This article by Diane Duvall originally appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Northern Gardener magazine. For more information about becoming a sustaining member of MSHS, contact Diane at dianed@northerngardener.org or see our gift webpage.

MSHS supporter, Tami Gallagher, describes herself as an “organized to the core gardener.” Tami’s business, Home Sown Gardens, provides gardening services to residential clients. The business grew organically from her work as a professional organizer.

“After I helped clients get their home in order, I found that they were overwhelmed by clutter in their yard,” she says. Certified by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association and a Master Gardener, Tami had no problem adding a new division to her business to help clients de-clutter, beautify and maintain their yards and gardens.

Tami credits her interest in horticulture to growing up gardening with friends and family on a hobby farm. When she learned last fall that MSHS was expanding existing and developing innovative new programs to help beginning gardeners, she was inspired to donate. “I love to teach and share my love of gardening, and MSHS supports those values,” Tami says.

Tami chose the monthly auto-donation option because it’s low-maintenance. It helps keep her within her budget while still making an impact for MSHS. Tami partners with MSHS as a discount partner and by advertising in Northern Gardener magazine as well. She says that she really likes the magazine because it reaches a wide variety of gardeners: “I’ve gotten three new clients this year from my ads,” says Tami. “It’s been a great relationship.”

—Diane Duvall