In this episode of the me.vibes podcast, Maria sits down with her husband, Nigel Abercrombie, surfer, dad, landscaper, broken-ankled legend, and the heart behind Sustainable Scapes.

Recorded while Nigel was lying in the office with a pink glitter cast after a surfing injury, this conversation is honest, funny and full of the real stuff that comes with building a business from the ground up.

Maria and Nigel talk about moving to Gisborne, starting Sustainable Scapes, what people often misunderstand about landscaping, why gardens matter, and what it really takes to run a business when life, clients, staff, weather and cash flow all decide to have opinions.

They also get into the messy, beautiful side of working together as husband and wife, the support, the stress, the laughs, the “are we broke or are we manifesting?” moments, and what their kids might learn from watching them build something with heart.

This episode is about business, family, sustainability, resilience, trades, gardens, and the magic that happens when you keep going, even when life knocks you off your feet.

Warning: contains swear words, business honesty, glitter cast commentary and one very passionate takedown of agapanthus.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Nigel broke his ankle surfing and what it forced the business to rethink
• The real story behind starting Sustainable Scapes
• Why landscaping is so much more than “just putting plants in the ground”
• The hidden work behind gardens, paving, drainage, soil and structure
• What sustainability means in landscaping
• The reality of running a business with your partner
• Why people are both the best and hardest part of business
• What success looks like now: bills paid, family happy, surf included
• What Nigel hopes their kids learn from watching the business grow

A funny, grounded and heartfelt conversation about building a business, creating beautiful spaces, and surviving the chaos with love, grit and a decent sense of humour.