We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Castro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind Melibee Plantas is by far my community! I am tremendously appreciative of all the amazing people that I have had the opportunity to come across because they have all kept me going. I am thankful to B.E.L.L.A, an amazing community network that uplifts Latina entrepreneurial voices, for granting me a small business grant when I began to build my business in Los Ángeles. I am thankful to the Mujeres Market in Santa Bárbara for welcoming me time and time again into an amazing community of mujeres. I am extremely thankful to EarthyCorazon, for hosting my plantas in their beautiful shop, especially during a time when my plantas need a new home. I am thankful to Girls Today Women Tomorrow, a leadership mentoring program in Boyle Heights, for believing in me to lead their gardening program. Lastly, but not least, I am thankful to all my beautiful plant parents and supporters who have purchased from me, who share and like my posts online, who allow me to do what I do because they find the joy that plants bring too! I am not self made. I am proudly community made. I believe any future successes will be because of my community!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Melibee Plantas began as a garage sale, or rather a plant sale. It was 2020, the world had been cooped up for months and I wanted the opportunity to share all the plants I had grown with my community. So what did I do? – I set up my plant stand on my driveway one summer weekend in Oakland and was wonderfully surprised with the amount of people who showed support. So I did it the following weekend and the next one. Next thing I knew, I had a growing business. My house became a full grown nursery.

Fast forward four years later and Melibee Plantas has participated in various vendor markets from Oakland to Santa Bárbara to Los Ángeles. I relocated back home to Los Ángeles in 2021 and Melibee Plantas is currently hosted by a wonderful shop, Earthy Corazon in City Terrace. Melibee Plantas has grown to not only selling and growing plants but now offering educational and wellness workshops to schools, businesses and various organizations.

I proud of how far I have come and the ways that Melibee Plantas and has changed and transformed. When I started Melibee Plantas I had all the time in the world to grow hundreds of plantas. Now I have three children, newly a single mom and in the midst of getting back on my feet. I no longer have the same time and resources available I once did. The balance in it all, is that I get to refocus on my personal growth, my children and the time to realign Melibee Plantas to best fit my life now.

I have always wanted a career that would allow me to connect with people, in a role that I can learn and teach. I’m thankful I have had amazing opportunities to connect with so many people, teaching them about plants, health, history and along the way more about themselves.

With all the said, I am excited to continue to do community events and workshops to bring people together because nothing is more beautiful than growing together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So many restaurants to try, places to visit and so much traffic to avoid!

Let’s start with breakfast. I’m driving down the sixth street bridge into the Arts Districts to grab breakfast at the Zinc cafe. They have a beautiful outdoors place, good food, and mimosas. The perfect place to catch up!

Afterwards, I’m taking you to Little Tokyo. We are walking the square and visiting all the shops. It would not be complete without some boba and lunch at Tenno Sushi.

We’re sticking to the east side and we visit Espacio 1839 in Boyle Heights. One of the places to support local artists and creatives. If we’re lucky they are hosting a community event that we will get to enjoy! We’re ended the night with some street tacos.

Actually no, we finish the night at Cara Cara, rooftop bar in Downtown LA to enjoy the views!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout out to Oakland, CA for being the birthplace of Melibee Plantas and to the City of Angels for welcoming me back home.

Melibee Plantas exists because of the amazing mujeres who support me, my community who has grow with me and my family and friends who believe in me.

Website: melibeeplantas.com

Instagram: @melibeeplantas

Other: Find us at Earthy Corazon 4015 City Terrace Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90063

Image Credits
Portrait credit to Christian Solis, @christian_i_solis on instagram.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.