Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hudson Soules . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hudson , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?

I am grateful for the opportunity to share some words about the best boss I have ever had. An uncommon human with a common name, Jim Smith helped me tremendously, both in my professional development as well as my personal life. I was working in the landscaping field for a small business in San Francisco for 4 years when I decided to move to Berkeley. My plan was to commute to SF to continue landscaping, while I figured out how to work more locally. As fate would have it, I moved in across the street from Jim and his family. I knew from the truck and tools and plants in his driveway, he was in the landscaping field, doing cool projects. Within a few weeks, we struck up a conversation when I was cutting down a diseased tree in my front yard with a small old saw. While admiring my gumption, he kindly offered me a better saw. I let him know that I work in the field and he shared that his right hand helper recently moved across the country and he was looking to hire a new employee. My trial run began the following week and the rest is history. We hit it off. I was struck by his knowledge of plants and irrigation and the care with which he approached work. One of the first places we worked together was at one of his kid’s elementary school where he created a large part of the landscape with the help of volunteers and that he continued to maintain on a volunteer basis.
That began a deeply meaningful relationship that continues to this day. Jim always went the extra mile for clients. He always took great care of his employees. The process of work was equally as important as the results. Beyond giving me invaluable experience and skills in the field, Jim also helped me through some rocky times in my life. When I tried moving to another city and it didn’t work out, not only did Jim offer me my job back, he housed me in his family’s guest bedroom while I got back on my feet. Jim always listened to what was going on in my personal life and offered support without judgement. The countless hours we worked together in beautiful gardens that came from his imagination, are treasured moments, days, weeks and years of my life. His generosity of spirit included passing along all of his clients to me when he and his wife prepared to move to Washington state. My co-worker, Samantha, kept working with me as Kavalski Gardenworks became Soules Gardenworks. After running Soules Gardenworks for a year and a half, I decided it was time to move back to Atlanta to be closer to my family and to reduce the cost of living. Samantha took over the business and now runs Samantha Rae Gardenworks. My other dear friend and previous co-worker Brett, branched off before I took over the business to start Biota Landscapes with Jim’s blessings of course. Jim is still doing his garden design and installation works in Washington State. I think it’s a testament to Jim’s generosity of spirit that the Kavalski Gardenworks I started working for in 2011 has evolved into 4 viable landscaping businesses: Kavalski Gardenworks in Washington state, Biota Landscapes in Vallejo, Samantha Rae Landscapes in Oakland, and Soules Landscapes in Atlanta.
I am forever grateful to Jim Smith and the knowledge and care he demonstrates as a business owner, a mentor, a boss and a friend.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into the field of garden maintenance and landscaping in 2007, after graduating college from San Francisco State University.

I worked for Western Gardens for 4 years and gained knowledge in plant id and garden installations, as well as irrigation. In 2011, I moved from San Francisco to Berkeley and auspiciously moved across the street from Jim Smith, owner of Kavalski Gardenworks. I became his right hand helper for the next 7 years as I learned the trade thoroughly from him. He was a great mentor and we had a lot of fun while creating and maintaining many beautiful gardens he designed. My love of form and texture and design blossomed while working with Jim.

In 2018, Jim gave me the business he said I had earned through sweat equity. My co-worker Samantha became my employee and Kavalski Gardenworks became Soules Gardenworks. Samantha and I had a great year and a half together before I decided to move back to Atlanta. Samantha took over the business and evolved the business into Samantha Rae Gardenworks and continues to offer exceptional work in the East Bay.

After moving back to Atlanta I was very fortunate to have a lifelong best friend who had an established, thriving landscaping business. I started working for Jesse Paluch Landscapes while also setting roots for my own new Atlanta business- Soules Landscapes. In 2021, I transitioned to running Soules Landscapes full time.

To serve people, we offer quality work, creating landscapes that are both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. We work primarily with plants and stones to transform outdoor spaces and we go the extra mile to make our clients’ experience with us enjoyable from start to finish. We are passionate about creating beauty in outdoor spaces and derive joy from increasing clients’ quality of life while benefiting the environment. Being physical, exercising creativity, and working with plants and stones is our passion.

To serve the planet, we do not use pesticides or herbicides. We amend soil with compost based planting mixes rather than chemical fertilizers. We offer alternative solutions to weed control such as using corrugated cardboard rolls to suppress weeds. We love working with clients who share our values.

As I look back and reflect, so much of the evolution of my business was made possible through symbiotic relationships. A garden is generous by nature, as are my mentors, coworkers and friends who have gotten me this far.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Moving from California to Georgia at the end of 2019 was a significant life pivot. After taking over Kavalski Gardenworks in 2018 and renaming it Soules Gardenworks, I gained invaluable experience running a small business with Samantha as my right hand helper. About halfway through 2019 I received a very clear message from the universe to ask my mom to move back to Atlanta from Brooklyn and then move back to Atlanta myself. It turned out my mom was up for this so I set the ball in motion on my end as well. As I prepared to move across the country, Samantha prepared to take over the business. I was very fortunate to know that my childhood best friend, Jesse, was running a successful landscaping business in Atlanta and had a spot for me to work with him while I got my bearings. I loved working for and with Jesse while I learned from him what a successful landscaping business in Atlanta can look like. Life affirmed that I made the right choice at the right time to move across the country because my mom was diagnosed with cancer just after she moved back and right before I moved. Then, 3 months into helping her through her radiation and chemo treatments, the pandemic began. It was such a blessing to be there for my mom through a hard time while working with a dear friend while getting calibrated with landscaping in Atlanta. While I got rooted in Atlanta and began to do smaller projects under my own business, Samantha was successfully establishing Samantha Rae Gardenworks in the Bay Area.
While I knew I had love, support and community waiting for me in Atlanta, it was still a leap of faith to leave the Bay Area after 17 years. Thankfully, it’s one of the best choices I have ever made. While I miss my people in the Bay Area, I love living in Atlanta, being close to my family, and cultivating a sustainable future with my life partner.

Any advice for managing a team?

I rely on my coworkers. Our camaraderie and trust is paramount to the success of the business. Affirming their great work is important to maintaining high morale. Also, offering a human connection and level of flexibility that large corporations aren’t able to offer, such as the ability to leave work early to take care of parent responsibilities. Of course, showing appreciation through solid wages is another key. Ultimately, being quick to share credit for successes and to take accountability for any missteps along the way helps to create unity. In addition, generally having some great music playing, whether its James Brown or Bob Marley radio, or a fun playlist, helps guide the vibes for all of us. Lastly, continuing a fun tradition started by my mentor Jim Smith, to buy lunch for the crew on Friday helps morale.

Contact Info:

• Website: souleslandscapes.com
• Instagram: souleslandscapes

Image Credits
Thu Tran for cover photo