1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: Radio radio radio. He's a myth and bullshit. A radio 2 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: phonic novella Local Radio hosted by Malamo La La Locomotives. 3 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to season six of Local Radios next Door. Look 4 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: At Radio is a radio phonic novella, which is just 5 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: a very extra way of saying a podcast, a podcast. 6 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: I'm viosa and I'm mala. Thanks for tuning in on 7 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: one last time on look at Our Radio. We just 8 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: had a quick check in life update, a little pop 9 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: culture review. Today we are talking about the relationship between 10 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: latinos and plants, and we have a very uh plant 11 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: famous guest actually on the show, so make sure you 12 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: tune in for the second half. Yeah, but just to 13 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 1: get started, you know, we wanted to examine the very 14 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: interesting relationship that latinos and latin x books specifically have 15 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: with plants. But also like the links some people go 16 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: to two continue there's like hobby of plant parenthood because 17 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: it's very serious on the on the social media landscape. Um, 18 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: it's its own business. Um either you own your own 19 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: plant store or you have like an Instagram account where 20 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: you do brand partnerships. So it's definitely morphed into something 21 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: very big and very different. Um, but for some of us, 22 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: it's like we've grown up with plants. We've grown up 23 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: with our parents caring for them, our grandmother's gardening, our 24 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: grandparents garden gardening. So we wanted to talk about all 25 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: of that day and then also invite our wonderful guests, 26 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: Andy Sotch to talk about her business Latin X with Plants. Absolutely, 27 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: we did notice in the pandemic that at least on 28 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: our Instagram feeds and what we saw there seemed to 29 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: be this huge boom in plant parenthood. Um. And they're 30 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: even like as an l A Times vertical now about 31 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: plant parents. Right. But we do have some housekeeping and 32 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: some announcements. Uh internally, you know, we like to remind 33 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: you guys to follow us across social media where everywhere Instagram, Twitter, 34 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: TikTok and um. If you are looking for a findom drain, 35 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: you can always hit our venmo at local dash radio. 36 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: Gas prices are up and uh, you know we're gigging, 37 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: we're in l A, we're commuting. Contribute to the project. 38 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: Another way to support us is by using our affiliate 39 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: code look Radio fifteen on Viva Cosmetics dot com. You 40 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: can just your favorite lippy highlighter makeup Biden from Latina 41 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: own makeup brand, Viva Cosmetics, and make sure you head 42 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: to our website look at our Radio dot com and 43 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: subscribe to our newsletter Bestitos. Our newsletter subscribers get all 44 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: of the most direct, up to date information about our 45 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: events are parties, the things that we have going on 46 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 1: outside of the podcast. You know, we have quite the 47 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: little podcast community that we've been building over the past 48 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: six years, and our listeners like to come out in 49 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: person and dance and party and laugh and enjoy live 50 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: music and have a good time. So we're curating all 51 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: kinds of events um for our listener community all summer. 52 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: We just had a party called bibis Alta at Resident. 53 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: It was wild. It was so fun. We sold three 54 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: and eight tickets, but there was like definitely more than 55 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: four hundred people there um with guest list and everything else. 56 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: So we're doing it again next month. It's going to 57 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: be a Guess thirteen. It's a Saturday at Resident. We're 58 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: gonna put out a flyer and the event bright and 59 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: announce the DJ lineup. It's going to be lots of fun, 60 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: and then we're also going to have another Muddy one 61 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: at at Jokes and tokes Um this month. Actually in July, 62 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 1: it's going to be on which is a Sunday at 63 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: the Artist Try Studio Lounge in Wi Hoo. So once again, 64 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: make sure you subscribe at Look at the Radio dot 65 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: com that you get all ticketing information for all of 66 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: our events. Also, not to be dramatic, but I will 67 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: be debuting a new look at the next ebisot that 68 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: party because I was not able to attend the last one, 69 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: so I have to show out and show up really hard. 70 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah literally, Um yosa, did you have 71 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: a hair appointment the day before? Right? Like yeah, And 72 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: I'm doing a brand new look, something I have never done. 73 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 1: So I'm like really excited. So come to bbisot that 74 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: to see my look and also to dance with us. 75 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: Yes literally for all of the above reasons. It's going 76 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: to be so fun. And you can also get a 77 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: discount on your next purchase at dash glass dot com 78 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: using our affiliate code mighty one a P four p 79 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: um and make sure you subscribe and become a member 80 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: on our Patreon. Alright, so let's get into it. The garden, 81 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: It the main dish, as you say, mala. So we're 82 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: talking about plants. We're talking about the plant boom um 83 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: for over the last few years, but I think especially 84 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: during the pandemic. Did you buy any plants during the pandemic. 