Hi, my name is Laura and I am the owner of The Diligent Gardener. Gardening is my passion and my primary job—I have a vision for every yard I work on, and I pour my heart into my business. I am known for my honesty, dedication, and hard work, and I wear my heart on my sleeve and will give the shirt off my back.
Eight months ago, a very specialclient (who had only known me a few months) seen me struggling as my vehicle at the time needed a lot of attention. Her and her husband offered to help me buy a truck and I just pay back on it every month. The truck was perfect. A dream really. Never have I ever owned a vehicle that cost more than a couple grand tops.
Tragically, it was totaled by a reckless and road raging driver, at no fault of my own back in October 2025. I hired four attorneys to try to assist me in recovering something back on my truck or mine and my passengers, injuries, but every single time the attorneys would end up telling me there was nothing they could do… the insurance company gave me $8600 for my truck that cost me $15,000 less than eight months previously. My business was instantly debilitated. I was on my way to the fire restoration job. I was doing for a dear friend of mine when my truck got totaled.
So a little background on the fire restoration job:
my friend’s suffered a lithium battery fire in their home in 2025. And, even though I am a gardener by trade; I accepted the job in hopes to help them recover from the fire. But also with promise that upon doing a good job, that I would be rewarded with a bonus, potentially a bonus that could keep me from having to work in the sun every day, he said.
As I always do, no matter what Job is at hand,I worked diligently for three months on the fire restoration job. About three weeks in to the job, now there is a deadline as they are looking to sell the home and build a different home for themselves. Even with the deadline, I still did an exceptional job. Unfortunately, and tragically Upon completion, my friend unexpectedlypassed away. Her spouse then asked me to move them out of the rental and back into the restored home, and gather my dear friend’s belongings for her family to pick up. I worked tirelessly for days without much rest; after working the very same way for the past 3 months for them! I supported him emotionally, tied up all of his loose ends, dealt with his angry landlords, police officers, family, members and left myself no time to grieve the loss of my friend .. I worked endlessly for him (even though I was exhausted for giving him my all and then some for the past three months prior ) for several days until he left town with his family. He always promised to pay me but only ever gave me small amounts, never enough to do anything more than merely get by; and by the skin of my teeth that is. In the event of my friend‘s death, discussing payments with me came to a complete stop. He now swears he owes me nothing and has blocked me from communication.
I was promised help with a new truck, but that never came. Trying to recover, I bought a replacement truck with the insurance money on my wrecked truck, but it turned out to be unsafe and undrivable!! When I asked for a refund, the seller retaliated by attacking my business online, impersonating a family member and a coworker,and leaving false, damaging reviews on my business page on three different social media platforms, as if I had ever done any kind of work for this man.
Since then, I have not had a single job, and my businessreputation has suffered. The car salesman refused to honor a rescission of the sale,The homeowner refused to finish paying me or honor promises to help me with a vehicle, and the man who originally caused all of my heartache by totaling my 2013 Chevy Silverado, has no assets and had nothing more than PIP insurance, and a child neglect criminal record.
Now, I am without transportation, income, or a way to keep my business going and care for my family. I am asking for help to cover basic expenses, secure reliable transportation, and rebuild The Diligent Gardener. Any support—whether a donation or simply sharing this—means more than I can express. Thank you for reading and for helping me move forward. God bless
Eight months ago, a very specialclient (who had only known me a few months) seen me struggling as my vehicle at the time needed a lot of attention. Her and her husband offered to help me buy a truck and I just pay back on it every month. The truck was perfect. A dream really. Never have I ever owned a vehicle that cost more than a couple grand tops.
Tragically, it was totaled by a reckless and road raging driver, at no fault of my own back in October 2025. I hired four attorneys to try to assist me in recovering something back on my truck or mine and my passengers, injuries, but every single time the attorneys would end up telling me there was nothing they could do… the insurance company gave me $8600 for my truck that cost me $15,000 less than eight months previously. My business was instantly debilitated. I was on my way to the fire restoration job. I was doing for a dear friend of mine when my truck got totaled.
So a little background on the fire restoration job:
my friend’s suffered a lithium battery fire in their home in 2025. And, even though I am a gardener by trade; I accepted the job in hopes to help them recover from the fire. But also with promise that upon doing a good job, that I would be rewarded with a bonus, potentially a bonus that could keep me from having to work in the sun every day, he said.
As I always do, no matter what Job is at hand,I worked diligently for three months on the fire restoration job. About three weeks in to the job, now there is a deadline as they are looking to sell the home and build a different home for themselves. Even with the deadline, I still did an exceptional job. Unfortunately, and tragically Upon completion, my friend unexpectedlypassed away. Her spouse then asked me to move them out of the rental and back into the restored home, and gather my dear friend’s belongings for her family to pick up. I worked tirelessly for days without much rest; after working the very same way for the past 3 months for them! I supported him emotionally, tied up all of his loose ends, dealt with his angry landlords, police officers, family, members and left myself no time to grieve the loss of my friend .. I worked endlessly for him (even though I was exhausted for giving him my all and then some for the past three months prior ) for several days until he left town with his family. He always promised to pay me but only ever gave me small amounts, never enough to do anything more than merely get by; and by the skin of my teeth that is. In the event of my friend‘s death, discussing payments with me came to a complete stop. He now swears he owes me nothing and has blocked me from communication.
I was promised help with a new truck, but that never came. Trying to recover, I bought a replacement truck with the insurance money on my wrecked truck, but it turned out to be unsafe and undrivable!! When I asked for a refund, the seller retaliated by attacking my business online, impersonating a family member and a coworker,and leaving false, damaging reviews on my business page on three different social media platforms, as if I had ever done any kind of work for this man.
Since then, I have not had a single job, and my businessreputation has suffered. The car salesman refused to honor a rescission of the sale,The homeowner refused to finish paying me or honor promises to help me with a vehicle, and the man who originally caused all of my heartache by totaling my 2013 Chevy Silverado, has no assets and had nothing more than PIP insurance, and a child neglect criminal record.
Now, I am without transportation, income, or a way to keep my business going and care for my family. I am asking for help to cover basic expenses, secure reliable transportation, and rebuild The Diligent Gardener. Any support—whether a donation or simply sharing this—means more than I can express. Thank you for reading and for helping me move forward. God bless
Organizer
