In this episode, I'm chatting with Michael Albanese from AVESI Stormwater & Landscape Solutions in Hamilton, Ontario.

We talk about his journey from studying Geography and working as a Rain Home Guide to becoming an expert in the area of Stormwater Management and "Rain Ready" gardens, Fusion Landscaping and being an FLP (Fusion Landscape Professional), Native Plants, Heather's basement that recently flooded and of course - beer!

BEER

Refined Fool's "Hat Day is Cancelled Hazy IPA"

BOOKS

any books by Ed Mylett

Purple Cow by Seth Godin

his own book: The Modern Rain Garden, Michael Albanese

Tune in next week for our last episode of Season 1 where I'm speaking with the man who inspired me to start this crazy thing called podcasting in January, 2024. I will forever be grateful to Daniel Cornacchia from Dancor Landscapes in Markham, Ontario for pushing me to step outside my comfort zone and start a podcast. Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09

In this episode, I've brought David Milne from Quercus Gardens back on the show to take a look back on the year.

His episode (#2 in Season 1) was the most watched and streamed episode of Season 1 and I wanted to celebrate him and his year by bringing him back on to chat further.

In this episode, we talk about the challenges of having to let go staff, his "life before wife", the importance of mentorship and having a supportive network, and so much more!

BEER

Beau's Juiced AF Hazy IPA

Kraken Rum

BOOKS

Siddartha by Herman Hesse

Crazy About Gardening by Des Kennedy

Tune in next week when I'm speaking with Michael Albanese from AVESI Stormwater & Landscape Solutions in Hamilton, Ontario.

Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm talking with Will Heeman from one of my personal favourite places - Heeman's Greenhouse in London, Ontario.

We're talking about how his grandparents came to Canada and started the business in 1963, the importance of creating and supporting community, their famous strawberries, various workshops and activities they offer throughout the year, their various meads and ciders, and cultivating a connection between people and gardening from an early age.

BEERS etc.:

• Blueberry Hard Apple Cider
• Cherry Grove Mead
• (and my personal favourite) Black Stripe Bochet Mead

PIECE OF ADVICE:

Know your 'WHY' and hold on to it; never forget it.

Special thanks to Greg Sagar from Matchbox Productions Canada for filming and recording this episode on location at Heemans.

Tune in next week when I'm speaking with David Milne from Quercus Gardens in Toronto, Ontario.

Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm talking with Ashley (aka "Ash") Rowe from the New Leaf Collective. A Marketing firm in London, Ontario. We're talking about how she started her business after finding herself unemployed through COVID, being nominated (and WINNING!) as a "Top 20 Under 20", providing a safe and supportive work environment for her staff, being a "stepping stone" employer, opening her own studio, and of course - BEER!

BEERS etc.:

• Hazy Roy: A Hazy Boy NEIP by the Collective Arts in Sarnia, Ontario
• Xponent Energy Drink made in London, Ontario

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Persuasion & All In - both by Arlene Dickinson

Tune in next week when I'm speaking with Will Heeman from Heeman's Greenhouse in London, Ontario. Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm talking with Randy Tumber from Randy Tumber Landscape Consulting in Amaranth, Ontario. We're talking about working with your "niche market", the importance of WATER in the landscape, winning the Dunnington Grubb Award - TWICE!, being a keynote speaker, the importance of learning the Latin plant names, the International Patio Expo, finding the "right fit client", Landscape Ontario, and of course - BEER!

BEERS etc.:

Red Wine - Los Vascos Cromas (Chile)

Collective Arts IPA from Hamilton, ON.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

"The Old Way of Seeing" by Jonathan Hale

Tune in next week when I'm speaking with Ash Rowe from New Leaf Co. in London, Ontario. Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm talking with Jeremy Kamp from Nicola's Garden Art located in the heart of Wortley Village in London, Ontario. We're talking about him taking ownership of his family's business, how the business started as a dry flower arrangement studio, being an instructor at Fanshawe College, drainage issues on job sites, the Fusion Landscape Professional accreditation, pools, scheduling and selling work hours when you have a crew(s), using drones for photos and videos, and of course - BEER!

BEERS etc.:

Coors Banquet/Coors Original

Guinness

Guinness Blonde

Hollandia & Dab

Andersons Cream Ale

"Baby Cans" of beer - we're so spoiled with tall cans Rainbows & Smiles Rainbow Sherbet DIPA by Flying Monkeys (er my gerd it is SO GOOD!!!!!)

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

(though not mentioned in this episode because we ran out of time, these are some books the two of us have talked about numerous times)

• TRACTION by Gino Wickman
• PROFIT FIRST by Mike Michalowicz
• WHO NOT HOW by Dan Sullivan

Tune in next week when I'm speaking with Randy Tumber from Randy Tumber Landscape Consulting in Amaranth, Ontario. Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm talking with Jennifer Jay from the Joy of Gardening in Thamesford, Ontario. We're talking about her making the leap and starting her own business just this year (2024), working homeowners in their outdoor spaces, her awesome signage and marketing using QR codes (which are SUPER EASY to quickly scan with your phone as you're walking by), and of course - BEER!

BEERS etc.:

Mushroom Tea as a coffee substitute

Dandelion, Jasmine & Chamomile Tea

Kicking Horse Brand Coffee

Shout-out to Jenna Goodhand and Cafezia Coffee!!

Drifter Nitro Hazy IPA by Muskoka Brewery

*Nitro Beers use nitrogen gas to create smaller bubbles and a smoother, creamier texture

Tune in next week when I'm speaking with Jeremy Kamp from Nicola's Garden Art in Wortley Village, London ON. Season 1 is proudly sponsored by EXT.TECH

Visit them on Instagram (@ext.tech_inc) or online here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/dgs09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