Blossoming Ambitions: Lydia Thein is your new flower plug

It’s a pleasure to introduce Lydia Thein, one of Groundwork’s newest members and participant of EforAll’s Summer 2024 Cohort. Lydia is a dynamic force balancing dual careers with curiosity and commitment. By day, Lydia excels as a biz ops and data analyst at a tech firm, but her evenings and weekends are dedicated to her true passion—flowers and connection. That’s why she founded Moon Gate Garden, a charming flower truck and mobile cafe. Discover how Lydia’s diverse roles and boundless enthusiasm come together to create a unique blend of technology, creativity, and community spirit.

What’s your profession? 

I am a biz ops and data analyst at a tech firm by day and a flower truck and mobile cafe owner by night.  My flower truck and cafe business, which is my passion, is called Moon Gate Garden. You can find us at artisan fairs and markets as well as at our one-of-a-kind pop up afternoon tea events which we hope to bring to the New Bedford region soon!  I am currently part of the EforAll cohort which is helping me shape my business and offerings.  

Describe a typical work day for you.

This one is tough because it varies wildly by the day, but usually I start my day early with a coffee and respond to emails for Moon Gate Garden, have meetings with my mentors, or sign into my Korean language class.  Friday I start my day at 5am to get to the wholesale flower market and come back by 9am to sign into my tech job.  When I sign off for the day, and I don’t have EforAll class, I will work on my social media or coordinate with vendors for our next tea event.  On Fridays, I am usually prepping the flowers for the weekend, working on pricing, and getting the truck ready.  On Saturdays and Sundays you will find me out in the wild selling flowers or hosting tea!

What’s the biggest challenge you face at your job?

The biggest challenge I am having is juggling my two jobs and also finding time to unplug.  I feel so energized from the creative parts of my mobile flower truck and cafe that it’s hard to slow down and find time for myself.

Do you have a morning routine?

I am an early riser and like to have my first coffee outside enjoying my garden and hanging out with my chickens.  

What are your favorite productivity tips or hacks?

When it comes to simple tasks, my favorite productivity tip is if a task takes 5 minutes or less, do it now.  For other things, like responding to emails, I’ve been trying to slow down more and be more thoughtful in my responses.

What do you listen to during the day?

I like to listen to podcasts in the car in the morning if I am commuting to work or going to the flower market but during the day, it’s hard for me to be focused with a lot of background noise. Usually, I try to find a quiet spot to do my work in.

How do you benefit (or as a new member what do you hope to benefit) from using a coworking space?

I love collaborating with and talking to other community members. I really appreciate that folks here have been so supportive and generous with their time and helping me expand my network.

What’s in your digital toolbox? (Favorite apps, hardware, software, etc.)

My biggest fear starting my business was creating content for social media and I felt like I didn’t have the tools to compete with other businesses that had a dedicated social media manager. I’m finding that Canva is incredibly intuitive and user friendly and I’ve been really enjoying creating with it and I no longer fear social media updates.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the way flowers and plants can light up someone’s face and bring so much joy.  I wanted to spark that joy through my flower truck but also noticed that folks also needed a space to slow down and spend time with each other surrounded by the beauty of nature. I hope to achieve this through my afternoon tea pop-ups.

What are some of your goals for the future?

I would like to continue to expand and diversify my business so I can be busy year round.  I’m working on designing workshops and indoor tea events.

Where can people find you?

• Website: moongategarden.com
• Instagram: @moongate_garden
• Facebook: Moon Gate Garden
• Our next Afternoon Tea Event: Mid Autumn Festival Tea
• Photos and Flowers Event: Photos and Flowers