ABOUT
Meet Our Team
Meghan O’Connell
President
Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist
Master Urban Gardener
I first visited Boston while interning with the Americorps Student Conservation Association in western Massachusetts in 2012. I immediately fell in love with the beautiful landscapes that seamlessly integrated urban and natural environments. Five months later I moved to Boston with nothing other than my determination to "make it work.”
It was during my first two years working as an after-school educator in Watertown that I discovered my love of gardening. I had received a grant before moving to Boston, which I used to build Lowell Elementary’s first edible school garden to be used in the school’s curricula! It was so successful that I helped two other elementary schools in town begin their own edible gardens the following year. Throughout that experience, I learned everything I could about growing food from expert garden mentors.
In 2014, I began to pursue my passion for gardening. I worked as a Horticultural Assistant with a small residential landscaping business for two years. During that time, I became certified as a Master Urban Gardener through the Boston Natural Areas Network.
Fast forward to 2017… Having always had an independent and entrepreneurial spirit, I decided to start Green Urb Gardens, which grew quicker than I expected! I began working on my own the first year and as my client base expanded, I was able to hire others just as passionate about gardening as I am to help me with this work.
In the world of horticulture, just as in life, my learning never ceases. In 2022, I passed an exam with the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association making me a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist.
I love being able to beautify home gardens in a way that serves both the Earth and my clients. I’m excited to continue expanding my business so that more people can enjoy learning the art of gardening. I also want to educate my clients on the importance of using native plants in their gardens to the benefit of our local pollinators and wildlife.
I can't wait to see how things will unfold and I hope you will join me on this journey!
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Gail Guerrero
Lead Gardener
As a native Vermonter, I spent most of my childhood outside, untamed in all kinds of weather. I am a lifelong nordic skier, runner, camper and hiker. My parents are gardeners and they passed their knowledge and love of nature on to me. I am a firm believer that working outside feeds the body, mind, spirit, and soul.
As a stay at home mom of 2 children, now 15 and 21, I didn’t have much time to enjoy gardening until the COVID-19 pandemic. My husband and I planted a huge sunflower patch. The neighborhood response was overwhelming. Despite the isolation, we felt so much joy and connection to our community. It made me eager for more.
I learn something new every day at Green Urb Gardens. I love feeling physically strong, connected to nature, and creating amazing gardens with our awesome team!
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Abigail Bykova
Lead Gardener
My very first job, as a teenager, was working with my dad, in lawn care and maintenance. I loved it! The experience taught me to love being outdoors and the joy of making transformations with my own hands. I’m excited and pleased to join Meghan and her dedicated team as I learn more about native plants and pollinators.
Growing up in the country, I noticed the strong connection between our natural environment and our bodies and spirit. I crave untamed nature and love to hike and camp. I'm so grateful I live near the Blue Hills Reservation and Nantasket Beach.
For the past three years, I have run my own massage practice, called A Touch of Courage, as a Licensed Massage Therapist in Somerville. When I'm not transforming gardens or helping someone connect to their body and let go of pain, I seek out local live music and sing in jam sessions. -
Becka Schuelke
Assistant Gardener
I grew up in a rural midwestern town, plucking fresh snacks (blackberries, green beans, cukes) from the garden in the backyard. Whether it was planting seeds, tapping maple trees, or raking leaves, these practices were usually a group effort and we felt more connected to the land and to one another in the process.
The pull toward the earth sciences had me leaning into natural resources in college with the intention of studying biology. The use of observational sketches in the lab notebook opened up a new world of creative inspiration, and I eventually landed with a fine arts degree and have been working as an artist in some form ever since.
Over the years it’s been a mixed bag of projects but I find the most exciting and rewarding of the bunch to have some root in our connection to (and reliance upon) the natural world. I am continually mystified by the ever-changing mix of living things growing together among us & how we fit into that intersection of ecology and design. Needless to say, sharing in the art of gardening has been a tremendous joy! I look forward to learning more about the wonderful world of plant biology and how it relates to garden design.