I’m Jesse Bishop. I live with my older brother, Robert, his partner, Sydney, and my adorable niece, Kaia. We have another niece arriving this fall, so our family is growing—and we couldn’t be more excited.

My mom, Michelle, and stepdad, Richard Gallagher, moved to North Ranch almost five years ago. These days, we’re all about 10 minutes from each other, which is pretty great. We love North Ranch, and having family so close makes it feel even more like home.

I grew up in West Hills in the San Fernando Valley. I went to Hale Middle School and graduated from El Camino High School. My first job was as a boxing trainer. My brother and I had taken classes together, and eventually, we both ended up teaching for a while.

Robert and I definitely share the same fighting spirit. We came up boxing together, and we both ended up teaching it. Today, he also co-owns Liquid Barn, a flavor extract company.

Growing up, the rule in our house was that we had to play an instrument or a sport. My mom will tell you that we managed to choose just about every extreme sport possible—and she’s probably right.

We did boxing, dirt biking, skateboarding and snowboarding, just to name a few. Needless to say, we had our fair share of broken bones, cuts, scrapes and bruises along the way.

I should probably take a moment to thank my mom for all those trips to the emergency room.

Thanks, Mom. :)

Mom is really the glue of our family, and she’s also the reason we all survived those extreme-sports years in one piece. Richard and my mom made North Ranch home for all of us, and Robert and Sydney are giving us the best new generation of the family. Kaia is already running the show, and we can’t wait to meet her little sister.

One thing that really ties all of us together is being outdoors. When we get together, at least once a month—we always seem to end up outside. I guess some things just run in the family.

I’m a landscape designer and nursery professional at Moon Valley Nurseries in Moorpark. When I got hired, I knew I was in my element. I feel lucky to work outside with plants and trees every day, whether I’m helping someone design an entire backyard or simply helping them find the right houseplant.

I can honestly say I’m one of those people now who actually enjoys waking up and going to work. And I feel pretty lucky to be able to say that.

What I’m most excited about is helping neighbors in North Ranch, Thousand Oaks and the surrounding areas create yards that are beautiful, but also smart for where we live. That means thinking about fire-wise landscaping and defensible space, especially with California’s new ember-resistant “Zone 0” rules. It also means finding water-wise ways to reduce the amount of lawn without giving up the curb appeal that makes a home feel welcoming.

Whether it’s a big landscaping project or simply choosing the right tree, I’d love to help. Come see me at the Moon Valley Nurseries location in Moorpark.

And when I’m not working with plants, I’m usually enjoying life with my own little crew at home. I have two cats, Mr. Kitty and Mrs. Kitty, and a dog named Shiloh. Between the three of them, there’s never a shortage of personality—or something to keep me busy.

At the end of the day, I think I’ve come full circle. From growing up with a family that taught me to get outside, try new things and never be afraid to get a few scrapes along the way, to building a career where I get to work with plants and help people create outdoor spaces they love—it feels like I ended up exactly where I’m supposed to be.

And now I get to do it right here, close to my family, in a community we’re proud to call home.