Laura Gaither, founder of Silver Sage Garden Coaching, believes individualized education for gardeners can make the hobby more successful. Launched last year, Silver Sage is one of the only garden coaching businesses in SLO County, filling a niche between do-it-yourself guesswork and expensive landscaping. Silver Sage specializes in these smaller projects, offering personalized advice for people who want to “push their garden game a little bit more.” Sessions with Silver Sage start at $150 per hour, providing a flexible alternative for those who want to do the work themselves but need expert support to navigate seasonal pests and tricky soil. The tradition expanded to collaborate with the Farmers Market Coalition each first full week of August.