Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasi Munoz-Schnell.
Kasi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well! It may have started when I named all the plants when I was a kid, after my favorite TV characters, like Lucy and Ethel! Making plants my friends early on, makes me think today that it was just always in me to work in an area that was connected to Mother Earth. To jump ahead, in college, I studied Environment and Resource Management. I fell in love with my Waste Management class and realized people really needed to be better educated and aware of lifestyle choices and their connection to the health of the environment. Not to mention, people’s health in connection with the health of the environment. I sought different job opportunities in Environment and Resource Management, and then fled to Mexico to enjoy my youth! I deeply connected with Mexico because people are so resourceful there. They creatively re-adapt what other people would see as waste into funky, vibrant architectural elements or products for sale.
I spent some time in Cabo San Lucas, because my older sister lives there, and was really struck by the amount of development along the gorgeous shores. It made me wonder what sort of environmental precautions were being considered, as well as mindfulness to creating a sense of place and not just another ‘disney-land’ play-land. So, I returned to the United States and fell in love with Natural Building. I apprenticed for 6-weeks in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico, and learned how to build a straw-bale sauna from start to end. From there, I worked on cob and straw-bale homes for the next year, getting gigs in Angel Fire, New Mexico and Austin, Texas. Through this, I learned about permaculture. I took a design course and got my permaculture design certification, and dove into landscape maintenance and design. I worked with an all-woman crew… holla!!! It was super fun and a huge learning experience in understanding plants, soil building, composting, water and green waste management. I started to take on my own clients for design in Austin and was committed to sourcing local building materials and re-using materials found on the client’s site to create benches, pathways, patios, garden beds, and more.
I re-located to Durango, Colorado, where I partnered with a farmer friend and we developed a business focused on market gardens and edible landscaping. I learned a ton, absolutely loved growing food and proudly considered myself an urban farmer. We kept falling into the difficult space of needing to charge a certain fee to meet our standard of living and remain accessible. We thought that providing services to help people grow food should be widely accessible. We did some research, discovered SPIN-Farming, and developed the business with this concept in mind. Then, again, I re-located to San Diego. I came to get my Master’s in Landscape Architecture with the intention of building a network and skills that would support my passion of helping people develop their relationship with nature.
While in school, I worked with non-profits, interned at an LA office and cried my eyes out- thinking I had made the biggest mistake ever. I felt more stress than I had ever felt in my life going through that Grad program. Interning at a traditional office, made me re-think a lot of things. I quickly realized I needed to get much better at the basic technical skills so that I could be an asset to those who needed it most. I continued contracting with non-profits and then worked with a design-build firm, which re-affirmed my love for construction and project management. I love seeing projects come to life. The last four years, I worked with a landscape architect, helping her develop her business, that I was hoping would be our business, but as time went on, it became clear that we needed and wanted different things. So, I went out on my own in May 2018. I’ve been focusing on community-driven projects and residential projects, especially those that want to create habitats, capture water, integrate greywater systems, grow food, and really go beyond the trends of modern, minimal and mass planting, but instead want to develop a living, breathing, ever-evolving landscape. I’m looking for those people! I have one client right now that is the ideal client, and I’m really excited to see how her project unfolds. In addition, I do have another major project in the works, that would feed my soul and be a potential partnership, but I will leave that for another time!
Has it been a smooth road?
I guess it’s up to what you would consider smooth. I’ve always been adventurous and willing to say yes more than no. I do not think I ever took the ‘paved’ road, instead, I listened to what excited me, what propelled me and what my intuition was saying. I must say, it was definitely easier to do in my 20’s than in my 30’s, but I continue to do it. I deeply believe that I have a purpose and that I am accruing all these experiences for something more. I’m not sure what that is yet. But, I deeply believe that I need to be careful how and where I use my energy.
I’ve learned to acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses, and know where and when to ask for help. I think that process can be a little rocky, but once you open up it gets easier. The process of getting to where you are is a learning experience and the ‘struggle’ is being able to surrender to not knowing what comes next and instead focus on doing the good work. It’s a practice, much like working out every day. But the more you do it, the easier it gets.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a landscape designer… taking those landscape architecture tests this year so I can say I am a landscape architect! I work with communities to develop under-utilized areas within their neighborhoods. This is often referred to as placemaking. I help them gather their ideas, build consensus and create an achievable plan that can be built with a mix of professional labor and volunteers! I also focus on residential projects. I work with clients to develop their amazing outdoor environment! This often includes creating outdoor living spaces, as well as enhancing the biological value through native, water-wise and edible plantings.
I’m not sure what sets me apart. I think it’s me. I’m in the new phases of branding and going through those steps of what are my ideals. But as of now, I create a space of empathy and creativity that I believe the clients feel safe in. I’m not afraid to be a little funky, but I’m also very realistic of what will work best for the client’s needs and their site requirements.
I recently opened up a tiny plant shop in City Heights! It’s tiny! 8’x8′. I love it. I’m connecting to people on another level through garden retail, houseplants, workshops and events. It’s a dream of mine to own a boutique nursery-office-workshop space, so this is exciting for me to have my ‘pop-up’ version of it for now. I’m really dipping into workshops, where my heart feels full. I love the educational factor and love crafting! Crafting and building is such a necessity for me, so a lot of personal and creative needs are met for me through this.
I’m most proud of taking the plunge. You know! It’s not easy doing this on your own. Especially in a creative field. But I’m still navigating the waters, and know that it will be something so much more and maybe unlike I had imagined.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like any and every city is good for this. Everyone needs to connect with nature if we expect to thrive as healthy human beings.
Nowadays, it’s so easy to start out small and lean. And that is what I would recommend. Start out lean. Take on little overhead, connect with others in your field, and continue to learn! Be willing to grow and spread in areas you had not planned for and just be you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studionectary.com
- Phone: 6196777367
- Email: studionectary@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studionectary/?hl=en
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