Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Elmer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Harvest and Bloom started from my two passions – gardening and design. I started my gardening journey about 10 years ago with 2 small raised beds at my parent’s shore house in NJ. I crowded in as many seedlings as I could possibly fit, and would stare at them all summer, waiting for them to grow. I quickly realized that gardening is about trial and error and that the first season was full of errors. I learned so much, and have been hooked since. I’ve moved quite a bit since then. From the jersey shore to New York City, the suburbs of Philadelphia, and finally found me down south in the Lowcountry. Every place I’ve been I would make sure there was space for my plants. Gardening quickly became my therapy. Good days and bad, you can find me in the garden.
There is something so peaceful and inspiring about seeing new life blossom, surrounded by buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies. Gathering your harvest each week is so rewarding, and the health benefits of eating organic, homegrown vegetables are unbeatable. When I bought my first home in Bluffton, I decided I wanted a big kitchen garden. I turned half of my tiny backyard into just that! My little oasis is right outside of my kitchen, where I grow my favorite organic vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers. I then became the go-to for all garden questions to my friends and family. My background is in design, so creating spaces that are both beautiful and functional is very important.
When I started Harvest and Bloom this year, I wanted a project that would allow me to share my knowledge of gardening with others. Now I get to design customized Kitchen Gardens that fit my client’s needs and help them maintain a healthy harvest all year through coaching.
Maybe you’re looking to add more organic greens to your diet and want a small salad garden in your space. Maybe you want to get your children involved and show them how to take care of plants and eat a healthy diet. Or maybe you want a beautiful space filled with vining tomatoes and squash growing over a stunning trellis, a water feature, and a seating area to gather with family and friends. I love creating those special places for my clients.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not! Gardening itself is about learning and adapting, and starting this business has been the same. Harvest and Bloom started as garden coaching, but I soon realized my real passion is designing those “happy places” for my clients. That is obviously a lot more work!
Work that I thought I could do on my own – building the cedar-raised beds, mixing organic soil blends, leveling the ground, and laying down gravel. I am in the process of building a team – experts in each step who can help me, and allow me to focus on designing and coaching.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Harvest and Bloom?
My goal is to bring the Kitchen Garden back to the Lowcountry! Through Harvest and Bloom, I am able to create customized gardens for my clients. These can range from small patio planters to large raised beds overflowing with healthy produce. I specialize in creating spaces that are both beautiful and full of healthy, organic harvests.
I want your garden to provide you with the vegetables, greens, and herbs to keep you healthy, while also creating a beautiful oasis for you to escape to at the end of the day. Your Kitchen should be your happy place for you to gather, while also being easily managed – only requiring a few moments a day to maintain.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
My health and happiness matter the most to me! Filling your diet with the freshest organic greens, herbs, and vegetables is easiest when all you have to do is go outside with your basket and gather what you need!
Cutting fresh salad greens for lunch every day is the most rewarding part of gardening. Harvest and Bloom create that space for you to keep you happy, fulfilled, and nourished from the inside out.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.harvestandbloomsc.com
- Instagram: @harvest_and_bloom
- Facebook: @harvestandbloomsc
