MLP Spotlight
This issue , we catch up with MLP Member Katie Merrifield , MCLP , owner of Merrifield Garden & Design , which is based in Wayland and operates across the Boston MetroWest region . In addition to owning her own thriving business , Katie is a mother of three and a member of the MCLP committee . When you ’ re as busy as Katie , there are rarely ten minutes to spare — so we ’ re glad she took the time to share a bit of her background with us .
When you were 10 years old , what did you want to be when you grew up ? An architect .
Katie Merrifield , MCLP Merrifield Garden & Design • Wayland , MA
What was your first paying job in the landscape industry ? After my freshman year in college , I got a job on the grounds crew at Keene State College in NH . I returned to that job every summer through college and even worked there full-time for a couple of years after graduation . I ’ m so thankful for that experience because I learned so much and had so much fun . It ’ s what motivated me to pursue a career in the landscape industry .
Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work ? How have they influenced you ? Clients have influenced me the most in terms of how I approach my work . I ’ ve always tried to listen closely when they share stories of their experiences working with contractors and other businesses , both positive and negative . Everything from customer service , quality control , project management and creativity . I try to really understand what makes a client happy and what items or actions are important to them , and then focus on those things .
What is your definition of a perfect weather day ? Any day that we don ’ t have to adjust our schedule due to weather !
Favorite piece of equipment ? My favorite piece of equipment is our Toro Dingo TX1000 . It ’ s been so versatile for us in loading our vehicles to prepare for projects and in use on job sites . When we purchased it five years ago , we were looking for a small piece of equipment that could do a lot of different things and it ’ s worked out great for us .
What ’ s your favorite plant ? Why ? My current favorite plants are raspberries ! I planted a raspberry patch at our house two years ago and my girls and I are constantly monitoring their growth . During raspberry season it ’ s at least a twice-daily activity to pick and eat them .
What ’ s something you ’ re good at that most people would not guess ? Planning April Fool ’ s jokes . In my early 20s it was something I really enjoyed doing . I would mainly target my unsuspecting mother and my college friends .
What would we most likely find you doing on your day off ? Going for a long run , doing small home gardening projects ( most often with 2-3 of my children
in tow ), and shuffling kids to sports activities or impromptu play dates with neighbors .
What ’ s something you ’ re learning now ? Over the winter I helped coach my 7-year-old daughter ’ s cross country ski team . I was a member of my high school ski team for a few years but haven ’ t skied since then . It ’ s been fun to relearn the sport and was a highlight of my winter .
What ’ s the best advice you were ever given ? My sister and my father advised me to start my own business . I was in my early 20s and I lacked the confidence and knowledge to make that move on my own . My father owned his own business at the time and was really excited to see me go out on my own ( he even designed the first Merrifield Garden and Design logo ). My sister was a personal trainer and before I knew it , she had convinced a handful of her clients to hire me to garden at their homes . Without my father ’ s and my sister ’ s support , advice , and encouragement I don ’ t think I ever would have made the leap . ❖
MLP Newsline | Summer 2021 13