Hamad Juma, owner

Hamad Juma has three years experience in landscape and garden installation, construction and

maintenance and is Certified in Environmental Horticulture with a focus on Landscape Design. 

He was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania.  He grew up farming with his family.  At the age of 16, he

helped found the Wete Environmental Conservation Club, a small, mostly student run grassroots

NGO.  WECOC focuses on environmental education and conservation projects.  Hamad moved

to the U.S. almost five years ago to live with his wife whom he met in Zanzibar nearly ten years

ago. 

His career actually began not in horticulture but with Sustainable Spaces, a home performance

testing and remediation firm.  As an Energy Efficiency Specialist, he weatherized homes to

improve energy efficiency as well as air quality.  Much of this work involved developing and

creating drainage systems in crawl spaces to prevent mold and decrease drafts and moisture in

homes.  He also repaired old heating and ventilation systems and installed new ones.  This work

built upon Hamad’s dedication to the environment and provided a taste of the possibilities of

green business.  

In 2006, Hamad decided to build on his lifelong experience with plants by enrolling in City

College of San Francisco’s Environmental Horticulture program.  At that time, he also began his

professional horticulture career working with Bill Milligan Landscaping as an Assistant Gardener. 

Hamad worked closely with Bill Milligan on maintenance work such as pruning, planting and

weeding.  He also worked with the crew mowing, shearing hedges, cleaning beds and mulching. 

Hamad then had an opportunity to study with Terry Mulrooney of Admiral Green Landscaping. 

Admiral Green, a well-known San Francisco design and installation company, has been creating

unique and peaceful spaces since 1983.  They have been featured in Sunset magazine and on

HGTV.  This experience inspired Hamad to focus his education on landscape design.  “The

reason I decided to take this particular field” explains Hamad “is because I want to do something

that relates to my life and nature.”  He also feels he can offer clients something new-a form of

gardening and landscaping which minimizes impact on the environment.

He continued to build his diverse experience becoming a landscape assistant with Gordon and

Whyte Gardens.  There Hamad further developed his skills and knowledge in landscape

installation including building patios, fences and steps and irrigation work. Most recently, Hamad

spent nearly two years working with Goodscapes, based in San Francisco, primarily on an

innovative green landscaping project in Oakland that emphasized California natives.  He has

also volunteered with Friends of the Urban Forest and a community garden in San Francisco.

With his completion of his Certificate approaching, Hamad decided it was time to launch his own

full service gardening company offering multiple services from design to maintenance. 

Mazingira focuses on presenting eco-conscious clients with options for beautiful and productive

landscapes and gardens that do not harm the environment.