Meet Tea Povolny

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tea Povolny and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tea, what role has risk played in your life or career?
My approach to risk has been profoundly influenced by my upbringing as a third-culture kid, growing up in various countries around the world. These early experiences exposed me to unique challenges, teaching me that change is a constant in life. From a young age, I learned that embracing a degree of uncertainty can foster adaptability, a quality I’ve carried with me throughout my life and career.

Living in different countries and immersing myself in diverse cultures enabled me to develop a keen sense of empathy and an innate ability to recognize opportunities where I could make a meaningful impact or build connections. These skills were invaluable for navigating the intricacies of various societies.

Furthermore, my international upbringing exposed me to occasional risky situations, such as civil unrest, terrorist threats, and other security concerns. These experiences honed my ability to assess and manage risk effectively. They taught me the importance of staying composed and making informed decisions under pressure.

My diverse background also instilled in me a spirit of exploration and a genuine openness to new perspectives and experiences. This forward-thinking outlook led me to establish EcoLogic in 2019, well before ecological land management was being widely discussed or offered. I believe that embracing change has been pivotal to my personal and professional journey. It has allowed me to identify opportunities that others might overlook and to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of life and business with confidence.

What should our readers know about your business?
EcoLogic provides regenerative land management services for public or private clients around Metro Atlanta. We serve our native ecologies to create a healthier landscape alongside serving a community that believes in our mission. While supporting our native biodiversity looks different for each space, we can remove non-native invasive plants, build rain gardens, install native plants, and terrace areas for erosion control, to name a few. We hope to be a teacher for those just starting their journey into regeneration while empowering them to learn and grow until they’re ready “to leave the nest.” We want to share our practices and teach others about them, hopefully starting a web of people knowledgeable about land regeneration.

EcoLogic was founded from a passion for the environment and a concern for its dwindling biodiversity. Opposed to traditional landscaping services, we create a balance between humans and nature, with human desires not being at the forefront of our plan for a landscape. EcoLogic’s philosophy is eco over ego, meaning putting our self-interest aside and acting as an extension of nature. We do not use pesticides, herbicides, or heavy machinery, trying to keep disturbance of the land to a minimum. We were founded out of a need for a cohesive, holistic approach to practices in this industry, with sustainability at the forefront. Like an organism filling a niche in its environment, we carved our place through necessity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would embark on a nature-focused adventure that celebrates our shared love for the outdoors. Our journey would include forays to some carefully chosen, yet undisclosed, mushrooming spots.

We’d hike some of the Atlanta area’s treasured natural spots like Lionel-Hampton Beecher Park, Fernbank Forest, and Arabia and Panola Mountain. We’d explore Constitution Lakes, immersing ourselves in the tranquility of the forest while engaging in forest forensic walks. Constitution Lakes offers a spectacle of sunsets over the lakes, followed by a hike back that can be on the more adventurous side when headlamps become necessary.

For a day trip, there’s Sweetwater Creek where we’d bring a packed lunch and take our time exploring the many trails through the beautiful Piedmont forest.

To kickstart our days, I’d recommend a visit to Little Tart, a local gem with three locations, one conveniently situated on the way to Constitution Lakes from my side of town.

As a dedicated supporter and volunteer with the Georgia Native Plant Society, I might take my friend along on a plant rescue where we often get to see rare plant species. For leisurely evening strolls, Westside Quarry near my neighborhood provides a serene escape and boasts diverse native plantings.

EcoLogic collaborated with a local urban farm called Unearthing Farms, and I would bring my friend to this site for a tour to see regenerative agriculture in action, and of course, pick up some of the freshest produce in town. If we wanted to immerse ourselves further in the local culture, we’d visit the Grant Park and Carter Center farmer’s markets.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to Eli Dickerson, who secured our management contract with Fernbank Forest. Managing Fernbank Forest has allowed us to validate and showcase our techniques to the public. This opportunity has also allowed us to inform our community about regenerative management. It was a major milestone for EcoLogic and we deeply appreciate Eli for ensuring our contract came to fruition.

Website: ecologicatl.com

Instagram: ecologic.atlanta