Meet Solange Jativa: Hospitality Professional & Wellness Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Solange Jativa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Solange, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance was pretty much non-existent to me. I was working full-time in a corporate role that burnt me out and left me completely depleted and unmotivated. Having to digest that my dream job was no longer fulfilling was devastating and awakening. As a woman turning 30 this year, many fears and insecurities arise from looking to change careers at this point in my life. But, what I’ve learned most from this journey is that mindset is everything; we can either look at things as difficult moments or fill those moments with opportunities. There are many things I took time to learn during quarantine, one of them being that you do not have to burn out in a job you’ve outgrown for half your life to amass wealth and live a life full of professional achievements – They definitely don’t teach that in school. So, I set my eyes on becoming an entrepreneur and the rest is history! 

What should our readers know about your business?
The lockdowns forced many of us to reflect on our lives and pushed health to the forefront of our focus. The Herbgarden Company was created to grow the conversation of how we can live smarter, more sustainable and healthy lives. At Herbgarden Co. we specialize in creating unique, hand crafted, fully repurposed wooden wine crate herb gardens that are conveniently reusable and entirely sourced from South Florida vendors. These herb garden crates are equipped with protective lining for multiple use, efficient drainage for optimal plant growth and most importantly it carries a huge message:

Did you know that there are 25 Million Americans living in food deserts? These are geographic areas that are composed of shops filled with dried, processed, tinned products that have little to no vitamins and nutritional value. This project aims to spread awareness of the effects of food on the mind, the body and the spirit, and inspire communities to bridge the gap between mental health, sustainability and urban agriculture. I aim to share my journey, possibly inspire others with my story & push the community to follow their dreams. Health is the new wealth. A life of service is the new luxury. By supporting us you are supporting the advocacy for better health & smarter living, for us all here in Miami!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When friends visit, my first stop is always Design District. It’s perfect to do a little shopping, grab a quick bite, see some art, visit your favorite local bartenders for happy hour and be a 5-minute Uber ride down to Wynwood where there’s even more to explore. A few of my favorite spots to visit is MIA Market, a food hall filled with an abundance of food choices and the best sushi in town by Sushi Yasu Tanaka. Make sure to visit Bart, Jon & Ricky, three of the best bartenders I’ve ever met!; Michael’s Genuine which serves $1 oysters all day Wednesday, cannot miss this!; Lemoni Cafe for a homemade, nutritious experiences while being budget friendly; Grails in Wynwood for some pre-gaming action as well as Spanglish for live music Saturday nights – Hector and his team put on an incredible show, a must visit when legendary Christiano Delpech is behind the bar flaring. Oh! and don’t forget Le Sandwicherie on your way back home to prevent those next-day-hangovers, the Napoli on baguette is a must! Also, if you want to venture out of midtown, I highly suggest visiting Red Roosted in the historic city of Overtown and Macchialina for the best homemade lasagna on the beach and an incredible selection of wine curated by Jacky herself! Tell her we sent you! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe all of my perseverance and determination to the mentorship of Jonathan Mendez, head of L.O.E Hospitality Group in Miami. Jonathan is a hospitality expert, specializing in experiential culinary arts and mixology. Jon not only inspired and helped launch Herbgarden Co. but he’s also responsible for the outlook and creative process I have developed for my future as an entrepreneur. The secret, he says, is to focus on the craft and let passion guide every experience. Building connections and curating mind blowing experiences is the key to building a brand that creates real change in our communities and in the industry.

Website: www.theherbgardenco.com

Instagram: @herbgardenco @solangebetsabeth