Welcome to Our First Website Blog!

A small introduction to the start of our company and what we have learned and accomplished.

Ten years ago is when our journey first started. While I knew little about landscaping at the time I was very much aware about the hard work that goes into having a job well done. It was actually David who had started working in the landscaping industry at a young age. He was just a teenage boy when he was already helping his father out in the afternoons and soaking in all there was to learn about landscaping. He worked hard to provide for his mother and sisters who live in Mexico but he also enjoyed the time he spent with his father. When I met David it didn't take long for us to get married and have two wonderful children together.

Like all small company stories go, I imagine we all have a passionate goal within us to work and develop what we enjoy in life. Sleepless nights and pushing one another is what made it possible for us to start this business together in 2018. One of the hardest things funny enough was choosing the name for our company, we wanted a name that would grow old with us. That's how J& C Pastrana Landscaping was created, J for our little boy Jensen, and C for our little girl Charlotte. And well let's just say I was happy enough to have our children's initials as the company's name that I settled for not having my own last name, I knew after all how much it meant for my husband to create the company he's always wanted. Of course, I have my own dreams and aspirations but as time passed our company grew on me too and taking care of two little kids while managing a company certainly is as hard as anyone would expect it to be.

The first few years were stressful and filled with uncertainty. As David was just making a name for himself in the landscaping business there weren't many staff members present and I myself had to learn all there was to managing the business too. But I suspect it was the challenge of it and wanting to succeed that made us work non-stop. I starkly remember whenever David and I would get together to discuss new planning for the company and he would always tell me.

"It's our first years, and we're learning. But it's fun and it's something I'm proud to have with you."

Honestly, I was stressed a lot the first years and unsure what direction this journey would take us. Between taking care of our kids, working myself and helping out with our company I realized I needed to find a balance in my life. That's why I took to helping out in the company full-time as well as raising our kids at home, it still isn't easy but we're much more adept at handling new challenges within our business.

What I would tell other people who are just going to start a business?

Plan well and be sure of the people you're going to be working with. I was lucky enough to open a company with the person I love and can trust. I'm sure for others who start out alone it's much more frightening making decisions and handling everything yourself but those who have their minds set in goals can accomplish so much through their smart planning and hard work. Definitely I'm not going to sugar coat things and say it's easy when it's not, especially when some people might not necessarily have sufficient funds or be faced by an unexpected economic situation. Communication is always the key as well, I feel like many people might think it's all about their planning and what their company does. But what makes a really good small business grow is the connection they grow with their customers and the attention they put to giving the best service possible.

Small businesses continue to grow and expand over the years, and our company isn't an exception to this. I personally have invested a lot to our business and have even become a certified landscape designer taking classes at New York's Botanical Garden, I've learned a lot not only about what makes a garden good or how to take care of different plants but also the passion that people put to their desired yards and gardens. I hope that through reading my blogs others can see themselves within us and chase after your own dreams and goals.