COMMITTED TO GROWING OUR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
PROUD MEMBER OF VICTORIA'S COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS & plant nerds
PROUD MEMBER OF VICTORIA'S COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS & plant nerds
One of Olivia's greatest joys is sharing her knowledge and expertise with others. She is deeply committed to educating and empowering the Living Harmony team, nurturing their growth and development within the industry.
"It's a powerful feeling to pass on the knowledge and watch each crew member learn, build their knowledge and become a confident professional." - Olivia
PROUD MEMBER OF VICTORIA'S COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS & plant nerds
PROUD MEMBER OF VICTORIA'S COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS & plant nerds
PROUD MEMBER OF VICTORIA'S COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS & plant nerds
Eager to expand her own knowledge and skill set, Olivia has also pursued additional courses in beekeeping, permaculture and business administration.
When Olivia is not out working in gardens around Victoria, she can be found in her own home garden, growing veggies from seeds in her greenhouse, caring for her bees, or planning her next adventure to gardens around the world.
The Team
ari Westhaver
Position: Lead Hand
Originally from the Fraser Valley, Ari grew up surrounded by vast blueberry fields, lush coniferous forests, and the comforting ebb and flow of the Fraser River. From a young age, Ari showed a keen interest in ecology, food, and politics. The desire to understand the intersection of plants and people led him to begin wo
Position: Lead Hand
Originally from the Fraser Valley, Ari grew up surrounded by vast blueberry fields, lush coniferous forests, and the comforting ebb and flow of the Fraser River. From a young age, Ari showed a keen interest in ecology, food, and politics. The desire to understand the intersection of plants and people led him to begin working on organic vegetable farms in 2016 and later earn a Bachelor of Horticulture Science from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Since finishing his undergraduate degree, Ari has taught organic crop production and integrated pest management at the Tsawwassen First Nation Farm school, served as the Regional Coordinator for BC and the Yukon Territory on the board of the National Farmers Union, and was most recently the Assistant Farm Manager at Glorious Organics Cooperative. Ari is also registered as an Articling Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists and has been inspecting as an Organic Verification officer since 2024.
Ari is dedicated to supporting social and economic justice in the food system and is passionate about connecting to his community through land-based work. In the future, he hopes to combine his lived experience as a farmer with his knowledge of agricultural policy to do research that supports new entrant farmers in overcoming barriers to accessing farmland. When he isn't thinking about food and politics, Ari can be found making soup, reading library books, or running off to one of his many, many exercise classes at the recreation centre.
Gabriel Junker
Position: Landscape Gardener
Growing up as a farm kid in the west Kootenays, Gabriel has always had a passion for agriculture and the outdoors. From a young age Gabriel was raising his own chickens, ducks, pigs, and eventually cows. Always pushing his parents to find new, sustainable ways to raise their own food. This passion is what pushe
Position: Landscape Gardener
Growing up as a farm kid in the west Kootenays, Gabriel has always had a passion for agriculture and the outdoors. From a young age Gabriel was raising his own chickens, ducks, pigs, and eventually cows. Always pushing his parents to find new, sustainable ways to raise their own food. This passion is what pushed him to obtain his diploma in environmental planning from Selkirk College in his home town of Castlegar, and later a bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Royal Roads University. His goal is to one day work with and discover new ways to not only farm sustainably but regeneratively, by using traditional farming practices to restore ecosystems back to their traditional setting.
In Gabriel’s free time, he enjoys caring for his garden and indoor plants, spending time in nature with loved ones, and finding new ways to be self-sufficient. His curiosity drives him to learn as much as he can about the natural world and how all living things connect to one another and play a key role in shaping our world.
otis Bell
Position: Landscape Gardener
Born and raised in the lush landscapes of Washington State, Otis Bell has always felt a deep connection to nature. With over 15 years of experience in ornamental landscaping, organic farming, nursery work, and herbalism, Otis has cultivated a lifelong passion for nurturing both plants and people. His commitment
Position: Landscape Gardener
Born and raised in the lush landscapes of Washington State, Otis Bell has always felt a deep connection to nature. With over 15 years of experience in ornamental landscaping, organic farming, nursery work, and herbalism, Otis has cultivated a lifelong passion for nurturing both plants and people. His commitment to sustainable practices led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Community Health from The Evergreen State College in Olympia.
Driven by a belief in the power of holistic-based horticulture, Otis has dedicated himself to building resilient local food and health systems. His recent ventures as a self-employed practitioner in acupuncture and bodywork reflect his desire to bring healing to the community through natural, hands-on methods. Whether working the soil or guiding others toward wellness, Otis finds inspiration in the outdoors, where he loves to work with his hands and foster growth in all its forms.
Sam Pennyfather
Position: Landscape Gardener
Sam Pennyfather originally hails from Ontario, but after taking an interest in natural systems, Sam moved to the West Coast, where he studied permaculture at Pacific Rim College.
With hands-on experience in the plant nursery industry, Sam has gained invaluable knowledge in horticulture, plant care, and creating
Position: Landscape Gardener
Sam Pennyfather originally hails from Ontario, but after taking an interest in natural systems, Sam moved to the West Coast, where he studied permaculture at Pacific Rim College.
With hands-on experience in the plant nursery industry, Sam has gained invaluable knowledge in horticulture, plant care, and creating thriving ecosystems. Alongside his career in landscaping, Sam has a keen interest in science, particularly natural systems and the relationships between living organisms and their environments.
Known for his inventive mindset, Sam thrives on solving problems and coming up with creative solutions. He constantly looks for ways to improve processes, whether that means experimenting with new gardening techniques or exploring innovative approaches to sustainable landscaping. His curiosity and hands-on approach make him a natural fit for tackling complex challenges in the field.
Currently, Sam is working towards becoming a civil engineer at the University of Victoria, where he is enrolled full-time.
Sam’s diverse experiences and his drive to innovate make him a valuable team member.
Living Harmony Landscapes holds all required licenses and liability insurance to work at sites across the Greater Victoria area.