85 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: Were you one of those people, because I definitely was. 86 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: I did buy a couple of plants, and then, uh, 87 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 1: you know what happens is like my grandma has this 88 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: pothos that she has been growing for years and years 89 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: and years and years and years, and she is constantly 90 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: taking clippings of it and starting new plants and then 91 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: giving them way. So you know, she does that from 92 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: time to time with succulents. She likes to take clippings 93 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: and then what's it called um when you propagate them 94 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: so that they and then and then she plants them 95 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: and then she gives them always gifts. So I accumulated plants, 96 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: but it was a lot of just we're here at 97 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: home and we're tending to the house and the garden, 98 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: and so she was giving away lots of clippings and 99 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: so I got some. I love that. I went to 100 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: a nursery. I went to multiple nurseries over the course 101 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: of the pandemic. Shoutout GT Nursery and bell flower um. 102 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:45,239 Speaker 1: I definitely bought lots of plants. I would say most 103 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: of them survived. There were there was a period where 104 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: I got like really ambitious and I was buying like 105 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: really hard to care for plants like the notoriously die 106 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: like the calithias I think they're called. And I bought 107 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 1: a couple and it did not matter it I was. 108 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: I tried so many things, and so now you know, 109 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: season three, year three of the pandemic, I have learned, 110 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: Like the plants for me, which are the monstera and 111 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: the pothos, those are like I can keep those alive. 112 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: They're so intuitive. I feel like they let you know 113 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: what they need. And that's the kind of plant that 114 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: I need, Like I need you to tell me I'm thirsty, bitch, 115 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: like look at me, you know, or like, oh no, 116 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: you're giving me too much water, like you know, let 117 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: me dry out for a little bit. A plant with 118 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: good communication skills, a communicative plant, yes, yes. And I 119 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: used to be the kind of plant parenthood that like 120 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: showed too much love, and that was like I think 121 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: also like what I was doing in all my relationships, 122 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: I was loving too hard. So you got you got 123 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: to learn a step back right that suffocating love. You 124 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: were drowning them. I was drowning my plants, Yes I was. 125 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: I could not. I still haven't even tried succulents, like 126 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,559 Speaker 1: I've given up on owning succulents. I hate that people 127 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: say they're easy to take care of. Their not not 128 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: they're they are, They're delicate. And I love that you're 129 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: You landed on the pothos and the monstera because I 130 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: feel like those are also very classic, like Senora plants, 131 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: like Senora's love a long, viney, sprawling pothos inside the house, 132 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: outside the house, hanging on a table, on a counter, 133 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: attached to a wall, like everywhere everywhere, um. And it's 134 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: because they, yeah, they're so sturdy and you can basically 135 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: push them to the brink of death, and if you 136 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: start watering them again, they will come back. Like, yes, 137 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: there was not that you should do that, but she 138 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:47,959 Speaker 1: didn't do that. You know, they'll survive, but they will survive. 139 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: I bought a beautiful plant, was caring for her. Um. 140 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: I watered her in the evening and I was letting 141 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: her like dry out before bringing her in, and I 142 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 1: forgot about her. And so the next day she was scorched, 143 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: and so we named her like Marita, and she came back. 144 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: She came back to live. She's fine, she's good now. 145 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: Like we we like removed all the bird pieces. I 146 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 1: apologized profusely. I felt terrible, And now she's back. She's thriving. 147 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: Like two years later, three years later, she's good, resilient, tough, exactly, 148 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: and we love that. See that's the type of plant 149 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: that I need, I can that I can handle. So yeah, 150 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: I think really, in my apartment, the only plant that 151 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: I have is like my big pothos in my bathroom. 152 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: What else do I need? I have to keep my 153 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: dog alive. I have to keep myself alive. I can 154 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: keep the pothos alive. Trying to keep the podcast alive, 155 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: like it's I can't handle anymore. Oh my god, I mean, 156 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: speaking of keeping the podcast alive. You know, I was 157 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: reading this article about I think maybe you shared it 158 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: to me, shared it with me actually, and it's about 159 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: people that were going into plant debt. Oh yes, yes, 160 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: let's talk about it. So there's like, you know, a 161 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: very online plant community. They share their tips. They have 162 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: small apartments, big houses, what have you. It varies and 163 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: there's full of plants. It's expensive to purchase plants, even 164 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: if you go to a nursery. The more exotic the 165 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: plant is, the longer it's been alive. Like you can 166 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: find cacti that are five because they're years old and 167 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: that's all the care that it went into them, right, 168 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: And so it's expensive, like unless you're propagating, um, it 169 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: can add up. It can be a very expensive hobby. 