Today we’d like to introduce you to Karalynne Vonier
Hi Karalynne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In early summer of 2022, I had a major career shift – I had been in the real estate and mortgage industry for over 10 years, and my company downsized. For the first time in my life, I was asked what I WANTED to do. Not what I had to do, or take a job that fell into my lap – I had never thought about it. With the support of an absolutely amazing partner, I dove into a family past time – plants. Growing up we had always grown our own vegetables, we had gardens the size of suburban lots. My mom had houseplants in every home we lived in, and she was known to dig up and bring trees with us when we moved.
I had a laughably black thumb previously when it came to my own plants but I wanted to get my hands back into the dirt. I stayed up into the early hours of the morning for weeks pouring over gardening and farming books that had been collecting dust in on my shelf, or that I had found at local thrift stores. I really focused on ways to grow your own food with a lot smaller space since I wasn’t on a farm anymore, as well as specifically fun varieties of plants. Pear shaped tomatoes, cucumbers that taste like lemons, purple spinach, tiny pumpkins, green pumpkins, yard long beans… vegetables don’t have to be boring and I’ve really enjoyed finding types that can really make a beautiful impact into a space.
I love finding ways to bring edibles into landscape as well, there’s such a range of colors and textures in the foods that we eat, as well as the flowers they produce prior to fruit. I’ve used collard greens, kale, cabbage, and okra in yards just to name a few. Even if we end up planting something that the client doesn’t love to eat, chances are there’s a neighbor that loves it. I offer maintenance plans to my clients as well, so I harvest and replant as the season progresses and I bring the extras to the local markets when I attend.
I also sell an array of house plants, I tend to create custom mixes rather than just one variety in a pot. This way you get to try more plants at a time as well as see the differences within the species. I also enjoy making mixes that show off different heights and textures of plants. Last summer I partnered with a local boutique to provide an array of plants in the shop to liven up the space and the plants were available for purchase as well. I’m looking forward to expanding into more shops this year, and I am offering workshops as well for everything from propagating to building a sustainable terrarium. I’ve learned so many tips and tricks, and it is my absolute joy to share them with people. Plants make people happy, and I am a firm believer that to plant a garden is to plan for a better tomorrow.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve definitely had it easier than some, but that’s not to say that I haven’t had my own road blocks. I moved to the area shortly before I started the business so I didn’t really have a network down here. Also, being a female in a typically male role has been interesting. I find myself working twice as hard to convince a consult that I’m capable of the job, regardless of the fact I’m a small woman. Lastly, starting and running a business is scary – financially and emotionally. I didn’t plan on starting my own business and I didn’t really have the savings built up that I needed to, but I’ve been lucky to stay afloat and grow. It’s been hard when things slow down, and some days its a struggle to get up and be motivated to put the work in but it’s worth it. Nothing worth having is easy, and I do love my small business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Garden Witch Consulting is run and owned by myself, Karalynne Vonier, and located on Wilmington Island. I service the greater Savannah area including out to Pooler, Richmond Hill, and Garden City. I offer fine gardening services, I’m not your typical “mow and blow” landscaper. I do landscape and garden planning, installation, as well as maintenance. Whether you want to put in a flower bed or grow your own fruits and vegetables, I can help. I offer a full range of assistance from building a DIY plan if you just need direction, to actually installing and maintaining your vision. I specialize in square foot gardening, companion planting, native plants, and edible landscape. It’s my goal to utilize the space you have to it’s fullest extent, while giving you something beautiful to look at. I focus on fun and unusual vegetables, I like to help make your dinner as colorful as possible. I also offer house plant services, including repotting, pest management, vacation care, and propagation assistance. I create custom blends of house plants that you don’t typically find in shops, giving you the chance to try more plants easily. If there is something that you’ve been looking for and just can’t find, I’ll help where I can. I can work with any budget, and I also can build your project out in phases so you’re not looking at one lump sum payment that’s daunting.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandgardenwitch
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/islandgardenwitch
