Today we’d like to introduce you to Chia-Ming Ro.
Hi Chia-Ming, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
For as long as I can remember, I sought a connection to the earth. As the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, I first grew up watching my grandparents garden on their tiny city terrace in Taipei — and later, my mother carrying on that tradition here in the US. Then as an adult, I embraced domestic gardening as a means of community, sustainability, increased food security, and a connection to my roots.
As a wife and mother of two, I hope to raise my children with the very same awareness for their food supply and a connection to their roots. With an MBA and background in financial management, I was inspired to bring my passion for gardening to others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coastal Homestead is the result of generations of domestic gardening and knowledge surrounding plant growth. I offer personalized coaching, hands-on instruction, and gardening techniques philosophies that last a lifetime. My business helps aspiring gardeners find their green thumb and cultivate an edible garden that’s equally beautiful and functional.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was born in Taiwan and came to the US when I was three with my parents. As the eldest, I naturally assumed the role of translator for very early on and also adopted their resilient work ethic. From a very early age, my mom ingrained in me that I had to work harder than the next person because I was not born here. So I became a “yes person” and a “box checker”. I did everything my parents said I needed to “succeed” in life. High School, check. College Check, Big 4 Accounting Firm career Check. MBA Check. Get Married/become a mom check. Climb the corporate ladder, check. I did everything that was expected of me, but I still felt stifled in creativity and this urge that there was more to life for me than to sit behind a desk. It took a global pandemic for me to find my voice and funnel my passion into a sustainable business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Coastal Homestead is a gardening consultancy that teaches the ritual of gardening through a modern lens. I launched Coastal Homestead in 2020 as a brand rooted in generations of family gardening techniques philosophies passed on through my Taiwanese grandparents and parents. I was exposed to the idea of home gardening as an everyday necessity—and as a way to guarantee food security for the family, not just a hobby. These edible gardening practices remain with me into adulthood and I now want to share that with others through designing and installing edible gardens, as well as mentor others in the greater LA and Orange County.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Gardening Books: A Year in Flowers, Cut Flower Garden, Western Garden Book of Edibles, The Beekeeper’s Bible, Cook’s Herb Garden, JADAM Organic Farming, Other Books: Becoming, The 5 Second Rule, The Purpose Driven Life. Dear Girls Apps: Instagram, Inshot, Slack, Canva, Sunseeker
Pricing:
- A Coastal Homestead Edible Garden turnkey garden is a 4-5 figure investment. Please reach out to Coastal Homestead directly for an estimate or inquiry regarding mentor programs.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.coastalhomestead.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastal_homestead/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoastalHomestead
Image Credits:
Some photos are: Jenny Quicksall Photography Others are: @ographr
