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

Katie Kamala , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I have always been involved in the plant kingdom. I began my journey 25 years ago as a professional aromatherapist and herbalist, however gardening was only a hobby. For many years I dreamed of leaving the hectic pace of South Florida and finding a small plot of land to build a tiny house and start a project in sustainable living.

The pandemic gave me that opportunity but when I was was faced with too many obstacles trying to find suitable land, I asked my parents if I could move on their quarter-acre property. They are located by the lakes of Minneola, known as the “gem of the hills.” Nowadays, it’s a training hub for triathletes, runners, and cyclists, Yet, just two decades ago, this Central Florida neighborhood stood as a rustic sanctuary adorned with orange groves, farms, and verdant forests.

My focal point was the transformation of a grassy, weed-ridden backyard into a subtropical oasis—a retreat where harmony with Mother Nature meets inner serenity. There was a great deal of work ahead. It’s one thing to watch YouTube Videos and fantasize about having a whole new life, but the reality is not that easy.

I was fortunate that my father who is 85 years young was willing to help me. At first he did not understand the goals of Permaculture that include: long term self-reliance, working with nature rather than against it, thinking globally but acting locally, planning for small-scale, energy-efficient systems, and growing your own organic food.

Conventional gardening typically utilizes synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and other soil additives that provide a “quick fix” for plants. However, these methods deplete soil over time. Permaculture gardening helps build soil and doesn’t rely on synthetic inputs, making it more sustainable.

Since 2021 my father and I have planted an assortment of 40 fruit trees, 20 blueberry bushes, and over 50 pollinator-friendly herbs and medicinal plants. Other enhancements include a tiny cottage, solar powered greenhouse, yoga deck, rain barrels for water conservation, a fire pit, pergola, and over a dozen vegetable garden beds.

I began hosting full moon women’s gatherings, herbalism workshops and free food forest tours. The local paper ran a story about what I was doing and I connected with a welcoming community of like minded people. It was then that I decided to create a non-profit learning garden.

My mission is to empower individuals to cultivate abundance in their own backyards, fostering a renaissance of harmony, healing, and holistic well-being. In nature’s bounty, lies the promise of a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow—one seed, one soul at a time.

The garden I tend became more than a mere plot of land—it evolved into a metaphor for existence itself, an unceasing source of wisdom and transformation. It’s molding me into an individual who is constantly learning and growing.

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.

At Pineapple Peace Garden, we proudly offer free community workshops focusing on gardening, herbal medicine, wellness and plant-based nutrition. Our visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in horticultural therapy within our five sensory garden, thoughtfully crafted for contemplation and relaxation.

A yard full of grass and ornamental plants might look pretty but they serve no real purpose when it comes to feeding yourself or your family. In fact, grass takes up a lot of water and chemicals in order to look good and these weed killers and artificial fertilizers go into our ground water and end up causing more pollutions, cancers and are a danger to bees, birds and wildlife.

How about if we stopped being only “consumers” and became “producers?” How about getting more fresh air and sunshine and connecting with Mother Nature on a regular basis? What about teaching your children where food comes from and the miracle of how a tiny seed becomes a huge tree?

Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding activities you can do. You may have been fortunate enough to remember your grandparents having a garden and being able to pick a ripe tomato or cool cucumber off a vine. Maybe you grew up in a rural area and were able to pick apples or cherries from a tree. But if you grew up in a city like many people, you did not have this wonderful experience.

Nothing tastes as juicy or delicious as a fresh picked fruit or veggie. With the rising cost of organic produce, growing your own food will cost less, taste better and you will know exactly what you are getting.

I have been eating a plant based diet since I was 21 years old and I credit that for my amazing good health. My mission is to teach others how to do the same. The mission of Pineapple Peace Garden, Inc 501 (c3) is simple and powerful; to utilize our homes and land to grow our own food using the concepts of Permaculture and share the bounty with our friends, family, neighbors and community. True health comes from being connected to Mother Nature and each other.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I spent almost all of my savings on this business venture with no guarantee of return on investment. Before the pandemic I owned a thriving yoga and massage studio in Delray Beach but due to the over use of my hands and wrists, my 23 year career came to an end. It was a challenging but I had to reinvent myself. I am now working two part time jobs in marketing to cover my personal expenses while I’m developing my business goals.

I keep writing grants, even though I’ve been turned down multiple times. I am formulating herbal products cultivated from the garden. I also opened up the cottage to offer sound healing and energy work by donation. And I am excited that the book I’ve been writing for two years about plant spirit medicine comes out this summer.

When I get discouraged about my progress, I think of the garden and remember that every flower has it’s season and we must learn to have patience. I also remember the quote by spiritual author Neville Goddard, “Faith is Loyalty to the Unseen Reality,”

Goddard emphasizes the immense power of faith and imagination to shape our reality. He defines faith not as the creation of reality, but as loyalty to unseen reality — trusting in the existence of a deeper reality beneath surface appearances.

We must overcome our inner and outer obstacles to achieve our purpose in life.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I wasn’t much of a social media person before the pandemic but during and afterwards I have been making videos and started a private Facebook group to stay connected to people who have visited the garden and supported my work. I think that businesses have to utilize as many social media tools as possible to reach customers and also to stay relevant in the community. We have the power to tell our own story and make a difference in people’s lives by the content we post and the message we share. We live in a world of duality and not every aspect of social media is positive, however there is nothing that can reach as many people. I’ve invested a lot of time to learn about different platforms and it can be overwhelming but my advice is to start with the one that you enjoy most and go from there. There are many free or low cost courses but you have to want to learn it, If not you have to hire someone. For me I approach it as act of creativity instead of a chore, and I find that is the best way to stay engaged.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pineapplepeacegarden.org/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/pineapplepeace23
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/minneolafoodforest
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@KatieKamala

Image Credits
All of the photos are by Katie Kamala Haley