In this episode of the podcast I speak with fellow Geelong landscaper Peter Shaw of Ocean Road Landscaping. ORL are a design, construction and maintenance company based in Anglesea, Victoria.
Peter has recently release a book titled Soulscape, so we discuss the contents of that, as well as the path Peter took from starting out working by himself, to running a team of 20+ staff.
There are quite a few business tips in this episode too, so a great one to finish the year, and the first season of the podcast with.
You can follow along with Peter on Instagram @oceanroadlandscaping and you can buy a copy of his book Soulscape here
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
In this episode I speak with Rich Wigley of Bluesky Landscaping. Rich is currently based in Sydney but about to move to the Central Coast of New South Wales, and runs a design and construction company.
I enjoyed my chat with Rich so much that we kept talking after I'd wrapped up the episode, and there was so much value in that 'after' chat that I've put it into the episode as well.
You can follow along with Rich on Instagram @blueskylandscaping_
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast - Ep28 - Jac Semmler - The Plant Society
In this episode I speak with Jac Semmler. Jac formerly worked at the Diggers Club and recently started a new role with The Plant Society as Head of Plants and Strategy.
We discuss her current and previous roles, as well as her work writing articles for The Planthunter.
Jac's own garden in Frankston, called 'Heartland' is open the weekend of the 4th and 5th of December 2021 as part of Open Gardens Victoria and we discuss the various spaces which make up her garden.
You can follow along with Jac on Instagram @jac.semmler
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page @instyle_gardens @thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
In this episode I speak with Sam Collie of Esjay Landscapes and Pools. Esjay is based in Melbourne and are a one stop shop for their clients, doing design, landscape construction, pool construction and maintenance. We discuss how Sam keeps on top of all of this.
Sam mentions who he worked for when he started out in the industry, including two Icons of the industry.
We also talk about some advice Sam has received through the use of a business coach.
And I was impressed at how Sam tracks his employees hours on site. Not just the simple '8 hours at X job', his employees break it down further into what role they were doing and for how long, so that they can then work out which tasks are going according to schedule, and which aren't, and make adjustments to change that.
You can follow along with Sam's projects @esjaylandscapes or on the website esjaylandscapes.com.au
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast - Ep26 - Mark Cvetkovski
In this episode I talk with Mark Cvetkovski of Top Buxus Australia.
Mark and his business partner operate a garden maintenance business in Melbourne and after struggling to find a suitable solution to the lack of health with Buxus plants, they discovered Top Buxus and started importing it into Australia to use on their clients gardens. After a year of using it they decided to be the Australian seller of it.
Mark's background is in Science, and we discuss how he looked to develop root systems within plants in winter in order for them to thrive in Spring.
We also discuss the benefit Mark of using the Top Buxus product prior to selling it, so that they had confidence in what they were selling.
You can follow along with Mark on the Top Buxus Instagram page @topbuxus_australia
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page @instyle_gardens @thelandscapingpodcast You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast - Ep25 - Alistair Hutton - Everscapes
In this episode I speak with Alistair Hutton of Everscapes. Everscapes is a landscape design and construction company based in Brisbane and Alistair also runs Infinity Pool Builders.
In this chat, Alistair mentions how he started in the industry, by pushing himself to do new things as clients asked, which allowed him to grow his skillset. When I ask about how he grew the business to the size it is now (26 employees), he mentions how learning to not micro manage was the biggest thing he had to do in order to grow.
Something I forgot to compliment Alistair on was his use of social media. His Instagram is well worth a follow and can be found at @everscapes_landscaping
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast - Ep24 - Steven Wells - The Gardener
In this episode I speak with Steven Wells. Steven is a horticultural therapist and nurse, and has combined his love of horticulture and caring for people by designing and implementing a beautiful gardens built across three Austin Hospital sites for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff.
I found this chat to be great for reflecting on the way I think and act in business and life. Steven speaks about his amazing manager who supported his passion in the early days, how he's able to sit back and watch people enjoy the garden that was his idea and which he designed, and I remind Steven of a series of Instagram posts hid did a few years ago where he was noticing numbers in nature.
It's a deeper thinking episode than normal, but I absolutely loved that about it so hopefully you do too!
The Better Homes and Garden story I refer to in the opener is here, and it's worth watching prior to listening to this episode. The bit with Steven only goes for about three minutes, unless you'd like to learn how to build a water garden in a bowl, in which case, keep watching!
Steven can be found on instagram @stevenwellsthegardener and his website is stevenwellsthegardener.com
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast - Ep23 - Craig Ratcliffe - Southern Cross Lawns and Gardens
In this episode I speak with Craig Ratcliffe of Southern Cross Lawns and Gardens. Craig is a gardener who specialises in hedging and topiary and works in New South Wales.
Craig recently moved to Orange from Sydney, which is about 3 hours commute, so we discuss how he's going to look after past clients in Sydney and obtain new ones in Orange.
He's got a great story about how he started in the industry and the persistence he had to work for the employer he wanted to work for.
And Craig has a large social media following so we discuss his through process behind his posts.
You can follow Craig on Instagram @southerncrosslawnsandgardens
You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast
You can view each episode on our YouTube channel
