Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Freeman.
Nicholas, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey has come full circle but it was never planned to be that way. I started landscaping as a teenager working for my father’s lawn maintenance company. The work was difficult, the days were long and the jobs often felt repetitive. I was certain this was not the field for me so I worked hard to change my trajectory. In doing so, I decided it was best that I go college, get a degree and focus on a path that would lead me far away from cutting lawns in the hot Florida sun.
The medical profession interested me so I pursued this field and soon after graduating, I decided to continue my education in graduate school to get a degree in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida. It was during this time while attending graduate school in Gainesville I acquired an interest in horticulture and particularly Florida native plants. My days in Gainesville when outside the classroom were often spent exploring Paynes Prairie and the multitude of other natural areas surrounding the community. I was captivated by the natural environment and want to learn more about it.
What began as a slight curiosity became a passionate pursuit after joining the Florida Native Plant Society in 2019. I began to learn more about the natural ecosystems of Florida, our unique flora and began volunteering my time working in a local native garden in town. It was in this garden where I applied previous landscape knowledge and skills to working with native vegetation, which renewed my interest in landscaping as a whole. To me, it was no longer about cutting lawns and maintaining sterile landscapes, it was about how I can make a difference to preserve the health and biodiversity of Florida.
It was how I could teach others to gain an appreciation for the abundance and beauty that exists right outside their front door. It became a calling to do more and to do better. I started Wacca Pilatka with this purpose and it has been my guiding light since then. Today we are a fast-growing landscape company that is the leader in native and ecological landscape services in the Jacksonville area.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles have been how to run a business.
As an owner, you are the face of the company, creator, the do-er, the market strategist, the accountant, the list goes on and on. Learning how to balance all of these roles is a massive struggle but has become easier with steady persistence and through experience. It has been a crash course in business school but I am getting better at managing it all
Another struggle has been maintaining a full-time job as a physician assistant. Working 40 hours a week in urgent care, taking care of patients then devoting time to run a business and build landscapes is a monumental task.
It has taken a strong sense of vision and determination to continue to steer this ship but I’m focused on continuing its course.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an ecological landscaper. My primary focus is using indigenous plants of a region in the landscape setting. This protects the biodiversity of plant species but also serves to provide nectar/pollen to pollinating insects and feeds birds and overall is healthier for yards and the environment as a whole.
I am best known for creating landscapes that mimic natural environments and also creating formal gardens with native plant material instead of traditional plants from big-box stores.
I’m most proud of the community that has embraced and adopted the culture of Florida-friendly landscaping and the use of native plants. There is a strong movement towards landscapes that are eco-friendly and I’m proud to provide these services
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
You must be willing to take risks. There are never any guaranteed outcomes but you can not be deterred by the prospect of failure.
Pricing:
- Landscape Designs: Starting at $350
- Landscape Installations: Priced per project
Contact Info:
- Email: keepingfloridawild@gmail.com
- Website: www.waccapilatka.com
- Instagram: @waccapilatka
Image Credits
Isabella Guttuso
