Mariah Wilde, West Coast Plants

Mariah Wilde is the owner and operator of West Coast Plants.

Mariah grew up on a 60-acre hobby farm on Salt Spring Island, where she swam in the pond with the frogs, picked wild berries in the forest, and spent time explaining to visiting guests that the geese should be feared more than the Highland cattle.

After later living and gardening in both Vancouver and Victoria, she and her husband, Tim, moved to a 2.5 acre property in Errington, B.C. in 2014. There, they built a large organic fruit and vegetable garden, which now supplies a farm stand and is used to host West Coast Plants' gardening classes and edible plant nursery.

Mariah believes that being in nature is the healthiest place for humans. Natural sounds, rhythms and light. Oxygen-rich air. Growing, moving life. Sitting in the garden, watching a bee laden with pollen, bumbling its way around a sunflower head. It all provides a grounding so essential to one's own well-being and mental health.

In the forest or garden, Mariah loves teaching and helping people grow their understanding of the natural world around us. She's a life-long learner, who's passionate about sharing what she's learned, in a way that's clear and easy to understand.

In addition to over 20 years of gardening experience, Mariah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria and has completed the Master Gardener Certificate Program at Vancouver Island University. Mariah volunteers her time as a Master Gardener in Training, in association with the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association.