From a family farm in El Salvador to the gardens of Boston, the Friends of Gardens journey is one of resilience, growth, and nurturing the land and dreams. Eulalio Guevara’s connection to the soil was forged tending a corn, beans, and citrus farm in Metapan, near the Guatemalan border.
In 1998 Hurricane Mitch ravaged Metapan, uprooting trees and whole communities. In the face of massive devastation, Eulalio made the tough decision to leave his homeland, arriving in the U.S. in 1999 with little more than his farming background and determination. In Boston, Eulalio found work in landscaping services, where his understanding of soil health quickly became a strong asset that made him a highly sought-after landscaper for fourteen years. During those years including working in landscaping, he faced a challenge:
Access to Entrepreneurship: Business ownership and upward mobility were difficult to achieve because starting and owning a business required advice and capital. Both were difficult to access.
Inspired by the trust of his clients who regularly asked: “How can we bring your work and services to my garden?”, Eulalio decided to start his own landscaping services business. He founded Friends of Gardens in 2021 – to celebrate ownership, quality work, and fair wages without sacrificing his philosophy of nurturing the soil.
With the assistance of LEAF’s technical assistance arm, Elevate Small Business, Eulalio received advisory services to support the financial management of his business and a low-interest, flexible loan for his operations. With a strong work ethic, commitment to quality, and a community financial and advisory partner, the Friends of Gardens was off to a strong start.
The initial results were positive. In its first year, Friends of Gardens exceeded sales expectations. Today, Friends of Gardens is a team of five practicing organic gardening across Greater Boston. The team is expanding its services to include landscape construction to meet the demand. Expansion means creating more jobs in communities where households need work with fair wages. LEAF continues to be partner, providing advice and capital to support their business success.
Friends of Gardens went from an idea to a landscaping business with jobs and fair wages. Investing in the stability of underserved business owners yields financial results, social benefits, and a greener future.
