I'm an Ohio transplant

I'm an Ohio transplant. I moved to Seattle almost 25yrs ago after visiting here for 11 days, and have never turned back. That visit included a trip to Port Townsend and the Pikes Market...seems likely I'd fall in love with Seattle.
I've worn many hats here in Seattle over the years, doing restaurant work, funky barista, Aveda Esthetician, finally settling in on gardening, photography, 
  pottery and metal work.
 I own and operate an organic nursery/small urban farm and gardening business, teach pottery, blacksmithing and other classes and workshops here at my home where I've lived for 10yrs.
 The story is long, but I've fought the banks to save my home from foreclosure. Now I'm a very active participant in many National foreclosure awareness groups and have quite a story to tell, if you'd ever like to hear it.

  I went to jail in D.C. fighting for the rights of others, on May 20th, 2013 at the DOJ protests.

This house and property represent more than a home and a garden. To me, it represents self expression, love, peace and personal choice.
  I've homeshooled my 2 kids, now 11 and 16 for 10yrs. I have made choices beyond the status quo. We are all unique and individual. I believe very strongly in embracing our differences and creating a peaceful world that encourages diversity, acceptance, respect and stewardship.  

I make a choice to live a certain lifestyle, and I hope to inspire others to give that gift to themselves. 

Imminent

looking up                                       looking down                                       looking within....

In my search for what is,  I must be willing to see. 
What is coming          is already within me.

I give pause. 

Everything represents something

That very moment...

Everything changes.

Something happens to me each time I see this scene

I'm instantly transported back to my need to stop on the road, in that split second when I knew... 

what I was seeing held all the answers, and simultaneously, all the questions.

The texture, shape, movement, contrast,

 the tree.

Why go around? How does one make that decision and why? Why meander through this field?

Why does this move me so?

this photo marks a very poignant time for me, a major shift occurred.

The stir inside of me, the one that knows there is more

 than a field ready for seeding...

'Keeping bees in towns and cities' by Luke Dixon

Today-I received a gift.

 A book. Did I order this book? I have no memory of it...but my memory is getting worse...

 

Over a year ago I received and email from a gentleman inquiring about my bees and beekeeping.

I told him what I could and didn't know what to expect. He said he was writing a book. I felt honored to be asked about my experience...but here it is-in writing! We are in the book!

page 142.

 

 

What a pleasant surprise!

Author:

Luke Dixon

Thank you!

Vera Johnson BIO

My bio and community involvements...this is hard to do! 

About me...

 I'm a plant nerd. Really. 

I have a long story about how I came to Village Green, but will leave that for a blog post.

 I'm a spring born baby, an Earth sign, Taurus if you must know...  Growing plants keeps me grounded.  My mom had the GREENEST Thumb ever... and we consistently had roughly a million plants indoors and out- so I have been gardening all my life in one way or another. 

 I don't claim to know everything about plants or know all the Latin names, but I'm pretty good/intuitive with almost all things green and growing. 

   My way of learning has always been by way of doing. I've killed many a plant to get where I am. Some plants are just harder than others. Period. 

 What I hope to achieve here is teach others how to grow plants and have success AND FUN doing it. I want to encourage early/new gardeners to experiment, but also answer questions and trouble shoot about what, how and why things do and do not work. 

  So, I am here. 

 I want to be involved in my community. I want to educate and provide a place for students - therefore we host classes and workshops-taught by the many qualified educators we have around the Puget Sound.

We host

• Rose experts (antique roses as well as modern)
• Rain garden experts, Permaculture experts, Sustainable living experts, 
• Urban Farmers, 
• Organic gardening experts, 
• Perennial experts, 
• NW Natives experts,
• Wildlife Restoration experts,
• Beekeepers,
• Foodies, 
• Chefs...the list is endless- so we invite them to come and share their knowledge...and they do. 

 I love music, Art, wine, food and all things that are experienced and created through the use of our senses. 

 These things must be felt. 

I love my life.  I want to share these joys and pleasures.  We host live music in the garden throughout the summer and feature local artists to show their hand crafted items. 

  I am a resident and HUGE supporter of White Center. As a member of a community, I believe it is important to know my neighbors and fellow business owners.    I  want to participate in helping my neighborhood be even better than it already is, not just wait for it to happen. I have been a resident in West Seattle (multiple areas) for over 15 years and WC (DubSea) is my favorite neighborhood- hands down. 

 I work with the White Center Community Development Association every year to help with the WC spring clean up, leading groups of volunteers as well as making plant donations. I am involved with NHUAC, I am a member of the WC Chamber of Commerce, the Business owners association. I maintain a close connection to the White Center Sheriff deputy. I am my neighborhood Block watch captain and I occasionally write for the White Center Blog. 

   

  I work with many area schools to provide plants for Garden installations to attract wildlife, as well as many Donations for fundraisers including Community School of West Seattle, West Seattle Montessori, Alki Elementary, Schmidtz Park (funds raised for 2 of my custom sculptures was $4700)   I'm also a founding member of the Family learning center program at SWCC. 

 I am a homeschooling parent-over 8 years now, and as a homeschooling parent I want to teach my kids the impact we can have on our lives and the lives of others by simply showing up to do our part, but also by the choices we make and the huge impact they have on the lives of others as well. I am a very strong believer of sustainable living and supporting local businesses. That is why I make the choices I make about the plants I carry and grow. I make very effort to buy only from local independent growers. Smaller operations. Keeping the money local. Chain stores can drive little busineeses out very quickly if we aren't thoughful and intentional. 

 Organic is very, very important to me. I have very strong convictions/opinions about the use of pesticides and chemicals.

 I'll save that for another Blog post-but feel free to ask me sometime.

  I know the positive impact gardens can have on our environment, our health and well being and our food systems.

 I know the impact our choices make.

 I want to 'be part of the change I want to see...'