Ben Futa grew up gardening in northern Indiana. A childhood hobby evolved into a professional passion for connecting people to plants, and one another, through gardens. Botany represents the blending of Ben’s creative passions and professional experience. With more than 10 years leading public gardens, Ben advocates for the potential of urban landscapes to provide meaningful, authentic, and inclusive horticultural experiences through community engagement and co-creation of gardens and green space. The Botany Shop model is grounded in the idea of creating a community-based, decentralized public garden. A skilled and energetic communicator, he regularly shares his horticultural and leadership experience via radio, television, writing, and lectures.