Meet Chantel Gray | Teacher, Mother & Plant Lover @channygrayhome

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chantel Gray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chantel, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Having the accessibility to ask someone for plant help is something that I did not have when beginning my planty journey. The frustrations seemed endless and I wished there was someone at my fingertips to ask these never ending questions. As a former teacher it was in my nature to offer help and invite these questions related to plants. Having an open dialog with those who follow me has created such a close knit community, and family, that I love! It’s a wonderful thing to witness people who thought we’re plant killers, develop their green thumb, through my help! Plants themselves are meant to bring joy and a sense calmness to our lives by reducing anxiety. Learning plant care itself shouldn’t contribute to that anxiety!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The road to successful plant parenthood was full of ups and downs. It took a few years to really feel like I had mastered plant care to the point where I felt an urge to make other peoples journey easier than mine. I am absolutely proud of myself, knowing that every ounce of knowledge that I have is from learned experiences and endless research on the subject. Joining me @channygrayhome gives people easy access to all of my knowledge, with an open dialogue to chat and brainstorm through my follower’s plant struggles. That is something that reading an article or blog can’t do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would most definitely make a plan to hit up all of the local plant nurseries in the Phoenix area! Specifically, I’d stop by Pueblo first and not only plant shop but get some coffee while we are there as well!

We’d also take a tour of the Desert Botanical Garden and visit the Hole in the Rock while we are near Papago Park! Hiking is a must!

Lastly, we’d spend the last few days in Sedona where the desert red rock vibes are absolutely amazing. We would visit all of the little shops in the area, and hopefully find a few more plant shops while we are at it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The wonderful support of my family and friends gave me the confidence to push forward and begin my Instagram account. My husband, for example, believes in me more than I could ever believe in myself. He truly feels as if I am capable of doing anything. His confidence in me gave me the courage to begin sharing our home, and my plant knowledge with anyone who was willing to listen!

Instagram: @channygrayhome