Home and Lawn Hero – Building Relationship, Not Just Completing Jobs

You can always tell when you meet someone who has been in the military.  Their stance and the way they walk is different—they stand just a tad taller than the rest of us and the way they walk has distant memories of a march in their gait.  And then, there’s the way they remove their hats and cover their hearts when our National Anthem is played.  But mainly, it’s the way they always appear to be the first to volunteer for charitable events or to help people in need, and how they give back to their community as if they are still in the service of our country. They are all heroes, whether they are scarred from battle or returned to their families relatively unscathed.

We spoke to John Walton, owner and operator of Home and Lawn Hero.

John and his wife Shasta own and operate Home and Lawn Hero, proudly serving Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. They handle everything from mowing and trimming to larger landscaping projects and property maintenance.

As their team grew and their customer base expanded, so did John’s business model. “We also offer a full range of handyman services, in addition to mowing and landscaping, we do home repairs and renovations. Whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet, building a deck, or maintaining a property year-round, our mission is to make every customer’s home and yard something they’re proud of while providing the reliable, professional service you’d expect from a veteran-owned business,” John said.

Speaking about his military service, John explained, “After serving 22 years in the Coast Guard, first as an Avionics Electrical Technician and later as a Special Agent for CGIS, I wasn’t sure what my next chapter would look like. My wife and I had run small lawn care businesses before I enlisted, so returning to that line of work felt natural. Beyond that, I wanted to create opportunities for veterans and military dependents, a goal that has been one of the most rewarding parts of owning our business.  We’ve been in business for just over two years and are growing rapidly thanks to our loyal customers and dedicated crew.  Right now, our team includes one veteran and four military-connected employees.”

Military service runs deep in John and Shasta’s family. “My father served in the Air Force, and my grandfather was a Marine. My wife also comes from a military family. Her mom and dad served in the Navy, her brother served in the Army (and is a member of our team), her grandfather was in the Air Force, and her uncle and cousins were in the Marines. Their service and dedication profoundly influenced me and my wife,” John said.

“I retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) after serving from July 2002 to September 2024. My wife and I both wanted to join the military, and the Coast Guard’s policy of stationing couples within 50 miles of each other made it the perfect fit for us. We had always heard that the USCG was the most family-friendly branch of the military. I began my career as an Avionics Electrical Technician, working on H-60 helicopters as a flight mechanic and instructor, stationed in Cape May, New Jersey, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Pensacola, Florida, Mobile, Alabama, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Later, I transitioned to Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and served in Bahrain, Kodiak, Alaska, Washington D.C., and finally Wilmington, North Carolina,” he added.

John credits his military career for much of his business success. “The Coast Guard’s motto, Semper Paratus or Always Ready, shaped our business philosophy. Our company motto is ‘Always Ready. Always Reliable.’ Whether it’s a major repair or simply changing a lightbulb for someone who can’t, our team is ready to help. 

My time in the service also taught me that you’re only as strong as your team, and I’m incredibly proud of ours. We don’t limit ourselves to one specialty. We enjoy the variety, whether it’s a simple repair, a remodel, or a custom project, we take pride in doing the job right,” he said.

John said he’s happy his customer base is growing. “Our expanding and diverse customer base now includes homeowners, businesses, and property managers across the area. We take care of everything from residential clients who need extra help maintaining their homes to commercial accounts and rental properties. Currently, we service clients from Rocky Point to Oak Island.  Many customers appreciate the opportunity to support veterans and trust the discipline, integrity, and reliability that come with military service. It’s rewarding to see how much respect people have for those values, and we strive to uphold them every day,” he said.

John, who was born in Chapel Hill, and Shasta, who was born in Loris, South Carolina, started their relationship early.  John smiled as he said, “I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Shasta. We started dating at 16 and married right before I left for boot camp at 18. We have four children: two sons (Jordan and John Jr.) and two daughters (Alexis and Anna), as well as three dogs, Iris, Cane, and Felicia.”

 When he’s not working, John enjoys fishing, relaxing at the beach, and watching UFC, Tar Heels basketball, and the New England Patriots. He also said, “Actually, I enjoy working, building, and growing our business; it is one of my favorite hobbies.”

What’s next for John and Shasta? “We’ve purchased land off of Village Road and are currently constructing a new facility that will allow us to sell mulch to homeowners and landscapers. We’re also expanding into holiday light installation and Christmas tree delivery this season. We’re always exploring ways to grow and serve our community better.

“We’re a family-owned, veteran-operated company that genuinely cares about the community we serve. We strive to build relationships, not just complete jobs. We proudly hire veterans and military family members, and we believe giving back is the best way to honor those who’ve supported us.  My time in the service also taught me that you’re only as strong as your team, and I’m incredibly proud of ours.  They work hard, care deeply, and make our success possible,” John said.

If you have a handyman or lawn job coming up, give John a call at 910-800-8889, or go to his website at: https://nclawnhero.com and fill out a quote request form. A list of services offered is on the website as well.

John served and supported his country well. Please say “thank you,” by supporting his business.