Leslie Bosson and her husband, lead horticulturist Enrique Gutierrez, review plans for a new landscape design. Photo by Marcos Schonholz
Former big-city architect Leslie Bosson was yearning for a more tranquil lifestyle. After spending years in bustling cities like Miami and Los Angeles, she decided to put down roots in Jupiter Farms in 2019, where she and her family strive to live a sustainably healthy life. Bosson and her husband, Enrique Gutierrez, are raising their young son alongside chickens that lay fresh eggs and plants that nourish their bodies. “Growing your own food is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to participate in sustainability,” she says.
Bosson’s passion for gardening eventually evolved into profit this past January when she founded the wellness-driven edible garden design company Palm Beach Kitchen Gardens. Through PB Kitchen Gardens, Bosson works with homeowners, property managers, and chefs throughout Palm Beach and Martin counties to design, plant, and maintain in-ground and container gardens. No yard is too large or windowsill too small for a garden customized to a client’s culinary desires.
Homegrown collard greens. Photo by Marcos Schonholz
Bosson says she was inspired to start the biz so she could share the transformative power of plants with others. “Gardening has been a huge help in managing my anxiety and depression,” she says. “I let the world go quiet and am just present in the garden, receiving plant medicine, which balances hormones and releases serotonin. It’s soothing, meditative, and promotes a sense of peacefulness. At Palm Beach Kitchen Gardens, we try to create beautiful, healing spaces that can support mental health and a deeper connection to your body and food.”
When working with a new client, Bosson and her team of permaculture-certified designers assess site conditions and recommend plants that will thrive depending on factors like climate, temperature, soil type, wind, and salinity of the air. The goal is to create a fully functional kitchen garden that sprouts nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits, and herbs clients can use in home cooking and medicinal teas. To that end, the team includes a staff dietitian who collaborates with clients and private chefs to select plants for a homeowner’s garden that address specific dietary needs and health goals.
Homegrown Sungold cherry tomatoes. Photo by Marcos Schonholz
Palm Beach Kitchen Gardens also supports biodiversity by attracting pollinators to nosh on nectar. “I see myself as an advocate for the bees and the butterflies,” Bosson says. Below ground, red wiggler worms do their part, breaking down organic matter to provide nutrient-rich soil. To limit water usage, Bosson installed drip systems on the property, as well as micro-emitters on timers that have rain sensors for drought-friendly irrigation solutions.
A certified permaculture teacher, Bosson plans to offer a six- to eight-week permaculture design course later this year to pave the way for others interested in jumping
on the kitchen gardening bandwagon.
Comments are closed.