170 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: And when you go to boutique plant shops right there 171 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: a little they tend to be a little pricier. And 172 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: so there was like this article by Input mag where 173 00:10:55,760 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: they examine a hoarding problem in the plant community and 174 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: folks that were even going into debt, charging their credit 175 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: cards to keep up with like a perceived plant lifestyle 176 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: on Instagram. Truly, and I remember at one point early 177 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: in the pandemic tweeting a very real question all the 178 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: plant influencers online. I want to know at any given time, 179 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: how many of those plants are like near death, how 180 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: many are actually alive, and how often are they replacing 181 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: plants for the graham because as we've established, it's hard 182 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: to keep these babies alive. And I refused to believe 183 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,439 Speaker 1: that all those very vastly different types of plants are 184 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: all surviving in the same apartment. It's in the same ecosystem, 185 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: you know. Like I think about one of the reasons why, 186 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: Like the succulents here, my grandma will repot them and 187 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: propagate them, and then they do just fine and all 188 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: their little vases. But it's because they're still on the 189 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: same property, like this is their environy. It, so they're fine. 190 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: But you're bringing plants in from all kinds of different places. 191 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: And I don't know. I'm no botanist. I'm just I'm 192 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: just speculating. This is what I think is happening. But 193 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: it also made me think, like can a hobby lead 194 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: to debt? Absolutely, Like look at us in the podcast. 195 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: Oh god, yeah, at this point we keep going because 196 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: we have to. We have invested too much. We've spent 197 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: too much, like we have, we have to keep going. 198 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: We also love it, but we also have to keep going. Yes, 199 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 1: so we do love it. We do love it. Um, 200 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,839 Speaker 1: we're not quitting, but yes, we have many incentives to 201 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: podcast forever. Yeah, I mean another fascinating well, yeah, we're 202 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: podcasting forever. Basically, it took me a second to process 203 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: that I'm like, oh yeah, this is like signs in blood. Yeah, 204 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: you know, like this is happening, this is this is 205 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: we're doing this. Oh yeah, baptized in prosecco, baby sealed. Yeah, 206 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: put it on my tombstone. Yea truly. Anyways, So, like 207 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: another really fascinating thing was that it's it can also 208 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: be a federal crime if you steal a succulent from 209 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: a California state park. And there was a man that 210 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: got two years in prison for ceiling plants worth a 211 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thousan dollars a California state park. And 212 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: this wasn't Northern California, but like I have to believe 213 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: that this probably happens to like here all these plant people. 214 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: Have you ever been driving I'm sure you have, but 215 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: you're like driving down the road on a freeway on 216 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: a street and you see like a beautiful succulent and 217 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: it's definitely crossed my mind, Like what if I were 218 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: to get a clipping of this? Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah, 219 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: it's um not so much has it crossed my mind? 220 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: As like growing up, my mom and my grandma like 221 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: would do that, like they would take clippings allegedly my 222 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: grandfather would take roses and he would bring into us. 223 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: It was very sweet. But when I'm driving sometimes I 224 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 1: think I've never done it, but I've definitely, Like, especially 225 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: after reading this article, I was like, well, we're never 226 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: doing that. No, that's jail time. There are some beautiful 227 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: plants out there. You know what my mom used to do? Okay, 228 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: growing up, so things like plants are so expensive, right, 229 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: decorative river rocks for the garden so expensive. So you 230 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: know what my mother used to do allegedly, allegedly what 231 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: would she allegedly do. We would be driving down like that, 232 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: let's say the freeway, like but out like in the 233 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: San Gabro Valley out towards like a Zoosa Glendora by 234 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: like the the you know, there's big rocks on the 235 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: side of the highway. My mother used to pull over 236 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: on the side of the freeway, have us get out 237 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: on the side of the road and grabbed the river 238 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: the rocks, the decorative rocks, and put them in the 239 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: car and take them home and then she would decorate 240 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: the yard with them because she didn't want to send 241 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: many on rocks at home depot and so like she 242 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: would be driving and if she saw rocks that she 243 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: really liked. She'd be like, okay, kids, go get those 244 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: does and bring it to the car. It was like 245 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: a six month period of our life until she completed 246 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: the whole yard. Allegedly, all this happened. There's no proof, 247 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: there's zero evidence, zero proof that this happened, but it happened. 