Meet Hannah Sauder | Greenhouse Manager & ICU Registered Nurse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Sauder and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My story is a little different from other people in that when Covid hit in 2019, my work life didn’t change much. At that time I was working as a Covid ICU registered nurse in Seattle, Washington. While others transitioned their work to home and offices closed, I continued to go to work in the hospital day in and day out and care for really sick patients. When that happened I realized I really needed to prioritize my work life balance and start taking care of myself first. After all, how was I supposed to show up to work and care for others if I didn’t care for myself first?

Work life balance to me then, and now remains a huge part of my life. Since working the frontlines of Covid, my balance has shifted. I realized what was important in life and what wasn’t. One of the most important things to me is family so I stopped travel nursing in the summer of 2021 and moved back home to the mountains of North Carolina. I worked part time at the local hospital but rejoined my family business and started working there along my older brother and parents. While we still work six days a week, sun up to sun down, we all find time for each other and for ourselves. I am blessed to be able to work with my family and spend quality time both at work and outside of work. On Sundays we all try to sneak in quiet mornings at home and then join together at Watauga Lake for a fun afternoon of boating and relaxing around the campground. Other things that are nonnegotiable in my daily routine are waking up early to take advantage of a few quiet moments to sip coffee, journal, and get some sunshine on my back porch.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I graduated college with my bachelors in nursing and from there I got my first job as a registered nurse in the cardiac ICU in Charlotte, NC. From there I started travel ICU nursing and worked jobs in Colorado, Washington state, South Carolina, and Vermont. After working Covid ICU for two years I was ready for a change and headed back home to the mountains of North Carolina in the summer of 2021. Growing up I did work summers from eighth grade through highschool at the Mustard Seed Market for my parents. Fast forward to that summer of 2021 when I moved back, I was ready to join the family business for real this time. I still work part time as a nurse at the local hospital but my true calling is in the family business. There’s something truly special about working in the greenhouse at the shop and someone recognizes me and remembers when I was a toddler running around chasing my brother. You don’t get memories like that at just any old job. I want the world to know that it is possible to be anything you want to be and do any job you want to do. I like to think I’m different and unique and I broke out of my own box and now have two amazing, fulfilling, different careers. Both of which will lead me where ever I choose to go in life. I don’t believe people are simply their job or career or should feel like once they pick something in life then that’s it. I got out of my comfort zone and I couldn’t be happier that I did.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would start with food because food is the way to my heart! My top go to restaurant in the area are the Speckled Trout, owned by two amazing families that are near and dear to my families heart. Another restaurant I can’t get enough of is La Cucina, a homey kitchen and cozy spot for 100% authentic Italian located tucked in the mountains and a short drive from Blowing Rock. I also love the sushi bar at Makotos, Over Yonder in Valle Crucis, and Lost Province Brewing Company. Another spot my husband and I frequent is locals night at The Cardinal in Boone. They do a great burger special and it’s a fun time to get out and see friendly faces from town. Juice Boone is my favorite spot to swing in and grab a fresh pressed juice or protein smoothie after a workout. The most popular hike for people coming to visit from out of town is undeniably Rough Ridge, however I like to take people to a lesser known hike along the parkway, Sims Pond loop. You get to see beautiful mountain views and woods but beat the crowds that the more popular hikes draw in. After work on a spring or summer Friday night you’ll catch us at The Inn at Ragged Gardens where they host Music on the Lawn featuring local artists and bands. Cold drinks are served and everyone pulls up a lawn chair and has a great time. The sense of community in the High Country is truly one of a kind.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Hands down the people who come to my mind when I think “how in the world did I get here” are my amazing parents. Without their hard work, countless sacrifices, support, mentorship, love and encouragement I would never be the woman I am today. I can remember being in elementary school and watching my parents work tirelessly day in and day out and I know that is where I got my work ethic from. They taught me that I have to always believe in myself and work hard for what I want, because things don’t always come easy. When I moved back and started working at the seed again, my mom became my mentor. She’s always been my mentor throughout life but now she has taught me tips and tricks of gardening and loves sharing her nuggets of horticulture knowledge. I love being able to follow in her steps and nothing has made me more proud of myself than to do so. My dad has also mentored me and my husband and helped us make our very own large cutting and vegetable garden. From that garden we’ve been able to grow buckets of cut flowers which we use in arrangements and at our custom floral jobs throughout town. It’s really something special to be able to go to a business downtown or go to the Blowing Rock Country Club and see flowers that you grew at home displayed and being enjoyed by the community.

Website: www.mustardseedblowingrock.com

Instagram: hannahstewsauder