I am happy to present to you our 49th local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Star Gardens Nursery.
Our recent Lake County business featured was Tyrrell Martial Arts, and owner, Dan Tyrrell, chose to Pay it Forward to Star Gardens Nursery.
The catch is that I will not choose the next business to interview, but the current spotlighted business will choose who I will interview next. Local businesses will Pay it Forward.
Star Gardens Nursery specializes in a wide variety of interesting plants suited for Lake County. They offer a knowledgeable staff and can help solve your landscaping needs.
Check out their website that offers monthly specials and featured discounts. You can even sign up for the Star Gardens Nursery newsletter and never miss the latest news.
1. Why did you decide to start your own business?
The nursery was a natural progression from landscape maintenance and I had the property to start it on next to my house. We are zoned C2. I have been self-employed my whole life and this is my ‘retirement’ from my landscape maintenance biz.
2. How do you deal with fear and doubt?
Trust the process. If it is meant to be, it will be. Most of my fears never happen. If I am not sure or there is resistance, then I pass or wait to act. When it came to starting the biz I already had a lot of connections, owned the property and did not have to take out a loan. I also continued to do my landscaping jobs until I could afford not to.
3. How does your business look different now vs. when you first started?
Lots more inventory since I was able to put everything I made back in to the business because I had not quit my ‘day job’. We also were able to buy the next property and expanded
4. How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
Knowledge of plants, a unique location, and a very diverse selection of plants. We are committed to organics and all our soils and most of our fertilizers and sprays are registered non-toxic. Plus we have garden art and pottery. We also offer seeds, some of our home-grown vegetable starts, and a large selection of perennials year-round. The majority of our plant suppliers are within a 150-mile radius, so they are better adjusted to our location.
5. What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?
Being the boss and ultimately responsible for the business and to my employees and to my community. My expectations of employees is another hard one for me. There is always the tendency to want everything done my way and the need to accept that we do not all think alike. That being said I have been blessed with some awesome long term staff.
6. What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
The flexibility and independence of being my own boss.
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I always thought Spain but chose Morocco instead and it was awesome. Not sure if I will ever get to Spain. I also have Vietnam as it was the horrible news every night as I was growing up and I have never been to that part of the world. Closer to home it is Cuba because of our Cuban friends and because the travel restriction is absurd.
Tanya Striedieck
Owner
Star Gardens Nursery
21288 Washington St.
Middletown CA 96461
707-987-0998
stargar@sonic.net
www.stargardens.biz
Facebook – Star Gardens Nursey
Instagram – Star Gardens Nursery
Business Hours:
Open 7 days week
Nov-Feb 10-4, March-Oct 9-5
Star Gardens would like to Pay it Forward to Stonehouse Restaurant.
Stay tuned for Stonehouse Restaurant!
