Who will be PEA's Green Business of the Year?
This year's nominees include Green Business Network members who are taking actions that are growing our local green economy and creating the more just, resilient, and envrionmentally sustainable community we deserve. Cast your vote using the ballot below, and RSVP for PEA's Annual Party where we will announce the winner on November 18th.
Meet Our Nominees
Bashavia Gardens
Bashavia Gardens is native plant nursery and ecological garden design and service firm in Winston-Salem dedicated to creating “beautiful, resilient gardens that play a functional role in the greater ecosystem.” Bashavia utilizes native plants in their designs and informed, sustainable horticultural practices in their garden management. Recently, Bashavia grew their team and their impact, opening their nursery to the general public, expanding their public education offerings, and continuing to pursue solar energy. You can see Bashavia's talents and expertise on display at 2nd Street Park in Downtown Winston-Salem, where they designed and installed a native plant demonstration garden in partnership with the City's sustainability department.
Fair Witness Fancy Drinks
Fair Witness is a neighborhood cocktail bar that serves creative drinks in the heart of the Innovation Quarter in downtown Winston-Salem. For anyone looking for a sustainable cocktail and great company, Fair Witness is an essential destination. Owner Blake Stewart intentionally integrates sustainability throughout his business: fossil-fuel free heating and cooling, planting trees to offset ongoing operations, even running his own glass up-cycling operation to support community gardens.
Latent Designs
Latent Designs reimagines buildings to reconnect us with what’s most important: history, nature, and each other. Founded by Winston-Salem-based architect Lauren Frye, Latent Designs is a woman-owned firm that is grounded in sustainability. Latent Designs focuses exclusively on the principle and concept of ‘adaptive reuse,’ or reimagining and revitalizing existing spaces. You can see examples of this, as well as experience some of Lauren's beautiful work, by heading over to Lesser-Known Beer Co., Camino Bakery’s Brookstown location (both Green Business Network members), and Lot 63 Bakery and Coffeehouse in Old Salem.
MO'Empanadas
MO’Empanadas serves up authentic, great-tasting Colombian street food from its colorful food truck in locations throughout the Triad. What sets MO'Empanadas apart from other food entrepreneurs in the region, besides their awesome food, is their zero waste practices and commitments to electrification and clean energy. MOs uses compostable tableware, includes vegan food offerings on their menu, and advocates for electrification to help mobile food businesses ditch noisy and costly gas-powered generators. They even used a solar generator to power their operations at PEA’s 2024 Piedmont Earth Day Fair!
Salem Soil Solutions
Salem Soil Solutions helps individuals and communities regenerate soil and grow healthier plants through biology, not chemicals. Using amendments such as worm castings, compost, compost teas, and extracts, we restore the living soil microbiology that drives ecosystem resilience, plant vitality, and human health. Our regenerative approach makes it possible to reduce reliance on pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. A healthy “soil food web” benefits everyone, from home gardeners to large farms, landscapers, livestock producers, and compost facilities. Salem Soil Solutions not only provides premium soil amendments and soil testing, but also offers mid- to large-scale equipment to ensure these applications are delivered effectively and thoughtfully. Founder Pasquale Caccavella is a Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician, trained by Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School, bringing science-based solutions that make regenerative growing both practical and scalable.
2025 Green Business of the Year Ballot
Please use the form below to cast your vote for PEA's 2025 Green Business of the Year by 11:59pm on November 10th. Only one (1) vote per person, please.