Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Polstein.
Hi Lily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a Los Angeles native. I grew up in a household where we were fortunate enough to have a vegetable garden, and early on I gained an appreciation for what growing your own food means to our health and the environment. I majored in Urban Studies and Urban Agriculture was accepted into a pre-graduate Environmental Design program at UC Berkeley and an intensive urban gardening program in San Francisco. I realized that I wanted to apply what I’d learned and contributed to encouraging people to lessen their carbon footprint and embrace drought-tolerant & native landscaping. This was the beginning of Sustainable Landscapes LA.
Already almost five years into my business, I am grateful to be designing sustainable residential and commercial spaces and installing edible gardens throughout Southern California.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Before starting my business, I had already gained a few clients who were family friends that let me have total creative control of designing their spaces. These first projects taught me how to communicate with clients, practice time management, budget, and overcome other challenges along the way.
Most challenges developed when dealing with hungry critters for the first time and working with seasons. Many people don’t believe Los Angeles has seasons, but if your hands are in the soil every day, you know there are! Planting in places that get morning frost but warm up in the afternoons requires thoughtful planning whether it’s a landscape or vegetable garden. This challenge allowed me to better understand the importance of seasonal planting in Southern California.
Another obstacle that emerged when I first started my business was forming relationships in my field of work. I realized that I needed to meet growers, builders and form a crew to help me with installations. In the last five years, I have gained amazing connections with people all over Southern California that help me source the best plants and materials for of my projects. I also met my incredible crew and I know that my business wouldn’t be where it is today without them.
Through various obstacles and challenges, I’ve learned that practicing patience is the most important quality when running your own business. This mentality also plays a huge role as an urban gardener and landscape designer. You need to prepare yourself for trial and error while still appreciating the process and the beauty of nature.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sustainable Landscapes LA. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Sustainable Landscapes LA is a small business that builds, designs and maintains organic edible gardens and drought-tolerant landscapes in Southern California.
Our intention is to inspire and encourage individuals that beautiful landscapes and bountiful edible gardens can thrive in any space. A good landscaper can find a creative solution for almost any area. When planting a sustainable landscape, you are creating a unique ecosystem. A space that supports and protects organisms and native wildlife in an otherwise unforgiving urban environment.
Practicing organic pesticide-free gardening, using biodynamic soil and planting to help harness carbon and release clean oxygen is one-way Sustainable Landscapes LA conserves. We also turn most garden waste into compost which goes right back into the earth.
My website and instagram are great ways to check out landscaping and edible garden projects. I have a shop page where I sell a few things and a section where I share detailed garden guides that were created during the pandemic.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The pandemic taught me to slow down and connect with nature on a much deeper level.
I have always found gardening to be therapeutic, but I don’t think I really needed that grounding and sense of calm until the lockdown. There is something really special about watching plants grow from seed and landscapes evolving over time.
I feel grateful that I’m able to create beautiful and peaceful spaces for people to enjoy in times of isolation and chaos.
Contact Info:
- Website: sustainablelandscapesla.com
- Instagram: @sustainablelandscapes.la
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/o3hd9bn96uu1s0f5qi3r0jbpt?si=b88acbb327b04a30
Image Credits
Sofia Ziman
