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

Mia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Globally, our environment is being systemically destroyed. On a local level, it can be harder to see, as the environmental impact seems so much smaller, compared to desertification, the ragged bodies of starving polar bears, or the Pacific trash pile – twice the size of the great state of Texas.

As native Texans, growing and navigating the lands that we live on, we’ve witnessed first hand the climate change crisis. Our precious aquifers dried up as gated community golf courses divert water supplies. The wild creatures of this region pressed into the city to graze on trash. Songbirds fall from the sky after filling their bellies with tropical, poisonous berries. Non native seed dispersal is a blight along roadsides, acreage and even the pristine majesty of our state parks.

In the face of such hopelessness to which we have all experienced at an even more heightened extent over the last 4 years, Full Circle Urban Permaculture was conceptually born. The idea that no matter how small a step or footprint, every home and family has the ability to be stewards to the land they occupy.

“There is never a time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment, the time is always now.”
― James Baldwin

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I worked with children for about 10 years. A lot of that work was outdoors. Learning to pick up caterpillars and move them – not step on them, building little fires, watching the changing of the seasons and walking local waterways. I started picking up certificates in outdoor activities, plant identification, wildlife, invasive management etc. so I had more knowledge to bring to the kids and their endless, beautiful, questioning.

The gentle rhythms and potential for quiet in the outdoors – or alternatively, the opportunity for total uninhibited screaming and chaos – was essential in my work with children.

When Covid arrived a few years back, I couldn’t work with kids anymore. We were all stuck inside, waiting. As a single mom, and primary caregiver to my son, waiting was not an option. A good friend of mind suggested I take the knowledge I gathered over the years working with children, and apply it to creating outdoor spaces in a environmentally ethical way.

It was a slow start, but after a handful of bigger jobs, diligent, honest work, we quickly built a reputation. A few of our installs have received showcases and local recognition. I am so proud of the work we have done. And I feel good about it every single day.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

More of an idea I had to walk away from was the idea that I loved my job, and was having fun doing it, so I felt guilty charging what I was worth. We are taught so often from society, our parents, our peers – that work is hard and suck’s and that’s how you make lots of money, and that’s the whole point. It should exhaust you and bend you backwards. Especially if you are doing something that is considered ‘unskilled’, which unfortunately, many aspects of what we do is looked at as such.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Encourage people rest, let people take the day off, text early and let everyone sleep in if it’s inclement weather.

In contract work, try not to pen yourself into hard deadlines as much as possible.

Support your employees showing up for their kids and family events.

Allow every person to bring their strength to the team, and respect them for their uniqueness – even if it is initially hard to find, as the boss, it’s your job to find it and nurture it.

When you see there is a certification course, or program you think would be conducive to productivity; pay for the course, give everyone paid leave to take it, reap the rewards of having an educated team.

If you know there are going to be lean times; give everyone months to plan ahead, and excuse any needs around that prep work so they can do what they need to do.

Give bonuses whenever you are able, and always when people go beyond the initial scope of the work. Build that idea into your estimates, that you are going to pass around extra to the people who showed up and made it happen.

You are nothing without a loyal workforce. You will not have loyalty from the one without acknowledging the whole ecosystem of their existence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fullcirclepermaculture.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fullcircleurbanpermaculture