About · PlentiFlower

Hi, I'm Danielle Mapes, the founder of PlentiFlower.

I grew up watching people I love find real joy in gardening and farming. But it didn't become my own passion until much later, and for a reason I didn't expect.

When my son was a baby, a health crisis left him severely underweight. For his first few years, I worried over every bite he ate, and food was a daily struggle. One day during the COVID-19 quarantine, I wondered whether he might enjoy his food more if he could see where it came from. So we started our first garden: a hodgepodge of containers by the windows of our little North Seattle apartment.

A lot of plants died. But our first cucumber was a real triumph, and now he eats vegetables straight from the garden like a rabbit. What began as a desperate try to help my picky toddler turned into raising a healthy, vegetable-loving young fella. What's more - I gained a full-blown love of growing, sustainability, food systems and getting my hands dirty.

Then AI took its big leap forward, and my sci-fi brain kicked in: if the robots are going to take over the world, we might as well teach them to take care of the planet. That thought evolved into capstone projects during my degree programs, and was the first seed of PlentiFlower.

My background isn't in agriculture. I've spent my career in arts programming, creative community leadership, corporate learning programs, and building experiences that bring people together. The common thread is that all these areas succeed most when they meet people where they are. PlentiFlower comes from the same place: you shouldn't need acres, a big budget or a horticulture degree to grow well. You should be able to start with what you have.

Help everyone grow the plants they love with the resources they have, and collectively care for the earth while they do it.

What we believe

We believe the tools for growing well shouldn't belong only to big operations, and that technology should leave the planet better than it found it. Four ideas guide everything we build, from a windowsill pot to a working farm.

Planetary stewardship

Every suggestion is organic, water-wise and friendly to plants native to your region, so each garden gives back to the land it grows on.

Responsible technology

We use AI where it truly helps, say so plainly, and work to give back more than it takes.

Tools for small growers

Planning that big operations take for granted, made simple and affordable for backyards, community plots and small farms.

Meet people where they are

No acres, budget or degree required. Start with a windowsill and grow from there.

About the AI in PlentiFlower

PlentiFlower uses AI for Suggestions, and AI was part of how the app was built. AI takes energy and water to build and run, and we don't want to pretend otherwise.

So we've set ourselves a long-term goal: that everyone collectively growing with PlentiFlower offsets the environmental impact of the AI behind it. Healthier soil, more pollinator habitat, less water wasted and more food grown close to home all count. As we learn how to measure that well, we'll share what we find.

That goal is one we share with you. PlentiFlower can suggest the cover crop, the rain barrel or the pollinator strip, but the difference happens when it goes in the ground. Plans are a good start; planted seeds are what count.

Where we're headed

Today you can try PlentiFlower free in your browser. PlentiFlower Home, the full app for home gardeners, is coming soon to iPhone and Android. PlentiFlower Pro, for farms and agriculture businesses, is in development, and PlentiFlower Learn, a K-5 classroom version, is planned. See all products.