The COVID pandemic in 2020 forced so many of us to stop, slow down and take a good hard look at our deepest values. In many cases, doing that prompted a total change in our life trajectory. It’s a COVID story that pops up time and again, and is often seen as the bright side of a dark period in our history.
Tishana Richards is one such person. Before she dove into the world of gifts for gardeners, her interests lay in television and film, an industry in which she had freelanced over the years.
A gardening business was not on her mind in those days, and she felt she had nothing that even resembled a “green thumb.” In the hot dry climes of Arizona, gardeners need a lot of tenacity and resolve to succeed. While Tishana loved the idea of gardening - watching cooking shows, and craving fresh ingredients – her gardening efforts just hadn’t worked out very well. Outdoor gardening in Arizona proved to be frustrating; even though she learned all she could about seeds, soil pH values, and growing zones, she found herself overwatering to compensate for the dry heat and wasn’t successful with any substantive gardening.
But in 2013, Tishana attended a local film festival in Phoenix. What she saw there led to a change in the course of her life and the birth of Coco & Seed, an ambitious and successful small business that involves - ironically - gardening.
At the film festival, Tishana observed a backyard swimming pool that had been transformed into an aquaponic environment. (Aquaponics is a way to grow food hydroponically, incorporating fish and other aquatic creatures that symbiotically feed the plants with nutrients while the plants keep the water clean.) Tishana started thinking about this huge container of plants living in water, and the idea that maybe it could be done in a smaller vessel began to take shape in her mind. Hydroponics became her fascination and the birth of a lucrative hobby.
Experimenting first with soil gardening in a small vessel, Tishana layered soil and seeds in a clear jar. She studied the soil mixture, lined the bottom with pebbles, and filmed the process of growing a plant in a jar. It worked! Encouraged to try other plants, a culminating moment was when she harvested habanero peppers grown indoors, in the winter, from seed. Energized, she tried lettuce, basil, and other peppers and began to grow seeds hydroponically using coconut husks, called “coir.”
Launching a Business
With time on her hands, Tishana learned all about gardening. She dug into the art and science of SEO, and explored ETSY and Shopify. She often perused farmers’ markets. This was a peaceful time for her, and Tishana realized that simplicity in life was her intention.
She began to develop a way to make gardening “beautifully simple.” She says she feels “There is peace in gardening and time to take care of yourself when taking care of plants. The plants respond in kind.”
Her devotion to sustainability grew strong, and Coco & Seed's products reflect that in every way, from the cheesecloth mesh, non-GMO seeds, bamboo labels and her choice of glass Mason jars over plastic.
The Gardening Kits
Tishana’s Coco & Seed garden kits come both in soilless medium and with soil. Hydroponic kits in simple Mason jars feature clay pebbles as a growing medium - a great way to become familiar with passive hydroponics. Non-GMO seeds range from arugula to eggplant and a lot in between. Staying true to her philosophy, bamboo markers, and biodegradable labels complete the set so you can feel comfortable that all aspects of the products are environmentally friendly.
The Gardening Industry Loves These!
Tishana’s Coco & Seed kits are selling steadily and have gained significant attention in the garden space. The products were featured twice on The Today Show in 2020 and 2023, listed in Oprah Magazine’s Favorite Things in 2020, and were mentioned in Architectural Digest, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, and Garden Gate Magazine, to name just a few. Tishana’s focus on the simple serenity in gardening continues to resonate strongly with consumers.
Tishana encourages her customers to replant the seeds from what they grow and to try new things. She tells them, “Save your tomato and pepper seeds, learn how to keep it going. Stay curious and try growing what you want to eat, or something you think would be exciting for you.”
Tishana founded Coco & Seed in 2013 with a commitment to sustainability in every aspect of her products. She has been featured on The Today Show, Architectural Digest, Cosmopolitan +, Buzzfeed, Garden Gate Magazine, and Oprah Magazine's Favorite Things in 2020.
Coco & Seed is just one of the small, woman-owned businesses we're featuring in the Gardening Know How shop. Go check out what we have to offer.
This article features products available from third-party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.
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