Meet Michelle Pepin of Brews & Blooms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Pepin.

Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Hello! I am Michelle Pepin, owner of Brews & Blooms LLC out of Medina County. Brews & Blooms is a mash-up of two of my passions in life that I share with my husband – craft beer and all things plants. Plants and gardening have always been in my life since I was a young child, helping with garden chores and harvests. My mother always kept houseplants, as greenery is wonderful inside in Ohio’s dreary winters! I had different greenhouse jobs in three local greenhouses growing up, and I returned to the greenhouse environment as a side job in my mid-30s because I greatly missed working so much with plants and being around the wonderful people that enjoy them. My husband and I have always enjoyed craft beer and have been growing hops to use in home brewing adventures for a few years as it mixes with the love of plants perfectly! It’s always a treat to harvest anything from the garden after watching it grow and come to fruition – sometimes with trial and error, too! Brews & Blooms currently offers houseplants and perennials, with plans to add some specialty crops in coming years. Some of my personal favorites to grow and care for include Hoya (houseplant), ornamental annuals for our zone like eucalyptus and lisianthus (great plants for cut flowers and foliage), and perennials for our zone – lavender and peony. Brews & Blooms aims to provide quality plants for all skill levels of plant lovers to enjoy and grow – from potted to cuttings and common to not-so-common – something for everyone is our goal.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road as starting a small business means navigating a lot of functions and finding assistance to aid in navigation when questions arise about virtually anything – from growing a certain species of plant that is proving difficult to establishing your name and brand in the marketplace to gain a following of like-minded plant enthusiasts. Being a one-woman show, trying to balance family life with two littles is always a challenge, too, but we make it work together as a team. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Brews & Blooms, LLC is a certified nursery by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. I specialize in rare and common plants for houseplant lovers, and perennials to outdoor gardening enthusiasts in Ohio. Most folks know me for my love of FLOWERS- indoor or outdoor blooming plants that can be enjoyed inside potted, outside in your landscape, inside in a vase or as dried decor. I attend various farmers and street-type markets throughout Northeast Ohio and stock plants inside The Common Grounds in the Serene Green Tropicals Boutique with other small plant-based businesses like Rhian’s Rares, Rootie Tooties, and Serene Green. Having space inside a retail establishment has been the biggest milestone to date in expanding my small business and meeting new people that share similar passions. Whether you are just starting to garden outside or keep the greenery inside, I’m always open to a conversation on the care of plants, including beneficial insects, and sharing what I’ve learned from the wonderful plant community over the years. Although I definitely don’t know everything, I can share my experiences – the good and bad – in hopes that it helps other plant lovers. 

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was always outside playing in the riverbed or woods with my sister. Our childhood home and surrounding property was always ripe with adventures and so many places to explore. I was, I believe, a very determined yet cautious little girl while my big sister paved the way – a bit of my opposite, although I’d say we were both stubborn! Spending the majority of my childhood outdoors, I naturally was interested in flora, fauna, rocks, fossils, and bugs! Getting dirty while doing chores in the garden, or soaking wet wading in the river looking for cool rocks and clams by the shoreline – outside was where all the fun was had, as I’m sure many folks can relate. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brewsandblooms_ohio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brewsandbloomsohio

Image Credits
Michelle Pepin