What is Digging In?
Digging In is THE association for professional container gardeners.
A community of like-minded professionals that serves as a powerful resource for container gardeners. Every entrepreneur needs a community, a place to belong. But this can be difficult to find in a profession where much time is spent designing and creating on your own.
Digging In was conceived to answer that need: To not only provide a place for professional container garden designers to come together, but to give them the tools they need to grow their businesses with confidence. It’s the first community of its kind dedicated and tailored to all aspects of professional container gardening! There are great challenges to being an entrepreneur, but you don’t have to go at it alone! When you become a part of Digging In, you cultivate a community that will support, inspire and help you grow!
Who is Digging In for?
Digging In is created specifically for professional container gardeners. Owners, managers, and employees in the container gardening and landscaping industry are welcome to be a part of the association.
Why be a part of Digging In?
Digging In believes in cultivating a place to belong. This community is genuinely invested in seeing you succeed.
- Receive encouragement, helpful tips and inspiring ideas.
- Find peace in knowing you are not alone.
- Expand your knowledge and grow your business.
- Access to meaningful support from the community.
Our Mission
To facilitate the business of professional container gardening through educational opportunities, shared knowledge, inspiration, motivation and the enhancement of professionalism.
Our Purpose
Digging In will be the leading voice for professional container gardeners by representing the profession and providing opportunities for collaboration and interaction with one another and with others in the horticulture industry.
Our Vision
Build a professional community that will inspire, share knowledge and support one another while encouraging continued learning.
Digging In will advocate for acknowledgement, value and respect for professional container gardeners.
Our Values
Educate, uplift and empower members while always being kind and caring.
Value and develop our member’s talents with respect and encouragement.
Teamwork, we can achieve more when we collaborate and work together.
Keep members engaged and enthusiastic in a friendly, personal setting.
For the Consumer
What is a professional container gardener?
A professional container gardener provides custom designed seasonal planters to make your home or business a more beautiful and enjoyable place to be.
Why choose a professional container gardener?
A professional has the knowledge to design and choose the correct flowers for your location to flourish all season long. A professional can design a colorful, flowering planter with the power to make people stop and admire. A professional can save you time and money by creating a beautiful natural environment with no guesswork and no mess for you every season!
Behind the Scenes
Hello, I’m Andrea Gasper, founder & director of Digging In. I started Contained Gardens in 2001, a full service container garden design company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2017 I started Digging In to fill a void in the industry. My hope is that Digging In Association will provide others the help, encouragement, inspiration and community I never had in the first 17 years of my business. In 2021 I sold Contained Gardens allowing me to focus on growing the Digging In Community & representing our industry.
Meet the Board
Cindy Funes, President
Cindy is the owner of Garden Revelry in Seattle, Washington. Cindy has been designing, installing, and maintaining container gardens in the Pacific Northwest since 2008.
Leanne James, Vice President
Leanne is the owner of Urban Oasis Container Gardens in Wheaton, Illinois. Leanne has been feeding her plant addiction and bringing the beauty to seasonal planters in the Chicago suburbs since 2011.
Mary Starnes, Secretary
Mary is the owner of The Windowbox Gardener and Porch Pots Direct in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Windowbox Gardener started in 2004 and expanded to include Porch Pots Direct in 2018. Both businesses serve residential and commercial clients.
Leigh McGonagle, Treasurer
Leigh is the owner of Poplar Point Studio in Moravia, New York. Poplar Point Studio offers landscape design, fine gardening services, garden maintenance, containers and seasonal color. Poplar Point Studio has been serving the Finger Lakes region since 2017.