27 Jun YB Spotlight Jameel Phillip
Rooted in Growth: Building a Business and a Life with Green Thumb Gardens
In the heart of Woodbrook, Trinidad, you’ll find a business that has grown far beyond its soil. Jameel Phillip, founder of Green Thumb Gardens, has cultivated more than just plants; he’s cultivated resilience, family, and vision.
What began in 2015 with a simple passion for agriculture has evolved into a full-fledged urban gardening brand. But behind the greenery is a story of persistence, learning, and transformation. It’s not just about growing plants. It’s about growing a life.
Young Roots, Big Responsibility
Starting a business at a young age is no small feat. Doing it while building a family adds an entirely different layer.
For Jameel, entrepreneurship was never just about making money, it was about creating something meaningful and sustainable. Along his journey, he also became a husband and father, learning to balance business growth with personal responsibilities.
“Being able to make a living and provide for my family with something I’ve created and built from scratch.”
The early days were filled with trial and error, working long hours and learning through every setback. His proudest moments are rooted in that evolution. Turning something he started alone into a livelihood that supports others.
From Seed Funding to Full Circle Support
Jameel’s journey with Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago (YBTT) is one of deep impact. Over the years, he has participated in several YBTT programmes.
“The funding support allowed me to purchase my first piece of machinery, a tiller, which greatly cut down my garden setup time and also allowed our soil amendments to be properly mixed in to provide a strong base for the gardens. I was also able to purchase other equipment and set up an office / storage space.”
Through mentorship, Jameel sharpened his focus and scaled with structure.
“I owe so much to my mentor, Rachel Renie, I’ve had other informal mentors along the way that have provided valuable advice but she helped the shy young man in me with no experience develop so much of properly starting and maintaining this business. I didn’t have vision and mission statements, or a business plan; I never saw a business plan before in my life. She helped me develop all these and create a proper plan and standard for my business, understand that not everyone is your customer, figure out my target market and how to get myself to them. Also, understanding that there should be a relationship with clients and not just a one-off service, they will need support, advice, maintenance. All these important things I knew nothing about. Most importantly I’ll say she made sure I worked on my introverted self and networked. Put myself out there and now I facilitate classes and have even pitched my business several times before crowds of strangers.”
The LiveWIRE programme reshaped how he thought about the business and himself.
“The LiveWIRE programme to me was like a mini business diploma. It was an intense and in-depth business development programme that gave me an even stronger understanding about how to manage my business properly. The topics that greatly shifted my thinking and approach were conversation and emotional intelligence. Those gave me the ability to interact and communicate with anyone easily and effectively by opening myself up to receive what and how they are communicating and being able to respond with understanding and not just because.”
Then vs Now: Growth in Every Way
When Jameel first connected with YBTT, Green Thumb Gardens was still a seedling, small-scale, experimental, and limited in capacity. Now, it’s a recognized name in urban agriculture, offering edible landscaping, consultations, and sustainable garden solutions.
“We have expanded so much over the years from just garden setups to landscaping, property maintenance, a garden store and plant rentals.”
The transformation spans every part of the business: branding, operations, and customer connection. But for Jameel, the most meaningful growth has been personal. As the business grew, so did Jameel’s understanding of success.
“As a youth you always relate success to money, material things or status. Now it’s more about how many lives have we positively impacted. Or simply coming back to the question about my younger self. Being able to make a living and provide for my family with something I’ve created and built from scratch.”
Words of Advice from a Seasoned Young Entrepreneur
To others walking a similar path, Jameel offers honest, grounded advice:
“It’s not an easy road, but it doesn’t have to be crushing. Never be afraid to ask for help or guidance, we’re all figuring it out as we go along but some are more ahead and they can help you avoid mistakes they’ve made. There are also so many organizations and programs tailored to youth that are easily accessible.”
And his biggest lesson learned?
“Not all money is good money. There are things that may look good in the beginning but later on it can hurt you. There’s no formula to know what’s good and what isn’t, it’s something you develop as you grow and experience more. Mentors also have a good eye for these situations.”
What’s Next for Green Thumb Gardens?
Looking ahead, Jameel is focused on expansion, but he’s keeping it close to his chest for now.
“The business has grown so much from where it started and the answer is yes, unfortunately I prefer to not speak on things before they are active. However, September will make it a decade since we started this business so look out for a few bangers.”
Final Thoughts
Jameel Phillip’s journey is not just a business success story. It’s a story about planting something small and believing in its potential. It’s about patience, purpose, and the courage to grow through every season.
As part of YBTT’s 25 for 25 Campaign, his story reminds us that entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a brand, it’s about building a life that reflects who you are and what you value.
And in Jameel’s case, that life is green, grounded, and growing strong.