Story & Lesson Highlights with Brandy Hall of Avondale Estates

Brandy Hall shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Brandy, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been enjoying spending time at home, quietly with my daughter. Home is such a sanctuary for me, and recharges me when the world feels crazy!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I grew up splitting my time between my mom and stepdad in South Florida, where they owned and operated a farm, and my dad in the foothills of NC, where he spent his life as a builder. Traveling between these two ecosystems was an eye-opening experience from a young age – the contrast of the wild mountains of NC and the uniform farming practices in South Florida. When I was still really young, my mom and stepdad started showing symptoms from the supposedly innocuous chemicals they were using on their farms, so we had to move away from the farm so they could detox. From there, I began my lifelong inquiry into the question of how can we do it better? I began my company in 2008 after receiving a General Contractor’s license and had trained as a stone mason, where I fell in love with the way intelligent design responds to the natural world. Since then, our company has become a B Corp, has grown to over 25 employees, and continues to expand and reach many people’s lives who are looking for a way to do it better, too. I also serve as Mayor of the City of Pine Lake, where we live, and spend much of my free time outdoors with my dear daughter.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
This tendency for people to believe in the “bad other,” as Tara Brach puts it. The harmful way we say, we are not like them; they are not like us – when we cast our neighbors as monsters and disconnect from the deeper truth: we are all souls, here on Earth to learn, to soften into heartbreak, to serve one another, and to create goodness.

In nature, this kind of bad othering does not exist. A flower does not banish the wasp because she is not a bee, or the moth because he works at night, nor does the river shame the beaver for building dams. Diversity is not only tolerated—it is essential. Every being plays a role in weaving the whole. When a tree falls, it becomes food for fungi, habitat for insects, and nourishment for new growth. The system does not reject; it integrates.

If we remembered this, that our wholeness depends on each other, even those who feel most different from us, than we can come together and be better people for it. Our collective thriving requires us to soften our defenses, open our hearts, and learn again how to belong to one another as fully as the oak belongs to the understory, or the pollinator belongs to the flower. Bring your rage, bring your grief, bring your life experiences, and soften into the understanding that your neighbor shares more in common with you than you know.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
2019 was the hardest year for me as a business owner. We were in the midst of restructuring; and everything that could go wrong, was. At the end of the year, we did our first real strategic plan, and started executing on that plan. That was my “last ditch effort” and it paid off – planning is essential, whether you’re talking about finances or gardens!

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That it should be male-dominated and largely white. I wanted to make sure we were doing it a different way, one that reflects the same biodiversity we build in our landscapes. Where we can celebrate differences.

We’ve led really difficult conversations with our team about how white dominant culture influences our work at Shades of Green internally and externally. The bravery and vulnerability this took from all of us to learn out loud had a lasting impact on our work environment.

With a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, more than 30% of our employees identify as being from a racial or ethnic minority, and 50% identify as women. We prioritized diversity through training programs, pay equity analysis and policies, and committed to working with diverse vendors. Our team of people spans race, gender expression, age, sexuality, and much more. It’s one of the greatest things about this company.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m spending time with my family. Or when I’m falling asleep in savasana!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shadesofgreenpermaculture.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shades_of_green_permaculture/

Image Credits
Screen shot of Brandy captured by Jonathon Banks @journeybrave
Others: Ash Wilson of Creators and Finders