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What does it take to turn 25 years of community service into political action? On this episode, we sit down with Martha Vega Hero, candidate for Miami-Dade County Commissioner of District 8, to talk about the urgent challenges facing one of South Florida's most agriculturally rich and underserved communities.

Martha shares why she's stepping into the political arena: not for personal gain, but to fight for the people and land she's spent decades serving. From the Urban Development Boundary creeping into farmland and driving acre prices to half a million dollars, to an 80% labor shortage leaving crops without workers and workers without affordable housing, the issues in District 8 are as interconnected as the ecosystem she's fighting to protect.

We dig into what she calls "our safety line" — the agriculture industry — and why losing it isn't just an economic problem, it's an existential one for the entire region. Martha also gets practical: how can local schools and hospitals support farmers by buying local? How do you fix a permitting system that's made small business owners wait a decade just to open their doors?

This is a conversation about governance, community, and what it means to truly show up for your constituents, including keeping the commissioner's office open 8, 10, even 12 hours a day for the people who need it most.

In this episode:

• The UDB crisis and its impact on South Florida agriculture
• Why housing laborers is the key to solving the farm workforce shortage
• Small business permitting nightmares — and real solutions
• Martha's vision for a commissioner's office built around access, not appointments
• How to vote: Early voting runs August 3–16; primary is August 18

Whether you grow it, sell it, eat it, or just care about the future of your community, this one's for you.

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On Episode 95 of The Plant Movement Podcast, Keith Crouse of Howard and Son Farms returns for his second appearance on the show to share a practical, no-nonsense look at what it takes to build a nursery from the ground up.

Keith balances life as a firefighter while growing Howard and Son Farms, a nursery operation focused on liner production, propagation, and continuous improvement. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on everything from greenhouse construction and irrigation management to financing growth, hiring employees, calculating plant costs, and building a nursery business that can scale.

This conversation is packed with actionable advice for growers, nursery owners, landscapers, and entrepreneurs looking to understand the realities of operating a successful nursery.

Topics include:
🌱 Building Howard and Son Farms from scratch
🌱 Growing and grading liners for maximum quality
🌱 Why producing extra inventory is critical for fulfilling orders
🌱 Irrigation strategies and preventing root rot
🌱 Fertilizer trials, foliar applications, and production techniques
🌱 The importance of customer feedback and continuous learning
🌱 Reinvesting profits versus paying yourself
🌱 Hiring your first employees and managing labor
🌱 Understanding W2 vs. 1099 workers
🌱 Calculating true plant production costs
🌱 Deposits, cash flow, and managing risk
🌱 Building business credit and securing financing
🌱 Farm Credit loans and credit line strategies
🌱 Scaling nursery operations without sacrificing quality
🌱 Delegation, leadership, and breaking the owner-operator mindset
🌱 How long it really takes to build a nursery brand and reputation

Keith also shares lessons learned from visiting other nurseries, seeking mentorship, experimenting with new production methods, and documenting his journey publicly to accelerate growth and learning.

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the importance of discipline and reinvestment. From living in a trailer and selling personal assets to fund infrastructure, to putting nearly every dollar back into the business, Keith demonstrates the level of commitment required to build something sustainable in the nursery industry.

Whether you're just getting started with a few varieties or looking to scale your operation to the next level, this episode offers valuable insights into production, finance, operations, and long-term business development.

Hosted by Willie Rodriguez
Guest: Keith Crouse, Owner of Howard and Son Farms
Topics: Nursery Operations • Propagation • Business Growth • Greenhouse Production • Credit & Financing • Scaling • Leadership • Horticulture Entrepreneurship

#ThePlantMovementPodcast #HowardAndSonFarms #KeithCrouse #NurseryGrowers #Horticulture #PlantProduction #GreenIndustry #NurseryBusiness #Propagation #PlantMovement #GreenIndustryGangsters

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On this Episode of The Plant Movement Podcast features Shane Leder, owner of Real Landscape Inc. and Real Landscape Nursery, for one of the deepest and most powerful conversations ever shared on the podcast. What begins as a conversation about landscaping, growing unique plant material, and building a vertically integrated nursery operation quickly transforms into a raw discussion about addiction, faith, fear, leadership, marriage, burnout, loneliness, money, and purpose within the green industry.

Shane shares the incredible story behind Real Landscape — from starting his business in 2004 to purchasing a horse farm in 2017 and transforming it into Real Landscape Nursery in Boynton Beach, Florida. Known for growing unique, mature material instead of “cookie cutter plants,” Shane explains how he built a nursery focused on quality, patience, and vision while teaching himself the business through books, trial, error, and relentless work ethic.

But this episode goes far beyond plants.

Shane opens up about growing up on a dairy farm in western New York, battling alcoholism from a young age, going through rehab, relapsing after the loss of his sister, and eventually finding sobriety on October 15, 2003. He speaks candidly about how addiction, insecurity, fear, anxiety, and emotional isolation affect so many people in the landscaping and nursery world, even the ones who appear successful on the outside.

Together, Willie Rodriguez, Eddie Gonzalez and Shane Leder discuss:

• Substance abuse and addiction in the green industry

• Faith, prayer, and following God’s purpose

• The loneliness many owners and foremen silently experience

• Fear of losing money, clients, and control

• Marriage, relationships, and having a supportive partner

• Burnout, stress, surgeries, chronic pain, and exhaustion

• Leadership, mentorship, and building genuine community

• The importance of helping others and serving with purpose

• Financial discipline, investing, and business growth

• Why many people in the industry are afraid to share knowledge

• The hidden emotional toll behind success

Shane also shares powerful lessons about sobriety, forgiveness, investing in people, listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning how to operate from faith instead of fear.

This episode is honest, emotional, inspiring, and deeply relatable for anyone in the landscaping, nursery, or horticulture industry who has ever felt exhausted, isolated, overwhelmed, or misunderstood while trying to build something meaningful.

Core message from the episode:

“We built businesses, but many of us are secretly exhausted, isolated, addicted, hurting physically, disconnected spiritually, and starving for real brotherhood. I believe Jesus Christ and genuine community can help heal that.”

If you’ve ever struggled with pressure, anxiety, addiction, burnout, fear, or purpose while building a business, this conversation is for you.

Need plants, logistics, or nursery support in Florida?
We’ve got you covered, tap in with our network partners.

Real Landscape Design, Installation & Maintenance

Shane Leder Owner
Email: real.books@outlook.com
IG: www.instagram.com/reallandscape1
Call: 561-644-7507

The Plant Movement Podcast
Email: eddie@theplantmovementnetwork.com & willie@theplantmovementnetwork.com
Call: (305) 216-5320
Web: https://www.theplantmovement.com
Follow Us: IG: https://www.instagram.com/theplantmovementpodcast


A's Ornamental Nursery
WE GROW | WE SOURCE | WE DELIVER
Call: (305) 216-5320 www.asornamental.com

The Nursery Growers
Call: 786-522-4942

Plant Logistics Co.
(Delivering Landscape Plant Material Throughout the State of Florida)
Call: (305) 912-3098

Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast/youtube video are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial, accounting, or legal advice. I can’t promise that the information shared on my posts is appropriate for you or anyone else. By listening to this podcast/youtube video, you agree to hold me harmless from any ramifications, financial or otherwise, that occur to you as a result of acting on information found in this podcast/youtube video.

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