Hello, community? ...It's me Agatha...

So what’s the story? It’s hard to start from the beginning so we’ll start somewhere in the recent middle…

Phase 1: Planting for Progress – Sometime in 2020

I didn’t think I could “profit” from a hobby, and during the pandemic I ended up getting furloughed. I was unable to donate to non-profits I wanted to support at the time such as BLM, Stop Asian Hate. I had an idea to hold an auction of one of my prized (and at the time very popular) houseplants named the “Pink Princess Philodendron” and donate the funds to the non-profits I wanted to support… I ended up raising $300+ on one plant and had a follower offer to match the amount getting the donated amount closer to $700.

Out of almost necessity (and because of also boredom and not much else to do) Planting for Progress the non-profit arm of my online presence on Instagram was born. Other friends who had decent Instagram followings offered their plants and time. We had quickly reached $4k+ on donations to local non-profits focused on BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities. I ended up doing this once a month for a few months as I was locked inside and unable to support or attend the physical rallies held by these groups in NYC.

_I almost ended up making PFP a 501©(c3) through a fiscal sponsorship – I'll tell y'all that story later.

Phase 2: Plant Ma Shop

I went down another rabbit hole of boredom ~ Facebook plant groups. I was stuck inside with too much time and too many plants. The good thing – My plants thrived and they were growing, repopulating it seemed like. I continued to propagate my plants and discovered...Facebook Plant groups with plant trading, selling, etc.

Something happened and I ended up with an in apartment which resembled more of a greenhouse -- actually ,no, Jumanji... and that’s how Plant Ma Shop was born! I wanted to legitimize the selling and trading (and also move off the black hole that FB groups became) and opened up an ETSY store. The rest is fun history.

The Deepish stuff: During this time I was extremely homesick of LA/CA or anywhere warm and tropical. I could not leave NYC for obvious reasons during the pandemic.

At the same time I had also run out of things to talk to my mom and grandma about that wasn't heavy. Plants became an easy topic to discuss during a not so easy time. I ended up sharing pictures of all the plants with them and that’s how I was able to reconnect with my family... just sending each others pictures of our plants (no words needed). The fact that is also had to do with making money (stability) and paying the bills while I was still furloughed was a big plus for my Filipino immigrant family – plants & financial stability were the most popular discussion topics at that time for the Isabel family.

Phase 3: Houseplant Hookups: All The Dirt You Need to Find the Perfect Match.

Y'all I manifested this book deal!!

Picture it 2021-2022 I was starting to feel the pains of social media, and the not so great times being of Asian decent in NYC and I could not express myself in the ways I was doing before on IG, and definitely no longer in person. Facebook had continued to be a black hole of nasty-ness (there are horrible people in every hobby everywhere y'all) and then I also got hacked on IG... So there I was SO over social media.

At the same time, I had ended a long term relationship, wanted to move out west and leave NYC, started a new job, etc. I was burnt out and needed a creative outlet. I wished -- hoped there was another future for sharing my plant hobby that no longer had to do with only social media.... and one magical day, I get the most amazing email from my now editor, Gleni. Crazy what manifesting can do!!

That's how "Houseplant Hookups..." was born! And then I got into that little accident...

Phase 3.5: Costa Rica 2023

Costa Rica is one of my favorite places in the world. With its beaches, Pacific and Caribbean oceans, cloud forrest and tropical jungles full of all the flora and fauna... it was my celebration in all of the things I had now accomplished. During the pandemic it was close enough to NYC, but rural enough to be able to not see single soul and it was pure paradise.

At the beginning of 2023, Amazing things had happened! I had bought a house! I had gotten promoted! I had finished my book! I was in need of a little reset and Costa Rica was calling my name. The universe wanted me to take a vacation that was a little bit longer than I anticipated....*without getting into too many details* TW: physical trauma...

I had gotten into a really bad accident that left my left femur (the strongest and hardest bone in your body) broken in at least 3 pieces. My left leg was unrecognizable from the road rash, I had lost most of the skin on my left ankle, I had sprained my left wrist and dislocated my right one. I was thankful and happy to be alive but wondered what the universe had for me.

I ended being airlifted, taken to surgery, and bed ridden for a month. To this day I am still unable to properly walk (though I am very hopeful --thank you physical therapy!)

I had to pivot, delay my book launch tour, and relearn just about everything as my body had been through it. I did a lot of reflection during this time... so much that I started Lucid Dreaming again, and the next phase of my journey was born.

Phase 4. Healing & Growth

I'm in it now, and I will be sharing my journey as well as wellness with y'all if you'll have me.

I'll explore writing, my relationship with nature, entrepreneurship as a woman + BIPOC, physical and mental healing plus — indie digital culture weekly, unfiltered.

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