Walker Wilson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Walker, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think many people are struggling to find a meaningful sense of community, and it contributes to depression and anxiety. It’s hard to deal with all the negative information we can receive on a daily basis, but I also think its bad to disconnect from news of the world just because its sad or induces anxiety about our inability to affect it.
I think the cure is getting together and forming community, while taking action on the issues of the world. With Walkers Wildlands, I have at least get to have some part of that, with a business that must make money for its employees, but isn’t focused solely on profit. We have a mission to grow plants that are part of our local environment, and restore habitat, help fight climate change, biodiversity loss, and the loss of our local culture.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Walker, a local to the San Diego area, and I grew up with a passion for history and the outdoors. This led me to wonder about the natural history of our local area, and I found that we have amazing and unique habitat like chaparral and coastal succulent scrub right here in our own backyard!
I also realized traditional gardens and nursery plants did hardly anything to feed and support our local wildlife! Not only that, but much of our habitat has been damaged or destroyed, so people don’t even know what they’re missing out on! We even have more endangered species than any county in the U.S besides Hawaii.
We try to be unique in both providing the beautiful variety of habitat plants for your own property, but run a more ethical and cooperative business model. We won’t sell damaging invasive species like Home Depot, and I guarantee our workers will have better pay, and a say in the running of their workplace too.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I think my mom taught me the most about work, she had an unrelenting work ethic I could never hope to live up to, but she also taught me not take any abuse in the workplace either. Hard work alone unfortunately doesn’t guarantee success, It also takes being able to stand up for yourself, and for your co-workers. That and being capable of teamwork and having grace for mistakes, your own and others.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
We had a preliminary nursery space before we opened to the public, which was very very small, less than 0.25 of an acre. It was great for learning the trade and getting started but any growth there was untenable. I had to look for a real nursery location, and I had to find it soon, as I wasn’t making any money from it yet and needed an income, but also time was ticking to move out of the old location.
The real estate search didn’t go well, even with my dad being a realtor. Looking at addresses of vacant land, finding numbers and cold calling the owners didn’t work well. Agricultural land in San Diego also wasn’t exactly cheap, and most people would rather rent out 100 acres than just one or two.
This went on for at least a year of limbo, with no nursery location to speak of, and the backyard stuffed with plants that weren’t doing well.
Eventually my alternate strategy payed off. I had also been volunteering with local environmental organizations, hoping I’d meet someone who believed in the mission and would rent me some land. There were a lot of meetings with no results, and a lot of desperation. Eventually however, I did meet an amazing local artist in the community, and Walkers Wildlands location was finalized.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Tech CEO’s pushing AI and crypto currency, which I believe are pretty bereft of any real benefit. Being an environmentalist at heart, I can’t ignore the huge environmental and climate impact of these technologies. I”m no stranger to tech, everything from building my own website and computer, to using power tools for construction, or setting up our new steam sterilizing autoclaive, or BRIX plant testing systems. Even social media though it certainly has big flaws, can be very beneficial.
But AI and Crypto are bubbles that will pop, and they artificially prop up our economy. The environmental impact far outweighs any perceived benefits, and that is besides all the people who have been scammed and lost their money or even life savings. Not o mention all the other ethical issues like AI stealing the legitimate work of artists and writers.
I really strive to have a business where profit is not the only goal, but really providing a service the community needs, restoring and rebuilding our habitat, and saving San Diego’s endangered species.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If immortality were real, what would you build?
San Diego really should have more old growth Chaparral, and it would take a long time to replant or restore it. Imagine being able to travel from the beaches all the way up to the mountains, and staying in the shade the entire time. The little shrubs that start out small, like anything, but then reach out over 20-25 feet wide and tall. A forest canopy if you will. but with a striking density. It would be more like a great tunnel than a trail pathway. And in the understory, a myriad of ferns, lichens, bulbs, vines and flowers.
If you have gotten out to hike in San Diego then you may have gotten to experience this for a bit, there is more in the inland areas than on the coast, but if I had my way and time was not a factor, it would be a common sight, and neighborhoods would be defined by natural hedgerows instead of manicured, and sterile lawns.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Walkerswildlands.com
- Instagram: Walkers_wildllands
- Linkedin: Walker Wilson
- Facebook: Walkers Wildlands
- Yelp: Walkers Wildlands
Image Credits
All photos were taken by Walker Wilson or co-workers of Walkers Wildlands.
