2: Why Mentoring Your Team Holds the Key to Sustainable Greenhouse Success with Laura Martin

Greenhouse Success Stories

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“Being a grower is incredibly hard work. You’re the first one in, the last one out, and when things go wrong, whether it’s weather, pests or timelines, it all lands on you,” says Laura Martin, head grower at Shackan Indian Band, whose thirty years in the greenhouse industry have spanned everything from family-run cedar hedging operations to pioneering native species restoration in British Columbia’s wildfire-ravaged landscapes.

In this episode of Greenhouse Success Stories, Laura Martin opens up about her lifelong passion for propagation, the relentless challenges of labor shortages in remote locations, and her vision to transform her nursery into a hands-on learning center for the next generation of growers. Discover why Laura Martin sees mentoring and community collaboration as the keystones to long-term greenhouse success—and what it takes to build something meaningful from the ashes.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Build your succession plan—mentor and train a right-hand person so your greenhouse is never left stranded and you can finally take that well-earned break.
2. Don’t wait for perfect resumes—hire for passion, work ethic, and willingness to learn, then invest in hands-on teaching and mentorship to fill the skill gap.
3. Collaborate with local communities and institutions—reach out to First Nations, universities, and trade schools to create a robust pipeline of future growers.
4. Diversify your approach to labor shortages—leverage grant funding, automation, and creative partnerships to keep operations running strong even in remote areas.
5. Advocate for hands-on learning—push universities and training programs to focus on real-world greenhouse experience and not just theory.

Memorable Quotes

"Being a grower is incredibly hard work. You're the first one in, the last one out, and when things go wrong—whether it's weather, pests, or timelines—it all lands on you."

"I would like to make this nursery into a learning center. I hope to intrigue people to come out, learn here, and become growers so they can go out into the industry with the skills they need."

"My advice is to always mentor somebody to be your person. Have someone you're training to be the next in line, so you can start taking a holiday and eventually leave things running well."

Resources Mentioned

Shackan Indian Band - https://www.shackan.ca/

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