Cheers to #SmallBizLife and the Neighbors who Nourish Us

The gardens are going dormant and I'm getting more time for counting my blessings - like healthy crew members and clients, a growing year in uncertainty and some incredible fellow small business owners. This Thanksgiving and Small Biz Saturday, I want to take a minute to highlight our partners this Holiday Season: 

Linda Laake Designs - 
You may or may not know that this delightful local creator was also my roommate for over 4 years. That's right folks - many treasured memories, inside jokes and love go into the handmade wreaths available in our shop. Linda keeps me on the rails when I'm working on florals with no soil under them :) And if you like our wreaths, you should see what this lady can do with personalized card creations!

Indigo & Violet - 
My hobbies are my sanity in winter, so when Leigh opened a craft workshop studio literally up the street from Vivant, I could barely contain my glitter bombs! This year, I'm beyond thrilled to be hosting a Wreath Making Workshop with Indigo & Violet, in which you get a front row seat to Linda and my creative powers and ridiculous friendship, all from the glorious location of Leigh's studio. 

Oak Leaf Garden Design - 
Ernesto of Oak Leaf Garden Design and I met at his studio's open house and it was Soil Sibling Love at first sight :) Most of the year we are two manic freight trains running from one garden to the next. This treasured chance to pool our energetic visions in a Virtual Winter Container Workshop is a rare chance to have two local designers share their secrets and inspire your creations. I hope you can join us!

Half Acre Beer Company - 
We've been the hidden green thumbs behind Half Acre's spaces for years. How wonderful then to be able to join for their Holiday Pop Up on Dec 6! That's right! Buy a Wreath or Wreak-making Kit and you'll be able to pick them up on Dec 6 at Half Acre's Balmoral location while also grabbing some celebratory brews. I recommend "Grow Greater" if you can get it - as its both delicious and supports Chicago farmers. 

Dank Haus - 
Dank Haus has been a pillar of our community from the beginning and coming from my own German-Irish history, it only makes sense that we work with this delightful cultural institution to inspire more gardeners in our Chicago family. Curious about our growing knowledge and wanting to help Dank Haus keep the steins in stock? Join us on Dec 3 for a virtual class on Growing Herbs Indoors!

There are many statistics as to why shopping small and supporting local is the best choice for your holiday dollars, but you've seen them already on Instagram. As a gardener, I learned early how necessary community support is to life. From plants, weeds, and worms to friendly pups, fist pumps and neighborly kindness, we are nowhere without the other living things around us. They keep us rooted in place during chaos and thriving in drought. Like the mycelia that link us all, our community is the key to our survival.

So Thank You to my fellow small business owners and neighbors for this wonderfully collaborative Holiday Season. This year could have buried us. But we have proven to be well-nurtured seeds. Let's keep growing together!

With sincere gratitude, 
-Kasey, Owner of Vivant Gardening Services.