248 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: Those rocks are expensive. When I was, when we were 249 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: redoing our little like we have like a little tiny 250 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: patio area in our backyard, and we were my putting 251 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: when I were redoing it hid to the pandemic. We 252 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: were gardening, we were redoing things, we were crafting. You were, Yeah, 253 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: that era of my life is unfortunately over. But I 254 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: had a good, good segment of like E I y, 255 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: I'm you know, I was doing everything. I miss her, 256 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: but we're more busy now. You're being very handy. I was. 257 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: I was also didn't have nails at the time. The 258 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: nails were gone. But all that to say, going to 259 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: home depot, I had no idea how expensive those rocks were. 260 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: I had never had to purchase them before. So expensive, 261 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: so expensive. It's highway robbery. I mean, in my case, 262 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: literally we were robbing rocks off the side of the highway. 263 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: But it's only because the prices are so jacked up 264 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: in stores, or we wouldn't be driven to do such things, right. 265 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: I mean, we could make the case for for the 266 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: man that stole the plants as well. I mean, yes, 267 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: succulents are expensive. That does seem like a terrible thing 268 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: to be charged with, Like, come on, come on, two years, 269 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: Come on, guys, can we get them back? Can he 270 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: return them? Like that's all? Just replant them? Just come on. 271 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: I just also think that there's a lot of other 272 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: there's a lot of other bad, bad things going on 273 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: that maybe deserve that attention, but not this. Not clippings 274 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: sounds terrible. Can like California fucking get a shipped together? Please? 275 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: I know. I mean, look, I'm pretty sure that in 276 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:29,120 Speaker 1: the next ten years, with like the environmental issues we're facing, 277 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: we need to be thinking about where we're getting water from, 278 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: not who's taking clippings from the park. You know. But 279 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: I digress. That's an episode for another day. Yes, the 280 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: water crisis, the water crisis unfortunately, um, but today we're 281 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: actually going to be talking with plant enthusiast plant parent, 282 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: plant parent Andy Solch, who is now an entrepreneur. She's 283 00:17:55,080 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur. He's a plant entrepreneur, artist, business owner, Anti 284 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: Sourch of latin x with Plants. She's gonna be telling 285 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: us about her journey from grassroots organizer to artists to 286 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: business owner, how they all intertwine, and how necessity led 287 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: her to creating her business. Make sure that you guys 288 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: leave us a review on Apple podcast and leave us 289 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: a voice message on our website look at got our 290 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: radio dot com. Let us know what you think and 291 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: uh yeah, I hope you enjoy m m m m 292 00:18:52,240 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 1: m m m of it and ship all right. Listeners 293 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: were super excited to have on look up our radio 294 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: and the souch Uh, founder of latin x with Plants, 295 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: and a whole host of other cool projects and initiatives 296 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: and work that you also have under your belt. Welcome 297 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: to the show. Thank you for being here today. We're 298 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: super excited to hear from you. We've been following your 299 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: latin X with Plants journey from Instagram page to now 300 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: having to physical locations here in l A, So please 301 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: say hi to all of our listeners tuning in from home. 302 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, this is Andy. I'm very honored to be 303 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: speaking with you badass ladies. I've been seeing your journey 304 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: as well, so it feels good be constantly supporting each other, 305 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: especially between brown women. Yeah, I definitely feel well. First off, 306 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being here. But I definitely 307 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: feel like there's in l A. There's like this ecosystem 308 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: of Latin X artists, women of color like doing really 309 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: dope innovative things in this in multiple spaces and avenue. 