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With few opportunities for work in her field and most of them entry level paying jobs, Mel McCutcheon was presented with an unusual set of circumstances. She had the choice to move away and seek other opportunities elsewhere or stay put and get creative. Mel chose to stay in Fort St. James, open her own business and continue her education annually through the University of Guelph, focusing on sustainable urban design and horticulture. August 1, 2012 was her first day of business as Bare Hands Landscaping and Design and she hasn’t looked back since.

She made the right decision, and she says the community has been incredibly supportive of her venture. “In my first year of business, word-of-mouth was my strongest marketing resource.” Mel appreciates the support, as it confirms her love for Fort St. James and his philosophy of “doing what you love, where you love to do it.”

McCutcheon loves to spend her free time with her family putting her passion for sustainable design practices to use daily on their off-grid acreage. When she is not busy with her own business, Mel provides tenant agent services for another local business and practices and performs various theatrical arts including aerial hoop/silks, dance and music.