adapt and the fact that I am a female. You would be amazed at how many design jobs are now maintenance job. Most homeowners don’t have 20k to put into the yard, but they do have a few hundred for me to plant here and there.

No one can find anyone to pull weeds till they find me. I am so happy to be outside pull weeds on my schedule, and I know it shows. I know my clients appreciate my straightforward style and they know that if they need anything, I am just a phone call away. The biggest thing is that I am great at communicating. I am always checking in and letting them know what time I will be there and what to expect from this visit. All the years of hospitality are paying off.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to get started with me is to email me. Let me know what is working and what isn’t working. What do you love and what do you hate. I have limited time available because I am a mom first and self-employed second, so my website needs updated, but my social media (Facebook and Instagram) has got something most days and has all the pictures.

Pricing:

• Starting 2023 season
• Labor and Design is $50/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sfldesign.org
• Instagram: @straightforwardlandscapedesign
• Facebook: @sfldesignco