The Foodscaper Podcast

Building, Sustaining and Leading a Thriving Team in the Regenerative Landscaping Industry with Erik Ohlsen

What does it really take to build a strong, reliable, and motivated crew? Erik Ohlsen—founder of Permaculture Artisans and author of The Regenerative Landscaper —pulls back the curtain on what he's learned over two decades of growing his mission-driven company.  Whether you’re hiring your first employee or managing a growing team, listen to learn how to hire and retain the best people for the job.  Erik covers: * What to look for when building your team * How to hire (and keep) great people * What to pay and how to know when you're financially ready to hire * Scheduling, time management, and navigating last-minute curveballs * The balance between hiring for skill vs. training on the job * Interview questions that reveal true character * Spotting red flags and assessing energetic fit * Creative ways to care for and retain your people * The leadership lessons that shaped his company culture This is the conversation every edible landscaper or permaculture entrepreneur needs to hear—because building a resilient business starts with building a resilient team. Want more support as you build your ecological edible landscaping company? Join our membership! This is where you can get feedback on your work, join live coaching calls with Matt Lebon, and access a vast library of training videos to up your career in foodscaping. Get your first month free at thefoodscaper.com/membership Want to join our annual meeting of the foodscaper minds? Join our annual Foodscaper Conference. Head to thefoodscaper.com/conference to learn more!

Career-Change Foodscaper Shares Early Stage Insights

Are you considering a career change into ecological edible landscaping?  Today’s guest on The Foodscaper Podcast made a brave jump from a career in public policy to opening her own foodscaping company in Tacoma, Washington. I think you’ll be inspired by one of our community’s superstar entrepreneurs, Anna Markee, owner of Markee Ecological Garden Design. Anna shares her business origin story plus advice for landing government contracts from a public policy insider. Tune in!  Listen to the COMPLETE episode when you join The Foodscaper Membership - the first month is free! Come find your people and get support to grow a successful foodscaping biz.  Join: thefoodscaper.com/membership [http://thefoodscaper.com/membership]

How to Skillfully Manage Installs + Build a Successful Worker-Owned Business

In this episode of the Foodscaper Podcast, we're joined by Amber McClain, the installation department head and project manager at Nashville Foodscapes.  From starting as a crew member to becoming a worker owner, Amber shares the nitty-gritty of managing installs during Tennessee's hot summers, keeping her crew motivated, and the strategies that ensure project success. Amber offers her perspective on leading efficient installs that don’t burn crew members out. She talks about how Nashville Foodscapes designs, installs, and maintains edible and ecological landscapes as a worker-owned business. Tune in to learn about the systems and teamwork that make Nashville Foodscapes one of the most long-standing companies in the industry. Listen to the complete episode when you join The Foodscaper Membership - first month is free! When you join the membership, you join a supportive community of edible landscaping pros at all stages. Receive feedback on your work. Join our live calls. Access a library of trainings for foodscapers, by foodscapers. Find your people! JOIN US at thefoodscaper.com/membership [http://thefoodscaper.com/membership]

How to Create a Foodscaping Design Business

This week on The Foodscaper I sat down with Lauren Craig of Humble Hive Consulting — a designer and consultant who’s helping people reimagine their relationship with land through edible and ecological landscapes. Lauren has built a business that roots into her local Ohio community but also stretches far beyond her local geography. From remote design and social media to mentorship and storytelling, she’s finding creative ways to connect with clients and landscapes across the map. In our conversation, we dive into: ✨ How she built her business & finds clients ✨ The challenges (and magic) of remote design ✨ Tools she uses to bring landscapes to life from afar ✨ The human side of client relationships ✨ Mentorship, education, and lessons only the land can teach If you’ve ever wondered how  to thrive as an edible landscape designer — or what it takes to build a design business rooted in design work and creativity — this episode is for you. Get the complete episode when you join The Foodscaper Membership. Join for free at thefoodscaper.com/membership [http://thefoodscaper.com/membership]. There’s more gold in the second half!

Sharing the Magic of Homegrown Food in Philly

In this episode of the Foodscaper Podcast, Matt interviews Mike Bennett, co-owner and president of Backyard Eats, an edible landscaping business based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mike shares the inspiring story of how his partner Chris Mattingly founded the company in 2016 and how they aim to share the magic of homegrown food. They discuss the company's core services, which include design, build, and maintenance of food-producing spaces, and delve into the challenges of scaling and iterating their business model. Mike also talks about his personal journey from finance and music to becoming an integral part of Backyard Eats. Tune in to learn about the design principles, educational resources, and client engagement strategies that make Backyard Eats successful, as well as Mike's insights on overcoming common challenges in the edible landscaping industry. Listen to the complete episode when you join The Foodscaper Membership - first month is free! When you join the membership, you join a supportive community of edible landscaping pros at all stages. Receive feedback on your work. Join our live calls. Access a library of trainings.  For foodscapers, by foodscapers. JOIN US at thefoodscaper.com/membership [http://thefoodscaper.com/membership]