An Interview With...Mano Verde

To unpathed waters, undreamed shores.

William Shakespeare

Hello all!

This post I have been looking forward to for some time and I am happy to share with you all.

I have always been on the lookout for products which stand out and carry a great philosophy with their products, and Mano Verde is one such example. Not only are their products eco-friendly (even their ecopots' pots are biodegradable!) but are artfully designed and fun for anyone who has ever wanted to dabble in a bit of gardening or for those who are already long time gardeners!

(Photo: Mano Verde)

Their Box Gardens and Ecopots are so convenient for those living in the city as they don't take up much space and yet visually it will provide that extra liveliness on the home front!

The 'Box Gardens' range from culinary herbs, flowers, veggies and berries, healthy shoots, to micro salads.

The 'Ecopots' range from garden trees, indoor trees, to organic trios.

Lastly, the 'Ecotins' range from ecospices, ecoseeds, and ecoteas.

(Photo: Mano Verde)

I had the immense pleasure to conduct an interview with the lovely pair behind Mano Verde: Greg and Tamara.

Enjoy!

How do you begin your day?

Tamara: A quick shower, a cup of tea and cereal while trying to keep my sanity intact getting our two monkeys ( 5 year old Emma and 3 year old Max) hugged, kissed, fed, clothed, and tickled. Then it's out the door to school, then daycare and work.

Greg: With a hug and a kiss from my family.

Favourite quote?

Tamara: "We'll eat you up, we love you so." - from Where The Wild Things Are

Greg: "All you need is love."- The Beatles

What are some of the inspirations behind Mano Verde?

We both love gardening- or more specifically, creating and bringing something to life. The winter lasts far too long here (in Montreal) and the lack of greenery here is depressing.

Together, we wanted to create a business based on the idea of providing a garden that no matter how small- everyone can live through the same experience. To have a bit of green... a bit of life indoors all year long, particularly during the winter, as well as for anyone who doesn't have a backyard or a balcony.

We wanted to offer kits in various forms that are well designed, modern, fun, inexpensive, and functional. The fact that are kits are environmentally-friendly and educational are additional factors which drive us.

What do you like to do when you have time to yourself?

Tamara: Time to myself...now that's something that doesn't happen often. However, when the chance arises, you can find me gardening in the summertime, sewing or knitting- my recent obsession is designing patterns to be printed on fabric.

Greg: Playing with my kids or realizing ideas I have in my mind (woodworking, building, etc).

Three things you can't live without:

Tamara: My family, creative visual stimulation, sunshine.

Greg: Love, food, music, add a bit of water to take a dip.

Complete this sentence: Love is...

Tamara: ... the one thing that when it's missing, makes life seem almost pointless.

Greg: ... ma raison d'être, my motivation.

So what are you waiting for? As Mano Verde says: plant a seed, grow life!

Mano Verde's products are available all across the country. Anyone living in Quebec can find it in numerous locations in Renaud Bray as well as Jardin Botanique

Personally, I have come across their products in popular shops as Indigo and in gift stores down on Little Italy- make sure to check out garden centres as well!

For a location near you, feel free to contact them at info@manoverde.ca

(Photo: Mano Verde)

They have also been super kind and amazing as to send me one of their fantastic ecopots so that I can personally grow one! It was one of their exotic trees and it's a Flame Tree. I am so excited to get started on it- I will let you know about it's progress along the way!

Joie de vivre,

Joanne