Meet Jerry Galanti | Landscape Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerry Galanti, the Senior Business Developer, for the award winning exterior firm, Ecolawn in Santa Barbara, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerry, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I was just having this conversation with a friend, and we discussed how important it is to understand, face and then push past that barricade of voices in our heads that tell us ‘we can’t’, or ‘don’t do it’ and the powerful, ‘why not just quit?’. I would say that by investigating the plan to quit is really an investment.

The give up noise can be so loud in our minds so nothing pushing the positive can be heard. It is better to look at those easy exits and question those diverting end commands. That turn and face it step can aim to halt and then silence that quit voice so you can be better situated to move forward.

No doubt, everyone can reach a career or life point looking for desired change, and with it, be in some confusion or turmoil that the future possibilities and planning get squashed. And quitting as we know, would be the easiest and fastest way to end the noise. Maybe, offer up a ‘what if’ to counter the steady quit barrage and give yourself time to hear a different and supportive command.

Not to get too heavy with my answer, but after the loss of my life partner, Eric, I had a ‘give up’ struggle when I needed clear go forward thinking about myself and my career when it became time to regroup. Grief seemed to fully block making plans and having options and only amplified all of the days words of  ‘I can’t’, ‘this won’t work’, and many (many!) ‘How’s?’, and a constant rhythm of ‘Why’s’.

I found the easy mantra  ‘just give up’ to be the quickest one heard when trying to get back on the exterior career track.  I knew that I wanted to direct myself into a creative landscape life after the sad loss but how? For some history, I had closed my landscape design business during his illness so I could be his caretaker and we kept his business open (he made custom drapery for interior designers) which I helped manage during the intensive 13 months of his treatment and then, I took over his business after his passing. Once I closed his showroom, I needed to really think about my time and how to plan my career road ahead.

In time, and with talks and recognizing both of our past entrepreneurial drives, I pushed forward and looked at all avenues where I could be creative again. Basically, to get my hands back in the dirt!  Inspired by my partner’s talent, creative career drive and our joint motivation for business success, I investigated many different creative exterior avenues, including stepping into sales. I was aware that I couldn’t stay on that constant circling merry-go-around of questions.  I eventually saw that brass ring, and with that grab, I’m fortunate to be living in Santa Barbara and thriving daily in a team environment with the talent at Ecolawn SB. It is nice to be fed great fuel and share support with my work associates who all look at the grand possibilities, and ask and offer the better questions of ‘Why not?’ and ‘What if?’ !

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I moved from Boston to Los Angeles after earning a degree in Landscape Design. It has been a fun run of West Coast experiences and varied design opportunities for the past 17 years. Plus, if you are enthusiastic about plants, the sourcing options at so many nurseries in LA and all the way up to the central coast and to SF is beyond great.  Back in Boston, I had to learn how to read build plans as I was working as a specifier to architects for a flooring product line. I sought out drafting classes and all the interior class options were booked, so I jumped into an exterior drafting class. One class led to the next, and I eventually decided to go back to school full time. Once I relocated to LA, I was fortunate to work for many top firms and noted talent. And with those positions, came the added, ‘Wow’, to be a part of many amazing properties.

My first job was as an exterior project manager for the renovation of the significant Buster Keaton Villa in Beverly Hills. It is a stunning property and the project was led by so many area talents so overall, an incredible west coast introduction. After a few years, I went out on my own and worked on set as a greensman for garden tool commercials.  I was then hired to be part of the creative team for the Christmas décor/design needs on a feature film (It was August, hot and there I was placing reindeer, wreaths and garland up and down Rodeo Drive). And a few years later, I was a ‘ghost’ designer on a reality landscape renovation series and my crew was responsible for the timed build too. And all that contributed to great work and more experience. Of course, there were hurdles and speed bumps along the way, but I am grateful for so many talents that brought me into their companies, taught me and allowed me to expand so I could have a solid base in the field.   I was able to develop, direct, and offer my sense of exteriors and steadily share added ideas on many projects and all that continued to fuel my passion. Now, every time I step onto a new project site, I’m excited by the story from the owners and the possibilities from the property.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Santa Barbara and the central coast surround is at no loss for a wide range of great things to do for the active, the foodie or anyone just wanting to kick back whether you’re visiting or are a resident.

I recently moved to Carpinteria, so I am Carp focused at the moment. I’m a new fan of Brass Bird, the beach areas and stopping in to see Debra at her tasty Carp Kitchen for a wide selection of great eats. Plus, there is the comfortable and delicious dinner spot, Little Dom’s, and the morning crowd’s favorite, Lucky Llama, that are on my steady rotation.

When I build my ‘make them love SB’ Itinerary, it is a mix of beach trips, sharing many of the view spots from different neighborhoods and trails, some shopping and then a steady food and wine fest. A wonderful SB bonus are the many publications available both in print (805 Living, The Montecito Journal, SB Independent) and online, like Siteline, that offer so much information for attractions, activities and the dining scene.

A ‘best time ever’ week could include local coffee/breakfast,  a hike at Carpinteria Bluff trails, offering incredible beach views from the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood, from the Mesa neighborhood & the many other beach spots along the coast.  For an adventure, visit the incredible team at SB Trapeze – they make flying through the air look so easy! For local notable sites, share a stop at the Mission, the gardens at the Music Academy and Lotusland and the John Ummel, 3-part walking tours of the historically rich Old Town Santa Barbara.  I would plan a drive through Montecito, stop at shops like Westward General, the Montecito Country Mart, The Blue Door in the Funk Zone (and plan for drinks and eats in the Funk Zone!), tour all of the Summerland exterior design vendors like, The Well, Botanik, Home Crush and Porch for sharing much outdoor living inspiration. Evenings would include outdoor drinks at many places, such as Satellite, which is a natural wine bar, The Bacara, Hotel Californian and then dinner plans at the roof at Oku, Finch & Fork or in the pretty courtyard at The Lark. More casual dining would be the tasty burgers and the welcoming staff at Riviera Bar, pizza at Bettina or Nut Belly, and depending on the season, enjoy events such as the Avocado festival, Summer Solstice, Fiesta Week and then summer nights at the Hollywood Bowl. Lastly, there would be a very winding mountain road drive for the atmosphere, the best tri tip sandwiches and weekend music at the 132 year old former Stagecoach stop, Cold Spring Tavern. A tasty hidden gem for any history lover.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

My Shout Out is a wide cast net with family and friends’ words and love that stay strong and steady; and all past employers who shared their outdoor love with this sun loving east coaster.  I am especially grateful for my current employer greats, Chloe Kirk & Beau Schmidt, who steadily share their experiences, knowledge and guide daily while teaching this old dog new tricks!  The group also gathered into the Shout, are all of the clients that offer trust and opportunity to transform their exterior spaces for greater comfort, happiness and family memories. That gives me such motivation and gratitude. It hits right to the heart for this exterior designer.

Website: ecolawnsb.com

Instagram: jerry_galanti

Linkedin: my name, Jerry Galanti

Image Credits
for Santa Barbara Trapeze credit pics to: Ciena Lennon