310 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: So it's really great to have you on. I know 311 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: you've been doing lots of different things over the years, 312 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: um in Boil Heights and just l A in general, 313 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: so I would love to get started by hearing about 314 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: your journey as an artist and how you became a 315 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: business owner, and perhaps how those two things are intertwined. Yeah, 316 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: of course, I think. I think the root of um Or, 317 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: like the passions that I have have come from from 318 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: community organizing. I always stay been grassroots organizing that really 319 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: pivoted me into becoming like this Bossita. I guess. I 320 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: guess folks would say I honestly, I don't know what 321 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: kind of role I'm taking on. I feel like I 322 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: take so many roles, but I think community building has 323 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: always been at the root of everything that I do. 324 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: I think it's started with this nonprofit, our organization called 325 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: helf Help Graphics. They really gave me the foundation for, 326 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, what was to become of me as an organizer, 327 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: artist and now a plant business owner. So I was 328 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 1: working with them, um at the Prince Studio. But let 329 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: me go back a little bit. I guess I was 330 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: taking the workshops and that was really awesome to be 331 00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: a student that evolved into an actual structure and actually 332 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: landing like a dream job of mine, which was to 333 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:09,439 Speaker 1: become a master printer or the master the next master priner. 334 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 1: I was working so hard to become the first female 335 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: master priner that you know, when I had to quit, 336 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 1: it just really crushed me. But um, while I was 337 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: there working, I also co founded a collective, all Women 338 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: of Color by Collective, and I organized with them for 339 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: about four or five years, and it was with the 340 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: intention of empowering women through a bicycle and we right, 341 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: we would write every full moon, we would talk about 342 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: issues that we're affecting, specifically women of color in our neighborhood. 343 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: So it was kind of like a healing circle. It 344 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: just cheose meander and then just talking about what was 345 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: happening in our personal life with that judgment, and then 346 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 1: of course um uh I segued into Nissanta's which isn't 347 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: awe also the same kind of um vision of empowering women, 348 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: but this someone was through art and we would organize 349 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: at selbl Graphics and and just taking up space and 350 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: inviting other women who didn't have the means to become 351 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: or just be an artist. We we we gave them 352 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: the tools in the space, free of charge and judgment, 353 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: of course, and then what happened. And then I was 354 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: at Supple Graphics. My dad get got really really ill 355 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: and I needed to help him. I didn't want to 356 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 1: sell my art work. I feel like very insecure about it. 357 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 1: I just felt it was something really personal. And I 358 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: started having pop ups at self Help Graphics, and that's 359 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: kind of how it started. Um the Page, of course, 360 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 1: was influenced by Black with Plants, started by Durrell who 361 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: was based in d C. And he was highlighting the 362 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: black community in a way that wasn't being highlighted the way, 363 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: in a way that it was more than just aesthetics. 364 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: And I felt like we had so much in common. 365 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:20,479 Speaker 1: We had organizing roots, backgrounds, and I was like, I 366 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 1: wandered to highlight my community using plants, because essentially that's 367 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: that's who we are. It's a big part of our DNA, 368 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: our ancestral knowledge that we should be carrying it on. 369 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:37,200 Speaker 1: And I felt like I wanted to do that. But yeah, 370 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: that's kind of like the just how it started. Of 371 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: course I can go deeper into the open. It really 372 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 1: is so interesting how one area of your life feeds 373 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: into the other. And I'm wondering if you can kind 374 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 1: of give us a little bit more insight into the 375 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: specifics for those listening at home who we have a 376 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,719 Speaker 1: lot of creatives and our this and folks who are 377 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: business owners as well. And I know people look at 378 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: a project like yours and think, wow, this is very aspirational, 379 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:12,640 Speaker 1: you know, from uh the art, the organizing the Instagram 380 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: account to now the physical locations. And if you could 381 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: share just a little bit about how you made the 382 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 1: jump and also what inspired you to take it from 383 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: the digital sort of space too, Let's make this an 384 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:31,479 Speaker 1: in person situation. UM. I always felt like connecting with 385 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: people on a on a personal level, UM, on a 386 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: physical level was really important, especially I mean it got 387 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: really tricky because of the shutdown, right, But using the 388 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: digital platform was a really easy way to connect with 389 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: people on a larger scale, but on a smaller scale. 390 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: In my community, it was easy for for folks to 391 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: approach me, ask about what I'm doing, about what I've 392 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: been doing. UM, So the pop ups really helped out. UM. 393 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: Of course, you know necessity. You know, we we are 394 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: a community of minimal means, and but this is the 395 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: thing that we've noticed that we have a way of 396 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: turning a bad situation and becoming proactive. And in my case, 397 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 1: it was okay, my family member is it's very ill, 398 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: they need money, let's sell something. Of course, I wanted 399 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: to self whatever whatever I could. But I thought plants 400 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: was something that wasn't really being um brought to the community, 401 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,160 Speaker 1: or at least these types of plants, these like rare 402 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: kind of more tropical plants that I know, you know, 403 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: all of Latin America has them everywhere around and you 404 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: know in their native countries, but here they're more sacred, 405 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: you know, it's almost like um their identity to plants. 