Inspiring Conversations with Neti Hamilton of Ezra’s Emerald

Today we’d like to introduce you to Neti Hamilton.

Hi Neti , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Funny enough, what triggered me opening the shop was a really bad break up.

In college, 2018, I helped revamp my schools’ greenhouse as a part of my environmental science minor. I didn’t want to do a paper for my capstone so I asked if I could volunteer my time. I was a huge social advocate and kinesthetic learner, still am, but only a budding environmentalist. So, I volunteered my time to learn. I’m someone who gets pretty hyper fixated on something when I’m trying to learn it. So soon enough, my volunteering once a week turned into twice, turned into everyday, turned into my having a key. That was my first deep dive into plants. I learned about the different ecologies, how to grow different plants, how to repot and propagate. But it didn’t stop there, I created a garden club, created fundraisers to raise money for the greenhouse, and helped create several climate change gardens , rock and pollinator gardens, partnering with the school cafeteria to build sustainable composting and vegetable gardens.

By the time I graduated, we’d reformed the entire ecology program at my university. My professors gifted me any and all plants I could carry when I graduated. I moved here to Atlanta, with those same plants and started teaching myself. It was a hobby that brought me joy. What moved me into wanting to own a shop though was the heartbreak.

I was already selling my cuttings and vegetables on Facebook marketplace. I had a plant Instagram, participated in the local food system, and was volunteering with different environmental public health organizations and community gardens in the area. So, when we broke up, I wanted something of my own. Being apart of these organizations was wonderful, but I wanted to create something of my own. Then in 2021, Ezra’s Emerald was born.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth is comical, yes and no. Beginning was easy and listing all of my struggles would probably exhaust you. But something I think I’m always struggling with is remembering to clap for myself and being patient in trusting the process.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m a houseplant stylist and a business owner. I sell houseplants, and offer a variety of in house plant care services like weekly care services, virtual consultations, plant wellness checks and repotting services. I specialize in styling indoor houseplants and tailoring them to my respective audiences. My business works to cultivate the space between humans and their environment. My environmental public health background sets my business apart. I’m a plant person sure, but my passion is based in community based participatory research and improving environmental inequities. I’m proud that I created a business that educates, that raises awareness to our environment in tandem with providing people with a little bit more green in their lives.

I want people to know that I love what I do, that working with me isn’t just booking someone who waters plants. I’m tailoring my plants to land with the right home, the right experience, to cultivate spaces that reflect the person/people living in them and empower confidence in caring for something outside of ourselves. I want to cultivate sustainability with each purchase or booking. I want you to succeed without me, to learn that these plants are more than just a vibe, but a little piece of commitment to the world around us.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m an avid reader. I have several encyclopedias like the Plantopedia, environmental health and justice texts like Eating Animals, and plant pest and disease control books that I refer to often. I am subscribed to a lot of local newsletters for community gardens, and nonprofits like Eco Action, WAWA, Food Well Alliance and Trees Atlanta. I use the Picture This app to identify new plants and use the Spruce blog for indoor houseplant questions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ezrasemeraldatl.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ezrasemeraldatl
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ezrasemeraldatl
• Twitter: https://x.com/ezrasemeraldatl