Early last year, we were fortunate enough to be introduced to Stephanos Mylonas during our apprenticeship with Little Rock Urban Farming. We became fast friends at the weekly Hillcrest Farmers Market due to his mind blowing pastry skills and amazing coffee at the Mylo Coffee Co. booth. Our professional relationship blossomed further several months after starting Natural State Horticare, when Stephanos contracted us to transform his property with our “Backyard Farming” service. So far, we have installed a two bin composting system and chicken pen, although there are big plans for edible landscaping and an “Organic Food Garden” in the near future.

In the mean time, we have been working with Stephanos on the Mylo Coffee Co. brick and mortar. The shop will be in the historic building that once housed River City Coffee across the street from U.S. Pizza in Hillcrest. To say the space was a fixer upper is an understatement. I don’t know if any readers out there have ever had the pleasure of remodeling a century old structure, but I can tell you the words, “MAMMOTH UNDERTAKING,” don’t quite say enough; especially considering Stephanos’s unyielding determination to recycle the ancient cedar. That being said, the space has been completely transformed and will undoubtedly become a staple in the Hillcrest community upon it’s opening sometime early this year. We are proud to say our blood, sweat and tears are in that space.

Being the strong supporter and patron of Natural State Horticare that he is, Stephanos has also contracted us to install a small natural stone garden and build several planters made from the recycled cedar extracted during the renovation. These will be placed along the side and front of the space to bring a little green to the exterior as well as provide herbs for baking.

A special shoutout to Stephanos, Monica, Marcos, Bruce, Colton and the rest of the Mylo crew. It has been a pleasure working alongside such quality individuals and visionaries.