Meet Leeann Fox

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leeann Fox.

Hi Leeann, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Arrows Aim Greenhouse & Supply Co. was born from a perfect storm: SShortly after the pandemic started, I left a job that had been a total creative and emotional drain. I’d also just finished a degree in sociology, with a concentration on incarceration and social inequity, and by the end of my studies knew the NPIC was not for me. At the same time, my family was adapting to the pandemic and to remote learning for our 8-year-old. So, we were all being pulled in a million different directions -I know this all sounds very disconnected- but we’d also managed to purchase a piece of property and in all this chaos, the land revealed an opportunity: I had the privilege to leverage this space, to take my social and artistic passions and merge them into something that could serve my community. And so Arrows Aim Greenhouse was born: a plant nursery focused on cultivating community by creating jobs, tangible financial outcomes, and supportive networks for formerly incarcerated folks.

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?
This business launched with very little capital. I mean, out-of-pocket, regular folks kind of capital, and what we’ve accomplished so far has been the product of determination and the ability to make the most out of what we have. Our greenhouse & growing space is totally handbuilt and a lot of our systems are very DIY. Much of what we’ve accomplished has really been about adapting our resources and finding what works. I think that speaks to our mission too, being flexible, giving ourselves grace, and finding a way. Starting a business during a pandemic was obviously risky, but we’ve responded with creativity. Our retail space is totally mobile, made from a converted utility trailer and a lot of repurposed materials, and as we grow we’ll keep it as an outreach and community-building space. Starting out in a micro-business mindset and maximizing our resourcefulness has actually offered the opportunity to be really intentional about every step.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We’re not just a plant shop, our mission is really about connecting people. We’re taking a passion that’s common within every community -growing plants- and using that to connect people to each other and themselves. Growing is a level playing field where everyone is learning, where everyone can find a personal takeaway, and we’re creating space within that to cultivate common ground. No matter our history, no matter our circumstances, our plants thrive with our care and attention and reward us for nurturing them. That’s where our mission to create fulfilling and equitable employment opportunities and care networks for people with justice-involved histories comes into play. Working in the greenhouse, we learn how valuable we are, we can be caregivers and nurturers, and we can share that and also offer that to ourselves. It’s something that can spark an incredible connection between people and communities. We think it’s the perfect context to build what we’re building.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Right now, we’re community building and we’re always looking to meet people interested in this kind of work and in growing together. You can also find us at pop-ups all over Washington state or you can support our work at arrowsaim.com and have our plants shipped anywhere in the United States. We’re pouring everything we’ve got into scaling this project and preparing to hire folks impacted by the justice system. Every purchase, every like and share, directly supports that mission. Just reach out!

Contact Info:

• Website: arrowsaim.com
• Instagram: @arrowsaimgreenhouse