My story
From Illinois prairie soil to Florida sand — a gardener's story, two decades in the making.
Once upon a time
Once upon a time, in the small town of Princeton, Illinois, I owned an organic and sustainable fertilizer business. Back then, healthy soil wasn't a trend — it was a conviction. And while the business kept me busy, it was my own Princeton garden where those ideas really came to life, a few rows at a time.
Back in the dirt
Life took me away from the industry for a couple of decades — but the soil has a way of calling you back. Today I'm working at AgriEnergy Solutions, back among biological and sustainable products built on the belief that everything good starts with living soil. Different chapter, same story — only now I'm doing it from Orlando, Florida.
A new garden, a new state
Now I live in Central Florida, and I'm starting over in the best possible way — building a brand-new garden under a very different sky. Sandy soil, relentless sun, and a growing calendar flipped upside down from everything I knew in Illinois. I'm taking the same products I work with every day and putting them to the test in my own backyard, one bed at a time.
Why I share it
Growlando is my grow log — the experiments, the harvests, the failures, and everything in between. I'm learning what thrives in Central Florida by doing it, and sharing what works (and what doesn't) so your garden can grow a little easier than mine.