Meet the 1,000th Signer of Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet: Joanna Oliver, Seattle Sanctuary Design

healthypotshealthy
4 days ago
2 min read

In April, Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet celebrated a major milestone: our 1,000th signer! This distinction goes to Joanna Oliver, owner of Seattle Sanctuary Design, whose commitment to sustainability embodies the spirit of the initiative.

Finding a Path in Landscape Design

Joanna has always had a strong connection to nature. Her journey into landscape design began after a career in pet care, where she and her husband met while working for different dog walking companies. A life-altering incident led her to reassess her career path. “I had gotten attacked by one of the dogs we were taking care of, which made me realize I couldn’t stay in the industry anymore,” Joanna shared.

With a background influenced by her father, a master gardener and naturopath, Joanna found solace in gardening. Returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, she initially pursued a career in greenhouse management but quickly realized it wasn’t her calling.

“I reflected on my upbringing, and I wanted to pursue landscape design, marrying my interests in nature and composition. I could create beautiful landscapes in real life rather than just on paper,” she explained. This realization led to the founding of Seattle Sanctuary Design, where she focuses on transforming personal spaces into tranquil retreats. Along the way, Joanna joined the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, and through that organization learned about Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet.

Celebrating a Milestone: The 1,000th Signer of Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet

As the 1,000th signer of the Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet initiative, Joanna feels a deep sense of pride. “I think it’s great that Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet is getting more attention and bringing more eyes to the cause, because that’s how you create change,” she expressed.

Her commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with the initiative’s goals. Joanna emphasized the importance of finding alternatives to materials like peat moss, stating, “We can’t just keep pulling peat out of the earth. People are exploring options like coco coir and other materials that can serve as replacements.”

This milestone highlights the growing movement towards sustainable practices within the landscape design industry. In fact, one of the motivations for forming Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet was that designers realized their projects generated thousands of discarded plastic pots with no sustainable disposal options. Joanna hopes that more designers will adopt eco-friendly solutions to reduce waste and promote environmental stewardship.

Thank you to Joanna and to all the signers of our Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet initiative. It’s clear, with our growing numbers, that we are serious about having more sustainable options for plant pots.