Meet Lucrecer Braxton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucrecer Braxton.

Hi Lucrecer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started SoulSista Plants as a social experiment. I was working for a company where my supervisor told me since there aren’t a lot of Black women in that industry, I don’t know much about it. He made an assumption. I told him I know all about building community, and that is an area the organization was lacking in.

I started an Instagram account where I organically built a community of over 25,000 followers in 18 months. From there I started hosting weekly lives and connecting with other plant lovers. This led to hosting plant swaps across my community and public libraries.

I find plants are a great way to bring people together and spark conversation.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, it’s been a smooth road building the community. Plants are something people either know a little something about or nothing at all. I wanted the swaps to be a welcoming space for novice and expert plant lovers to meet and share.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I help people jungle the f*ck out of their homes with plants by educating and sharing practical insights into cultivating an ecosystem of plants in spaces. I specialize in keeping it real, authentic, and fun. Taking care of plants should be fun, but it can be a chore as you introduce more and more living things into your space. I share the ups and downs of taking care of indoor plants.

One year, I shared my experience growing a food garden outdoors. It was an experience I truly enjoyed, but I did notice there are differences you don’t factor into taking care of plants when you only grow them indoors.

I am known for my candid insights into plants which I primarily share on my Instagram account, SoulSista Plants, and the local plant swaps I host around the city. I have hosted at public libraries, shops, gyms, and outdoor spaces in different neighborhoods.

I am most proud of the community and the people I have been able to connect with through plants. What sets me apart from others is, I believe everyone deserves to have a plant if they want it. During the pandemic, people were buying puppies or plants. The price of the most basic houseplant skyrocketed and it was becoming an elitist space for plant collectors. I was not quiet in letting people know when they were getting ripped off and better alternatives to support their growing collections.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was curious and loved to read books. I come from an artistic family, so I was always drawing or creating something in my home. I have vivid memories of shooting marbles with friends when I was living in England and going to the corner store for some of the best red string licorice I have ever had.

I enjoyed climbing trees and riding bikes with my friends. In one of my neighborhoods, all the kids would play hide & seek. It took a while to find everyone, but it was a good time to be young.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soulsistaplants.com/soulsista-plants-shop
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsistaplants/

Image Credits
Parry Stover, LiveLife Studios