Meet Kim Montoya | Herbalist, Gardener & Owner of Enchanted Botanicals LLC

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

Hi Kim, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I am blessed to have home-birthed and raised two children who have grown up to be extremely compassionate and amazing adults. I think the most important thing I’ve done as a parent to positively impact my children has been to empower them to believe in themselves and to look for the good in people. I do my best to lead that example in my own life. It is so easy in today’s technological age to become calloused, or to stop interacting with others, and I always chose to engage in conversations with my kids, when they were young and now that they are adults. I have always encouraged them to look at life with optimism and to spread positivity and understanding of others in their relationships, jobs and life in general. I think that is probably the most important thing I have done for them as a parent, and they are truly wonderful human beings.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My journey to owning my own business has taken many turns, and I think I’m still evolving as a small business owner. I am a proud Arizonan and have been working with plants for my entire life. I began my love of plants and learning how to grow them in Arizona soil as a small child and my life’s work has evolved from having simple gardens of my own to designing and installing edible landscapes, lecturing on Urban Farming, Organic Gardening & Wilderness Survival, maintaining gardens at a large estate, and now teaching others about Herbal Medicine.

After 2020, I decided I was ready for a career change. I opened an online Etsy shoppe initially, showcasing my many Botanical products (such as looseleaf teas and tinctures, salves, and botanically influenced art). I also began recording and offering online courses for those eager to learn. One 2022 arrived, I made an even bigger career move and decided to focus on working my business full time. I created a website, and also began a much larger social media presence. I do feel like my business model is continually evolving as I refine it and try to cater to what people are really looking for. I taught a series of Spring Gardening Classes at Berridge Nursery, and will continue to bring Gardening classes to the nursery during the Summer and Fall. In addition, I will be offering more classes on Herbal Medicine (which include topics like reducing inflammation in the body, helping eliminate Type 2 Diabetes issues, and effectively utilizing holistic herbal medicine) and I am currently offering Garden Consultations for those interested in planting a Kitchen Garden.

Enchanted Botanicals LLC is a wonderful place to learn all about living as in-tuned to nature as well possibly can…listening to our bodies, trusting that we have the ability to heal and grow. A large part of the business currently is devoted to teaching whomever would like to learn how to grow their own food with backyard gardening in Arizona.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a lifelong resident of Arizona, and primarily the Scottsdale area, I would take them to Arcadia Farms Cafe for lunch (7025 E 1st Ave, Scottsdale). For dinner, I would suggest going to Giuseppe’s for a delicious Italian dinner (13610 N. Scottsdale Rd) because I have known the owner Pasquale since I was 16 years old and his food is amazing…and I would also suggest Kyoto in Old Town (7170 E. Stetson Dr) for amazing sushi and drinks, as I’ve also known the owner Erik for years and it’s a great place to hang out and eat. Some fun things to do in the area would be enjoy live country music and dancing (as well as food and drinks) at Handlebar J (7116 E. Becker Ln), go to Top Golf (9500 Talking Stick Way) for an hour of friendly fun golf as well as great appetizers and drinks, and depending on the time of year I’d suggest going to an ASU Baseball or Hockey game! We have some fantastic golf courses in the area, so if they liked golfing I’d recommend McCormick Ranch or Talking Stick in the Scottsdale area. Another fun place is Butterfly Wonderland. One place that seems less well known but is so worth it for anyone who appreciate US History is the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River (7455 N. Pima Rd), and of course a fun afternoon can be spent playing Bingo at one of the Casinos in the area (I personally like Casino Arizona in Scottsdale as well as Wekopa on the Ft. McDowell Reservation). If someone has a little more time, I’d definitely want to take them to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Flagstaff…and even along the route through the old mining towns of Superior and down to Safford. We have a beautiful state, so depending on the time of year, there are things to do all over the place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to attribute my positive attitude and never-ending quest for learning and adventure to my late father, Joe Stephens. For as long as I can remember, my Dad has been my hero and my biggest supporter, through all phases of my life. He taught me about believing in myself and dedicating my time to the things that not only fulfill my personal goals, but also to helping enhance the lives of others.

Website: https://www.enchantedbotanicalsaz.com

Instagram: enchanted_botanicals_az

Facebook: Enchanted Botanicals LLC

Youtube: BotanicalLivingwithKim

Other: TikTok: @BotanicalLivingwithKim

Image Credits
Kim Montoya