406 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: So it's really easy for folks to come. When I 407 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: started doing the pop ups at my house, it was 408 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: easy for them to come book an appointment and kind 409 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: of have that one in one connection with not only 410 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: with their plan with me, and have almost a moment 411 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: of therapy and talk about what was going on with 412 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: them and how plants were really helping them, and you know, 413 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: a lot of crime sessions were happening. And I think 414 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: that's how I built that foundation for my my business, 415 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: which happened almost four months after my first pop up 416 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 1: from my house. So what would you say the timeline 417 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 1: was from like pop ups in your home to like 418 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: break and mortar. Oh my god, like in the blink 419 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: of an eye, my head was. My head is still spinning. 420 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: I feel like I don't want to open up another 421 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: shop for another decade. I'm just it's I'm very grateful, 422 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: But the energy that goes and the love that goes 423 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: into it is just like I said, the switch never 424 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: turns off. So it's not until I'm about to have 425 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 1: a nervous breakdown then it's like, okay, I'm supposed to 426 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 1: have vacation or or something like that. But my first 427 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 1: pop up was two thousand nineteen around Christmas because that's 428 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: the time he got I remember, he got really sick pandemic. 429 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: The shutdown happened. So by Mother's Day I had my 430 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: first pop up, and then August or July, Yeah, July 431 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: I had my my my soft opening of my first 432 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 1: brick and mortar, and then Day of the Dead November 433 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 1: that's when I had my opening, my second opening, and yeah, 434 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: those those were a wild times. I always think about them, 435 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: being like, it's like, ma'am, like I feel like man, 436 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: and nothing can ever go right for too long because 437 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: something always has to happen, and it's just the balance 438 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: that you just have to accept. You know that the 439 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: the openings were great, but at the same time, my 440 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: dad was like, and I see you, like fighting for 441 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 1: his life. So it was it was like a bittersweet 442 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 1: moment for me that I didn't know I could really 443 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: savor the triumph of opening up something so monumental. I 444 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:41,959 Speaker 1: guess that it was for me, but I think if 445 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have had that. So 446 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: it keeps me balanced. I guess I love this conversation 447 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: because it's bringing in so many different elements, Like there's 448 00:29:55,720 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: the family connection, there's the personal journey, there's the digital community, 449 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: there's opening up you know, the commercial space. We noticed 450 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: that in the course of the and the pandemic, right 451 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: is like the backdrop to all of this, And we 452 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: noticed this huge plant boom at least online. Even the 453 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: l A Times Uh started up like a plant vertical 454 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: and featured you in fact and Latin X with plants. 455 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: So I'm wondering if you could tell us a little 456 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: bit about like your maybe perspective on the plant boom 457 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: and the renewed interest I guess in plants, whether it's 458 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: aesthetically or for the reasons you've talked about, like cultural 459 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:40,959 Speaker 1: and ancestral. I you know what, I felt like there 460 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: was like a like a movement already happening of of 461 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: the like like in of tropical and decorative plants already happening, 462 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: but it was mostly in the white community, right, because 463 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: I feel like it was very elitist. It's like, oh, 464 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: who has the latest or the the newest or the weirdest, 465 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: the rarest plant. And for us it was like, Dawn, 466 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 1: we're lucky if we can even afford you know, the 467 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: basic ones. So to me it was like, yes, I 468 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: want to highlight these plants, but I also wanted to 469 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: bring it down to the basics, like what does it 470 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 1: mean to come into your home and just be greeted 471 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: by greenery and what that does to your mental state 472 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: and your spirit. Um, how how these plants can really 473 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: change your mood from like going outside, Because at the time, 474 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: I was living in front of Hollembeg Park And if 475 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: you're familiar with boil Hinds Hall, Hollembeg Park was coined 476 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: later recently the dirtiest park in Los Angeles. And yes, 477 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: Kevin alone, I'm talking to you because he's in charge 478 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: of this district and it's one of the coolest parks 479 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 1: from a distance, but you come and get close, it's horrendous. 