261. Laura Fernandez on Sowing Seeds of Sustainability with Garden Design

In what ways can transforming our front yards into edible landscapes impact our local food systems and communities?   On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Laura Fernandez who is the visionary behind Front Yard Foods in South Carolina. Laura's journey began with a simple garden at the age of 12 and has blossomed into a mission to reconnect people with their food through personalized garden designs, educational courses, and a passion for community-driven sustainability. Tune in to hear all about how Laura built this thriving garden operation from the ground up! You’ll hear: How Laura started getting interested in plants 0:59 How Front Yard Foods got started 5:09 About Laura’s biggest surprise in how the business has grown 7:54 What Laura does for marketing 13:25 How Laura runs the books 19:30 About what Laura would change if she could start again 29:06 What Laura’s advice is for new gardeners 36:09   About the Guest: Laura Fernandez founded Front Yard Foods in 2022 in order to help people develop uniquely designed gardens and edible landscapes. Laura’s passion for food first sprouted when she built her first garden with her grandfather at the age of 12.  Food, farming and community are of the greatest importance to her. Through Front Yard Foods, she hopes to inspire others to find their own connection to the earth and its value. Laura uses custom designs, individualized consultation and personalized education to build the confidence of each gardener and equip them with knowledge to accomplish their unique goals. Resources: Website - frontyardfoods.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/FrontYardFoodsSC Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frontyard_foods/   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! MyDigitalFarmer.com was created by CSA farmer and marketing specialist Corinna Bench to help farmers learn the marketing fundamentals — so you can stop feeling uncertain, frustrated, guilty, or inadequate when it comes to selling your products. In the My Digital Farmer podcast, you'll be exposed to the fundamentals of marketing theory and practice so you can apply them to your own farm and business. She'll cover marketing funnels, copywriting, website messaging, CSA marketing, lead generation, brand building, social media, customer retention, Facebook ads, sales pages, Facebook groups, YouTube, Instagram, email marketing, and stellar customer service. She also interviews other farmers to find out what’s working (and not working) in farm marketing so you can feel more confident in your ability to convert leads, increase sales, and build a strong brand for your farm. Subscribe to her show at https://www.mydigitalfarmer.com/podcast