Inspiring Conversations with Nicole Holland of Cactus Mart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Holland.

Hi Nicole , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up between two deserts, Mojave Desert i.e. Joshua Tree area, actually Landers if anyone is familiar with that area, its a little remote part of the morongo basin, near the Integratron and then also down into Coachella Valley, which us locals refer to as the “low desert” and that area includes Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio and beyond….as a kid I was able to explore Joshua Tree monument to hanging out on Palm canyon and Taqhuitz falls where I spent time as a teen (early 90’s) and everywhere in between. It was a great time in our deserts. I really developed a immense appreciation for nature and wildlife and its ability to survive here in the desert harshest climate with little breaks from the scorching heat and minimal rainfall except if we were lucky enough for a good monsoon season that wasn’t too damaging.
I just knew I wanted to be around nature and beauty with all the open spaces. So, I’ve done plenty of odd jobs like working at an aquatic nursery growing pond plants and cleaning ponds, wishing to work at Moortens botanicals in Palm Springs!(still good friends with Clark) but I ended up working in landscaping in Palm Desert for golf clubs and homeowners. It was all great experiences and lots of knowledge from the best in the industry.
Lots of long summers spent learning and really becoming adaptable to the deserts myself.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, is any life of an entrepreneur/artist/risk taker go against the majority or whatever you want to call this……easy? But is it worth it? Yes. For me.
Takes a lot of guts to follow your dreams, I admire people who do. Sometimes it’s not so easy or fun.
I think there’s a lot of variables involved and everyone’s journey is different. But speaking for myself only, it was worth it and also after decades of ups and downs in the economy, with the country, pandemics, recessions etc… as I reach 50, It’s been pretty good overall and I’m glad I took chances.

As you know, we’re big fans of Cactus Mart. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cactus Mart originally started in the early 1970s. It was a little desert Cactus Nursery with a dig your own Cactus sign out front. On your way to Joshua Tree on Hwy 62.. it has had many great stories come out of here and very great customers and friends. Prior to Cactus Mart it was a bar called the Hitching Post through the 40s, 50s and 60s.
I’m very lucky to have acquire it in 2012. And carry on its legacy and expand with a larger variety of specialty cactus, animals and Native Plants. It’s fun for children to come and explore and understand what thrives in the desert what rocks or wildlife come from the desert, they can visit and feed our fish at the pond, see the tortoise habitat, and we even have goats here. It’s basically everything I’ve loved curated into a beautiful piece of property here in Morongo Valley there is lots to see and it’s a great pitstop for tourist or if you have a home garden we can help you landscape your house with drought tolerant and native plants and cactus with our knowledge staff.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
It’s all a risk for any small business owner.
Start to finish.
I’ve had my share too.
I hope anyone coming up today wanting to follow their dreams just keep going forward and surround yourself with supportive people. It’s a mindset. Just keep working towards your goals, even if it feels like it’s only a tiny step, it’s still a step forward. Take a break. Take a breath. Goals take time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.cactusmart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cactus_mart?psln=MW1jbnV2aG43ZHBnYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecactusmart?mibextid=wwXIfr