A bona fide descendant of Johnny Appleseed & a proud Midwesterner, Carissa Potenza was raised with agriculture & the outdoors in her blood. With a limitless respect for the fragility of our environment, Carissa has a particular interest in native & sustainable planting, & incorporates organic gardening techniques into her clients’ gardens and indoor plantings. She is also NY State Certified Pesticide Technician.

Carissa has a background in film and visual arts, & after graduating from Syracuse University in 1998, she settled in New York City, where she discovered her ardor for the green spaces tucked within the concrete jungle. She quickly realized that the parks and plant life within any urban environment are crucial contributors to a city’s vitality and serenity.

In addition to freelance gardening and indoor plant care for private clients throughout New York City, Carissa has served as Operations Manager at Chelsea Garden Center, has helped with the installation & care of several New York’s largest eco-greenroofs, & currently works as a lead gardener for one of the oldest landscaping companies in New York City, Plant Specialists.