By Andrew Mollenbeck Bruce Reuser built a business from dust — sawdust, to be precise. The father of four was raising his children on his own in Santa Rosa, California when the need to provide for them led to a new venture, one whose humble beginning in 1978 eventually led to the innovative landscape materials company that continues to bear …
By P.J. Heller When Zach Brooks took a midlife sharp U-turn change in careers, he had a unique goal in mind. “We set out to create a fully off-the-grid sustainable farm where we turn sunshine, rainwater and other people’s garbage into food and shelter and improvements to the planet,” he says. “That was kind of our North Star.” Brooks laid …
By Kathleen Marquardt In recent years, the topic of land acquisition by major corporations, foreign governments, and private equity firms has gained increasing attention. Companies like BlackRock, JP Morgan, Vanguard, and others have been purchasing vast tracts of farmland, forests, and single-family homes, raising concerns about the long-term impact on agriculture and local communities. Additionally, foreign powers like China are …
By P.J. Heller Sam DeLullo enjoys getting out of the office now and then to visit and reconnect with customers he hasn’t seen for a while. “The most interesting thing I find is to see what’s changed over the course of the years,” says DeLullo. The same is certainly true for anyone who comes back to visit Woodbed Corp. (WOODBED …
By P.J. Heller At some point during the school year, students are usually taught about their state, including the official state flower, official state bird, official state tree and official state animal. What’s often missing from those classroom lessons is the official state soil. Yes, all 50 states have each selected an official soil that has special significance to it. …
By P.J. Heller When Mark Highland launched Organic Mechanics Soil Company in 2006, his focus was on offering “earth friendly” soil products. “There were no compost-based, peat-free potting soils on the market in 2006,” he recalls. “I saw that niche and went for it. Environmental sustainability is a core value at Organic Mechanics.” Since the launch of that first product …
By P.J. Heller For peat’s sake, look to Canada. That’s the message from the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), especially when it comes to peatland science and restoration. “We’ve been recognized for our leadership, our environmental stewardship across the world,” says Asha Hingorani, president of the CSPMA, which represents more than a dozen horticultural peat moss producers in Canada …
