We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bree Fenner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bree below.

Alright, Bree thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

While I did benefit from the school curriculum I was in growing up, I do believe there are additional important skills that are very much undervalued, as the current school system creates a disconnection from nature, doesn’t have room for thinking outside of the box, and there is a lack of entrepreneurship and real-life skills that most would benefit from.

I believe we are deeply connected to our natural environment, however in the present day, we have been used to being drastically disconnected from our natural cycles that have sustained us for thousands of years. A main example of this is our food industry and the lack of understanding how our food is produced and the segway between farms and grocery stores to our table. To further this example would be to highlight how the average person is unaware of what foods are in season and how these foods nourish our bodies. The existing educational system has put students into a regulated box in which they are not encouraged to ask deeper questions or question the status quo. This plays a major role in students lacking the tools to break the 9-5 work mold.

I believe direct contact with nature is a paramount component to fulfilling life. Expanding on this area could look like the inclusion of hands-on courses in schools where the students are growing the food that is being served in the cafeteria, by watching the growth of the food cycle, and by being hands-on in that process. Cooking courses would be greatly beneficial in teaching students how to use the food they have grown to create a nourishing meal, and to appreciate all that it took to get that plate of food in front of them. In addition, integrating classes that help students learn about the natural cycles of nature, and how we as humans are a part of those cycles; supplying courses that teach students how to problem solve, and come to new conclusions that are different from their textbooks. I had a difficult time in the impersonal, and sometimes rigid, school curriculum that is still in place today, but the opportunity and experience in my grandparents’ garden and the nature around me showed me that there are other roads to take, some that are just as or more fulfilling than what is regularly offered to us. I would encourage students to look outside of the norm and find topics and studies that motivate them, that make them passionate about the world we live in.

I also think that the addition of courses that teach life skills, such as how to balance a checkbook, how to find the resources available to low income families, apply for a mortgage, do taxes, and ways to catapult financial well-being would also be in the list of ways to round out the education system and set students up for success in their day to day lives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

My name is Bree Fenner, I am the sole owner of Breeze Garden Design based out of Orange County, CA. While I was growing up, being out in nature and working in soil was a major part of my childhood. I learned from my grandparents at a young age how to grow our own food, flowers, and plants. I always felt at ease in nature as a young girl,  and that was the extent of my knowledge of the world of plants until my late teenage years. At that time, I was offered a job with a family friend to help with her garden design business in Vail, CO. This was the moment that changed the entire trajectory of my life. My humble beginnings in my grandparent’s garden began to transform as I learned more about the rarely seen wonderful world of plants. That small passion that was sparked in my early years flourished under guidance from a master gardener. Suddenly, the unknown natural cycles and systems that surrounded me my whole life took on a deeper meaning. This paved the way of my horticulture journey, and I found my sense of purpose in the world.

The next steps were easy, I decided to further my education in horticulture and obtained a double major in Food Crop Production, and Viticulture and Enology at Colorado State University. I  continued my path by taking on more workshops, finding jobs at Community Supported Agriculture [CSA] programs in other countries, and designing floral gardens. I then found myself in Southern California where an opportunity presented itself to own a landscape design company. I dove into this life long passion head first and endured the long learning curve ahead of me. I learned how to make a Limited Liability Company [LLC], manage a crew of employees, and tackle the very complicated tax laws that come with owning and running a business. I’m still constantly expanding my knowledge of plants and their importance on our bodies and in the living world around us. I find what sets me apart from others is understanding this importance and making it available to others around me to benefit from these simple life pleasures. I am most proud of producing living art and places for people to experience serenity and joy from the natural world. I believe it is a simple and beautiful way to de-stress from the hectic and busy day to day life demands in our current culture.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The main goal or mission that drives my creative journey is being able to create a space in which people can take a breath, relax, and contemplate this journey we call life. Reflective states can give you the space to make change and reconnect with the self in tremendous ways. The ability to create a meditative place for people to go and find peace and tranquility gives me motivation to learn more and continue my path in this field. I am also driven by helping beneficial pollinators, building healthy soil structures and procedures that help heal the earth. These are some of the rewards and pleasures that are a great motivation to live by.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I would say the strongest and most important aspect that has built my reputation within my market is producing quality work time and time again. I strive to consistently produce beautiful and thriving gardens, with a keen eye for detail – no matter how small- and this is what continues to make my company and I, as the owner, stand out amongst other larger competitors in my market. Luckily, creating beautiful gardens has an instant result and enjoyment to those that surround them. While creating a garden or landscape, you are able to see a beginning, middle and end stage. There is an instant gratification when building a garden or landscape. Anyone can physically see the end result, and by that, I’ve had great success in proving my quality of work- a sound reputation. That is what I consider most successful businesses to have provided: a consistent and reliable product and service that has longevity and value. In addition, fantastic customer service is key, you must be willing to hear the feedback from your clientele, taking that feedback as fuel to constantly change (or not change) and provide a better service or product to your market.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: BreezeGardenDesigns
• Linkedin: Bree Fenner

Image Credits
Bree Fenner owner of Breeze Garden Design