Skip to main content
Profile picture for user Monica Johnson

By Monica Johnson

Denton County woman rebrands coffee catering company as organic

Last year, Chrystya Geremesz relaunched her World Class Coffee Catering company as a green business. Photos courtesy of World Class Coffee Catering. 

Oct. 12 2016

As more people become environmentally conscious, they’re wanting to reduce their environmental footprint not just at home but at work too. That’s why Chrystya Geremesz, a Denton County resident, recently turned her coffee catering company into a green business.

Two Dallas vets find peace, profit in urban farming

James Jeffers and Steve Smith are the founders of Eat the Yard, a farming business created for veterans to connect with each other, as well as to the land. Photos by Monica Johnson.

July 1, 2016 

Two Dallas veterans have taken up organic farming as a way to earn a living as well as heal from war trauma. Now they want to share the bounty of benefits they’ve found with other veterans. 

Frisco teen grows garden box business from the ground up

Conner Hammond has started a lucrative summer business building raised garden beds. Photos courtesy of Facebook.com/growingupgardensfriscotx

June 16, 2016 

Just a few months ago, 15-year-old Conner Hammond of Frisco was looking for a way to earn a little extra spending money. Little did he know that what started out as Mother’s Day present – a homemade raised bed to house his mom’s garden - would sprout into a booming, or should we say blooming, business. 

PTA parent orchestrates creation of Skyview Harmony Garden

Skyview Harmony Garden, conceived by Sarah Greenman, PTA president at Skyview Elementary, serves as an outdoor learning and musical space. Developed with community support, it features raised beds, a pollinator garden, and musical instruments, benefiting students, including special needs, and the community by promoting nutrition education.

Dallas promotes 'wildflower power' with pollinator program

A city sign designates a protected wildflower area at Lake Cliff Park. Photos by Monica Johnson.

May 13, 2016

The city of Dallas wants to give wildflowers more real estate.

Texas wildflowers, such as bluebonnets, primrose and Indian blanket, are more than just pretty scenery. They are vital sources of food and shelter to pollinators such as butterflies, bees, moths, birds and bats. 

Mushroom expert to share magic of edible fungi

Local mycologist Dr. Denis Benjamin will speak at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth on May 7 from 8:30am-noon.

May 3, 2016

Over the centuries, they’ve been used for food, folk remedies, dyes and psychedelics. They come in all shapes and a variety of colors, still most people are only familiar with the mushrooms they see in the grocery store produce aisle.