480 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 1: It's so sad. How is this possible that we're so 481 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: close to downtown, to the arts district, um, and this 482 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: is happening. So I was walking by, you know, the 483 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: entrance of my home. I go in and my my 484 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 1: roommate who owns the house at the time, she did 485 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 1: such a great job in incorporating um native plants, pollinating plants, 486 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: and she was very intentional with her garden that like, 487 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: how is it that us with minimal means can transform 488 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: something like this, But our city, with like the biggest 489 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: budget in the nation has this going on. So when 490 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: people were coming to to our pop ups. They noticed that, 491 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:50,479 Speaker 1: and they noticed that these plants, whether it was one 492 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 1: or two, they were transforming their their homes, their insides 493 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: and their outside, you know, the of their homes. So 494 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,040 Speaker 1: they could see it right away. So I'm kind of 495 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: thankful that that was going on. You know, I was 496 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 1: able to show them like, look, you could do this 497 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:12,680 Speaker 1: with very minimal means um. But that answers the question. Yeah. 498 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I feel like the common thread here is 499 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: like necessity is the mother of invention. Like you were, 500 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: you were going through a health crisis with your father, 501 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: which led you to starting this plant business. At the 502 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: same time, there's a community in a pandemic, multiple community 503 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 1: the nation was in a pandemic and limited access to 504 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: green space. And I think that from my perspective, like 505 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: that's why there was like a resurgence of like plant parenthood. 506 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 1: Um because even if maybe we have been disconnected from 507 00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: it as a community, maybe on like the millennial level, 508 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: like our parents have definitely been like you know, steady 509 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 1: plant parenthoods forever. I know, like my mom has a 510 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: plant in our backyard that's like literally my age is 511 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:57,960 Speaker 1: literally twenty eight years old and it used to be 512 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: at my grandmother's house and now it's like here with us, 513 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 1: and so to see like the reconnection, I think is 514 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 1: really beautiful. And I think your shop multiple shops now 515 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: like give folks that access and maybe have been disconnected 516 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: from it. Um Also, you know you're located in Boil Heights, 517 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 1: and I know that that's also where you're from. And 518 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:23,240 Speaker 1: so I'm curious, like you being a community member opening 519 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: up shops in the community, investing in the community. You 520 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: have multiple events, you do partnerships with Planted Parenthood, you 521 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: make the your shop venue for different organs as well. 522 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 1: So how do you think this is in some way 523 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 1: slowing gentrification in Boil Heights. So I'm very fortunate that 524 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 1: I have like the community supporting me, supporting my business. 525 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:59,560 Speaker 1: And I honestly, I I thank the fact that I 526 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:03,960 Speaker 1: was able to organized in my community for like I 527 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: guess twelve years now because it was free work. But 528 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:09,920 Speaker 1: and I learned a lot from all of that. But 529 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,960 Speaker 1: I didn't know that would essentially be my network, my 530 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: my support system, and they kind of saw. I feel 531 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 1: like a lot of people have take pride in me 532 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,320 Speaker 1: because they saw me from like this little knuckle ahead. 533 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: That was just um struggling to get by to like 534 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: growing into an organizer or an artist, a professional and 535 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,880 Speaker 1: now a business owner. I do, I do thank my 536 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 1: community for that. Um. Sorry I got sidetracked, but yeah, 537 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 1: I think having the the locations, especially through these organizations 538 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 1: like Inclusive Action, who are actually opening up the door 539 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:59,480 Speaker 1: the possibility for people like myself who don't have great credit, 540 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: who don't don't have you know, the means to own 541 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:07,440 Speaker 1: commercial property. They're giving us that opportunity. So the program 542 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 1: I think is in collaboration with eLAC and they are 543 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 1: giving us a chance like in five to seven years 544 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:17,839 Speaker 1: to possibly own our commercial property. And and and it's 545 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: angst such job as my two locations, and they're very intentional. 546 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: The places that I opened it up, I wanted to 547 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:28,239 Speaker 1: be in Boil Heights, um, especially because my dad would 548 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 1: say whenever we would pass by, you'd say, this reminds 549 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 1: me of Mexico. This, this feels like home, back when 550 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 1: there were still a lot of vendors. And it was 551 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:39,480 Speaker 1: a while ago, but I feel like they're kind of 552 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 1: creeping back with you know, this whole movement of vendor rights, 553 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 1: which I also I give props to inclusive action for 554 00:36:46,719 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 1: avricating for them. My dad was a taketo. My mom 555 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: you know, was also a street vendor. Um, so I 556 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:59,799 Speaker 1: take that entrepreneur um spirit with me. So I want 557 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 1: to preserved boil hides. I want to preserve and and 558 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:06,920 Speaker 1: