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About Coast river business journal. (Astoria, OR) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2022)
MEET THE MERCHANT COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL CRBJ STAFF Editor and Publisher Matt Winters mwinters@crbizjournal.com Office Coordinator Sarah Smith ssmith@eomediagroup.com Group Publisher Kari Borgen kborgen@dailyastorian.com Advertising Director Sarah Silver ssilver@dailyastorian.com Layout/Design Matthew Vann NEXT ISSUE Publication Date: Aug. 17, 2022 Advertising Deadline: Aug. 8, 2022 CONTACT CRBJ Submit news: editor@crbizjournal.com Website: CoastRiverBusinessJournal.com Coast River Business Journal 205 Bolstad Ave. E. Suite 2, P.O. Box 427 Long Beach, WA 98631 Phone 800-643-3703 Coast River Business Journal is published monthly by EO Media Group. Opinions expressed by contributing writers and guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. © Copyright 2022 Coast River Business Journal JULY 2022 • 3 Harvest Moon Design By ABBEY McDONALD Coast River Business Journal Before sitting down outside Astoria Coffeehouse & Bistro, Becky Graham noticed a plant wilting in the heat and moved it into the shade. As the care- taker of many of the plants on the block, she knows what each one needs to thrive. Graham, who owns Harvest Moon Design, man- ages the gardens and plants at various local busi- nesses, including the Astoria Co+op, Hotel Elliott and McMenamins Gearhart Hotel. She focuses on pollinator-friendly flora and uses organic methods. She spoke with Coast River Business Journal about beautifying the North Coast with her one-per- son business. Her responses have been edited for brevity and clarity. Q: When did you get started with your business? A: When I was 18 living in a duplex, there was a garden center floral shop just walking distance and I bought my first house plant. I went back every pay- day, and I was instantly obsessed with plants, so that’s where it started. And then, in 1996, I actually quit a 19-year career at a hospital to go to Mount Hood Com- munity College for horticulture. At the hospital I had six weeks vacation, weekends off, benefits, decent pay. And my first horticulture job I worked every weekend, no benefits, minimum wage, and I thrived. I absolutely loved it and I got to be who I am 24/7. So I moved here in 2005 and I started my business in 2006. Q: So it sounds like that first plant launched things? A: It did. And I’m still obsessed with plants and nature and design, and I love sharing my passion in public. It’s kind of like a musician that wants to have their music heard. I love my public plantings because I get to show my passion for plants and I have so many people that tell me what a difference it makes to them. I love turning someone’s head with something unusual and beautiful and I think if I can draw people into the beauty of plants and nature, I think that’s making a difference. Q: Why is it important to you to use organic and pollinator-friendly plants? A: When the soil, say in a garden, is organic and you’re not using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or herbicides the microbial life actually helps plants more than anybody knew. They’re microscopic but Becky Graham owns Harvest Moon Design. they can search out for nitrogen, bring it back to the plant and convert it into a usable form that the plant can use. And they protect the root zone from invad- ers because that’s where they live. And it just helps the plant’s immune system. As soon as you use a synthetic fertilizer, it changes the whole balance. So say, for instance, now earthworms can’t live there. Now the whole balance is off and stressed plants are more prone to insects and disease. … I really love it when I get clients that say, ‘Do your magic. You know what you’re doing more than I do.’ I get really super excited about that because my mind starts working already on what I can do. And like I said, I like to have unusual cool plants and turn people’s heads and say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that.’ Q: Is there anything in particular you enjoy about your work? A: What I love is that I can be who I am 24/7 and that I turned my passion into a career, so every day I get to connect with nature. Even just water- ing and nurturing plants. That process nurtures me, so I feel that it helps me to be healthy and grounded and also to be able to make a difference and have a purpose. So if I’m planting for pollinators and I see them come to my plants it just makes my heart sing. I feel like I’m giving back to nature, you know, we asphalt and pave and build things and everything else. It’s important in a city where we’ve taken a lot away to add back and make a difference. And then even the cashiers at the co+op say people every day are saying how much they love the space. And so I really feel like that makes a positive difference. And that means a lot to me. Q: Any tips for people who might be killing their plants? A: Find healthy plants to start. One of my favor- ite perennials that I actually kind of hoard is called Agastache and it comes in different colors, but it has this beautiful blue bloom that butterflies, humming- birds and bees are on from June through a hard frost in October. And it’s an easy plant. Fucias, hummingbirds love them, because of the shape of the flowers … And I wish dandeli- ons weren’t the enemy because they’re so benefi- cial. It’s one of the first foods available for bees, and I’ve seen the sparrows eating the seeds. If you have your own space, pay attention to the weeds. We have wild lupine that comes up. We’ve got minia- ture little geraniums. There’s all sorts of weeds that are absolutely gorgeous and we don’t need to pull every one of them.
