In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the niche sector of interior plantscaping.

While lots of landscapers like you might spend much of your time outdoors, many people, including your clients, friends and family, work indoors, surrounded by screens, cubicles and walls that could use a little life. That’s where Hella Keppo comes in. Hella is the founder of Stems Interior Landscaping, a thriving business that brings lush, tropical plants into work spaces throughout the Toronto area. Her mission? To help reconnect people with nature — even if it’s within the walls of an office building.

Let’s dive into the world of interior plantscaping with Hella Keppo, as she shares her journey, insights, challenges and skills needed to be successful in this niche sector.

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Interiorscape:

Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing):

Have you ever met someone with a giant heart and the boundless energy to tackle anything life throws at them? That’s my guest, Michelle Francis.

Michelle is a true powerhouse. In 2020, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Accomplished Black Women, recognized for her tireless advocacy for social justice, food security, housing and financial literacy. Her award-winning community gardens reflect her commitment to sustainability and nourishing her neighborhood. A graduate of Landscape Ontario’s GROW program, she’s found healing and purpose in working with nature — something she’s eager to share with others.

Her story is one of grace, resilience and embracing life’s challenges with an open heart. She acknowledges that accidents have purpose, and the healing she experienced while spending time in gardens and nature has compelled her to create opportunities for others to discover the transformative power of the outdoors.

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In this episode, we dive into the story of a landscaper who saw a problem in his everyday work and took a bold step to solve it — not just for himself, but for an entire sector. Our guest today is Brandon Comstock, a self-taught entrepreneur in Calgary, Alberta, and co-founder of not just one, but two very different landscape-related businesses. What began as a passion for solving puzzles on the job-site led him to build a software company that now helps other landscaper business owner boost their profit margins. His journey from hands-on, physical labour to creating digital solutions might seem unexpected, but his experience will resonate with entrepreneurs, problem solvers and anyone navigating a career change. Listen and learn how one idea can take you down a whole new path.

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On today’s episode we are gearing up for the Congress Trade Show and Conference. Hosted by Landscape Ontario, this is Canada's largest and longest-running trade show for landscape and horticulture professionals, happening in Toronto, Ontario, from January 7th to 9th, 2025. If you're in the business of transforming outdoor spaces — whether through landscaping, horticulture, or outdoor design — this is the event you can’t afford to miss. Our guest is Heather MacRae, the trade show director for Congress. With over a decade of experience in bringing this iconic event to life year after year, Heather is here to share what’s new for 2025, some can't-miss features and what makes this trade show a key date on the calendar for industry pros. Stay tuned to the end for a promo code that gets you free tickets to the show.

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As students head back to school this month, many are probably wondering what they should be “when they grow up.” While plenty of adults are still trying to figure that out, high schoolers have a great opportunity to explore different topics before planning their post-secondary path. And maybe, just maybe, that’s a garden path.

In this episode, we talk about how exposure to horticulture and landscaping at the high school level can inspire youth to explore the green trades as a career option. Guest Darren Schmahl has been engaging grade 11 and 12 students through the Green Industries program for the Niagara Catholic District School Board for the past 15 years. Teaching has allowed Schmahl to witness students of all kinds transform as they discover a passion for working in the landscape, so he wants youth and their parents to understand that a career in this field can be rewarding, lucrative and important as we face an ever-changing climate.

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If you own a small or medium-sized landscaping business, you’re probably juggling a long list of priorities. If marketing tasks are something you keep putting on the back burner, then this episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast is for you.

Vanessa McQuade and Rob Murray from Intrigue Media are here to talk about what it’s like to partner with a marketing agency. And in the same way you’re an expert in landscaping, Rob and Vanessa are experts in helping landscaping companies like yours grow revenue and gain market share. In fact, one of their happy clients stated that since working with Intrigue, their revenues had increased by 68 per cent in six months. So if costs or uncertainty has been holding you back, listen up and take off that marketing hat. Today we’re talking about budget expectations, setting marketing goals and the value of building relationships with external marketing agencies, so you don’t have to do it all by yourself.

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If you’re looking to explore a career in the green trades but aren’t sure where to start, then this episode is for you. Courtney McCann, the director of workforce development at Landscape Ontario, joins the podcast to outline all the various educational opportunities that are available to people in Ontario looking to gain skills and employment in landscaping, including the GROW program and pre-apprenticeship program at Loyalist College in Belleville. These programs have been designed to help people learn instantly applicable skills and prepare them for genuine, meaningful jobs with companies who share their passion for designing, building and maintaining beautiful landscapes. And did you know they’re all free?

If that piques your interest, be sure to listen because Courtney has all the details about these amazing opportunities to grow your career.

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Have you ever wondered if what you’re doing as a landscaper is moving the dial against climate change? The global situation feels so complex, it’s natural to wonder ‘how can I, just one individual, make a difference?’

Bill Hardy joins the Landscape Ontario Podcast to encourage landscapers to think globally and act locally. As a co-owner of an independent retail garden centre in British Columbia, president of the CNLA, and board member for various agencies — such as the Green Cities Foundation and the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) — Hardy has a wide perspective of how climate change is being addressed by horticulture and landscaping innovations around the world, while also being tapped into what’s happening right here in Canada.

In our conversation, we discuss which countries are leading the way by developing innovative green city solutions, and what an individual landscaper can do to contribute to the big picture. We share some awesome websites you’ll want to check out for inspiration, and even introduce you to a new tool you can use to measure the carbon impact of installing and maintaining a landscape.

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One year ago on this podcast, we met Joe Steeves, a plant enthusiast from New Brunswick. When Joe was born with cerebral palsy, his family had lots of questions about what his future might look like, such as would he be able to hold a job or pursue a post-secondary education? The green trades turned out to be a perfect fit for Joe, and despite his challenges, he has been steadily building a career by working at greenhouses and nurseries. Not willing to stop there, Joe set his sights on gaining a formal education in horticulture and pursuing his dream job. A lot has happened in the past 12 months, so in this episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast, we follow up with Joe to hear about what’s been happening with his growing career.

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There's a profound beauty in planting a seed and watching its journey from a tiny speck to a flourishing plant. But what if that journey could also nurture the minds and hearts of children? That's exactly what our panel of guests are doing through their charity, Green Thumbs, which is dedicated to teaching schoolchildren the art and science of gardening.

Sunday Harrison is the founder and current executive director of Green Thumbs Growing Kids, a Toronto community-based not-for-profit now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Their mission is to cultivate environmental stewardship through hands-on garden and food education for urban children and their communities.

Joining Sunday are three Green Thumbs board members. Chanel Harris was an inaugural participant in the school garden program in the early 2000s. Also joining us is Sail Vettivelu, who worked as a summer intern at Green Thumbs in 2009, and has been volunteering with the group ever since. Rounding out the panel is environmentalist and artist, Iris “Ike” Karuna. Ike's relationship with Green Thumbs began as a Child and Youth Care placement student, and continued as a staff member.

All of our guests today are passionate about introducing children to the wonders of gardening and all the related life lessons. From patience and responsibility to resilience and the interconnectedness of life, the act of tending to a garden offers invaluable teachings that extend far beyond the boundaries of the garden bed.

Join us as Sunday, Chanel, Sail, Ike and I delve into the transformative power of planting an early seed and watching it grow, not just in the garden but in the hearts and minds of our future generations.

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