hopefully like I don't want to say inspired, but I 559 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 1: want like hopefully motivate people to start their own business 560 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:13,160 Speaker 1: and if they can have a human boil hides even 561 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:16,560 Speaker 1: better because we are still we still have a chance 562 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:20,240 Speaker 1: to kind of slow it down. My first location actually 563 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 1: is getting um this demolished and they're gonna be building 564 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 1: and apartment complex. And if I hadn't had the gun 565 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: us to keep growing, I probably would have just stayed 566 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:41,560 Speaker 1: there and gone displaced. This is really um insightful and 567 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:45,840 Speaker 1: helpful background for folks who are in l A and 568 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: looking to start their own businesses. There are so many 569 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 1: women of color in particular who have side hustles, who 570 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: have small businesses, who are artists. So I really appreciate 571 00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:58,440 Speaker 1: you taking the time to share that info because I 572 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:01,280 Speaker 1: know our listeners definitely will look into it and follow 573 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 1: up on it. So that being said, for those listening, 574 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: how can people follow you where can they visit you? 575 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:10,359 Speaker 1: Where can they shop for plants? And how can they 576 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:15,840 Speaker 1: support latin X with Plants. Sure, my, I have a website, 577 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 1: so latin x with Plants dot com. We have Instagram, 578 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 1: which is one of our most active platforms, again latin 579 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:27,719 Speaker 1: X with Plants. We have a Facebook that needs some love, 580 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:30,839 Speaker 1: but I'm kind of running the whole show, so um, 581 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,719 Speaker 1: one thing at a time. We have a TikTok also, 582 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: which is intimidating, but I'm getting there. And our two 583 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 1: locations are on Sessuch Travis twenty hundreds of such Travis 584 00:38:44,239 --> 00:38:46,399 Speaker 1: and the one that I'm at now, the newest one 585 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: is twenty two zero eight to Such Travis And this 586 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 1: is our biggest location yet and it has a greenhouse 587 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 1: in the back. We can we're offering more UM services 588 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:02,160 Speaker 1: like we're potting only homes for you, teaching you about 589 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:05,960 Speaker 1: your plants. But yeah, it's here and from what I 590 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:13,320 Speaker 1: consider like downtown Boil. I love that. UM. I was 591 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,000 Speaker 1: wondering if actually you had a social media manager? Do 592 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:20,880 Speaker 1: you handle all the the accounts yourself? Sadly yes, so 593 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:26,160 Speaker 1: please be be kind to my know your content is amazing, 594 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 1: like it looks like you have a social media manager, 595 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:32,800 Speaker 1: but as many of our folks know, we were multiple hats. 596 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:36,800 Speaker 1: We are the social media managers, the PR person, the boss. 597 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:41,520 Speaker 1: We do it all. Um. Finally I want to add, oh, sorry, 598 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,680 Speaker 1: go ahead, UM. I think this is really important for 599 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:48,280 Speaker 1: me to say, Yes, I run all of my my pages, 600 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: but I surround myself with hilarious women, women that like 601 00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:56,880 Speaker 1: have the this tenacity that I don't have, so it 602 00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:59,080 Speaker 1: rubs off. Like one of the reasons why I opened 603 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:01,439 Speaker 1: up my first location, it was because my home girl 604 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:04,799 Speaker 1: was like, there's a shop, you know, being rented right here, 605 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,400 Speaker 1: you should check into it or look into it. And 606 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,640 Speaker 1: I didn't have it in me. And but if it 607 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:15,120 Speaker 1: weren't for her pushing me, I think it's that's why 608 00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:18,640 Speaker 1: it's really important. And I thank god that I organized 609 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:22,800 Speaker 1: with a lot of women, fam wear, trans Lon, binary folks, 610 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:27,160 Speaker 1: because that's that's your marketing team. That's your team that 611 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,759 Speaker 1: needs that that you need to be surrounded yourself with. 612 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 1: I love that. So I would love to end on 613 00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:38,279 Speaker 1: like a little fun note, Um, do you have any 614 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:43,680 Speaker 1: plant care tips for the perpetual plant killer? For the 615 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:49,200 Speaker 1: serial plant killers out there? I would say, get a 616 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:54,359 Speaker 1: moisture reader. A moisture reader honestly really helped me learn 617 00:40:54,920 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 1: how my soil reacts to weather, to my over doting 618 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:07,439 Speaker 1: of plants. It will remind me that too much love 619 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: is possible, and you need to let your plants do 620 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:14,839 Speaker 1: their thing, you know, talk to them, check in on them, 621 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:18,840 Speaker 1: but let them be. I think it's one of my 622 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:24,279 Speaker 1: my care tips. You know, it's with yourself, like don't overindulge, 623 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:30,200 Speaker 1: don't over you know, self care is important, but it's 624 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:32,759 Speaker 1: also like, Okay, we have so many things. We got 625 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:36,319 Speaker 1: a balance. So yeah, and stick to the easy one. 626 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:39,759 Speaker 1: Stick to Just because you want to be a plant mom, 627 00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:42,680 Speaker 1: doesn't mean you have to get every plant under the sun. 628 00:41:43,360 --> 00:41:48,320 Speaker 1: Stick to the easy ones. Excellent advice. Andy, Thank you 629 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:50,839 Speaker 1: so for Thank you so much for taking the time 630 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,799 Speaker 1: to chat with us today. Listeners. Make sure you check 631 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,560 Speaker 1: out Latin Next Plants and that concludes our interview.