Mar 19, 2019
In This Episode:
>> How Tom got started seed saving and grew his hobby
into
a business
>> How growing seeds is different from market gardening
>> How he empowers employees with responsibility and
ownership
>> Tom's thoughts about the state of the organic seed
industry
About the Guest:
Tom Stearns began gardening at an early age at his family home in
Connecticut. Prior to completing a degree in Sustainable
Agriculture from Prescott College in Arizona, he began saving
seeds. A hobby was born in 1996 in Vermont when Tom began sharing
these seeds with others through a small flyer. High Mowing Organic
Seeds has since expanded into one of the leading organic seed
companies in the U.S., supplying home gardeners, commercial growers
and retailers. Tom’s vision has always been to create a company
that would help support the re-building of healthy food systems,
first in Vermont, followed by the rest of the U.S. He has also
taught numerous workshops since 1996 on many topics such as
agricultural education, economics, community supported agriculture,
genetic engineering, plant breeding, local food systems,
sustainable business investing and more. His informal, personal
style, ability to explain complex issues and infectious enthusiasm
makes him a popular and inspiring speaker. In addition, he has
served on the board of several agricultural organizations including
NOFA-VT, The Center for an Agricultural Economy, and Sterling
College. He lives on 50 acres in Vermont with his wife Heather and
their two girls, Ruby and Cora.