Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Marr. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Hydro Hippie was founded in 2023 by Dana Marr. The company is run and supported by her family, Will, Cody, Chelsea, Trey, Michael, and Karen (The babies). Dana is a 100% disabled combat veteran with ten years of service, former paramedic, and cancer warrior.
Hydro Hippie was created because of mental health. Dana began her obsession with plants after her deployment to Iraq and has used plants and plant therapy to work through PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We are pleased to share some of what helps us smile with you.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The process that took me to create Hydro Hippie House Plants was long and difficult. I’ve learned over this time, though that each challenge was just the universe way of directing me towards my path and future. One of the most impactful things for growing my company has been my local community and small businesses.
I began Hydro hippie through local markets like the Tuesday market in Lauraville, the little market in Hamden, and having my products placed in a local small store Cloud Chasers on Hartford Road. The local small business community put me in contact with a landlord for a retail location and has assisted me to get to where I am today and if it were not for them, Hydro hippie would not be what it is and I will forever be so grateful for their help. One of my biggest missions is to help other businesses get on their feet the way I was helped to get on mine.
We’ve been impressed with Hydro Hippie House Plants, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Hydro Hippie House Plants was created because I like many plant people have a habit of loving my plants to death by overwatering. I found a solution to the most common problem, root rot, using hydroponic and semi hydroponic rowing processes. I saw that there is no offering for Plants in the market in this situation and decided that I should begin my company to help Other plant people solve the problem.
By doing this, I am creating a new category in the house plant market and hope to continue to build this company into a large organization. Of the most important things in my company is education, which I provide primarily on my TikTok account. During my time as a noncommissioned officer in the army and as a paramedic, both fields highlighted the importance of education and training to better everyone. Gatekeeping is not how we grow our communities, so I am focused on education. I am speaking at the Houston Plant con and the south eastern plant convention in Georgia this year to help educate plant enthusiast on this way of growing plants.
I will also hold workshops on transitioning soil plants to semi-hydro and Hydro growing. In the spring, I intend to begin to hold local workshops on plant care for things like propagation, transition from soil to Hydro, build your terrarium classes Carnivorous plants, and many more. Hydro Hippie House Plants will partner with Augusta Fells High School in the coming months to assist them with re-creating their agriculture and ecology club within the school, which I am very excited about!
My future vision includes being involved with Baltimore to help bring more green spaces and opportunities to our children to help cultivate a greener city. The impacts of plants and gardening on mental health are substantial and very well known, and I think that that could provide so much benefit, especially to the children of our community. I want that to be an opportunity for them. I chose Hydro hippie not only because I specialize in hydroponic plants, but because I am truly a hippie at heart and my company stands for people, their rights, and sharing the love.
What are your plans for the future?
The future is bright for the company, as we continue to grow and gain market awareness one of my greatest plans is to do work with children and fostering a love for nature. I would love to be able to branch out to bring gardening and house plants to schools, community centers, and shelters. I would love to facilitate, walking gardens, edible forest, taking empty plots of lands and cultivating them to become food sources for the homeless.
There is no reason why we cannot grow everywhere. Hydroponics makes it possible for you to have a vegetable garden on your countertop in your kitchen or your basement or living room. It can be done free and does not have to cost money. I cannot wait to have the platform to educate people on how easy it is to grow your food!
Pricing:
- House plant ER – $30 starting.
- House plant boarding service – $50/wk
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.hydrohippiehouseplants.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hydro_hippie?igsh=dnJycmdyNWhxMml4&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HydroHippieLLC?mibextid=uzlsIk
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hydrohippiehydroplants?_t=8k7p5f0SOCM&_r=1
