A Defining Moment with the Rotary Club of Andover

Eight years ago, I stood before the Rotary Club of Andover to receive one of their 2017 Citizens Who Care Awards. It was such an incredible honor to be recognized among this group of kind, selfless people, who truly embody the Rotary motto: Service Above Self. Mark was sitting with my mother (who had flown in for the occasion) and they watched us,  barely able to contain their smiles. I'll never forget that amazing night.

This past Friday, life came full circle again (I'm starting to see a pattern). This time, I wasn't there as an honoree - but as a presenter - alongside Mark, sharing the story of Leaf Water Farms with the very same community that once celebrated my commitment to service. 

Educating 

We had been invited to Rotary's weekly Friday breakfast at The Lanam Club, where we shared our story and our complementary backgrounds. My background in marketing,  and communications, combined with my passion for community advocacy, paired with Mark's 30 years in finance and passion for engineering and building.  Together, these experiences gave us the confidence to embrace our entrepreneurial spirit and create something meaningful.  We discussed what led us down this particular path and shared our research on the benefits of hyperlocal hydroponics over conventional farming and distribution:

• Conventional Farming 
  • Season & Weather Challenges
  • Heavy Water Usage
  • Pesticide, Herbicide, Fungicides
  • Carbon Heavy (Transport/Distribution)
  • Nutritional Loss
• Hyperlocal Hydroponics
  • Season & Weather Agnostic
  • High Water Efficiency (90% less water used)
  • No Chemicals (Organic Fertilizer)
  • Consistent, Faster, Higher Yields
  • Farm to Table = Higher Nutrition

We took the audience through our first 141 day journey which included: learning (research, testing and experimentation), building (designing vertical systems and fine-tuning environmental requirements), marketing (launching our Tasting Team), sales (from farmers markets to our website launch September 15) - all while officially forming our LLC. We discussed the company vision, our product offerings and where we are heading next.  

Mark even brought along a fully functioning hydroponic prototype unit he built for a live demonstration - a hands-on way to show how efficiently and sustainably food can be grown year-round, right here in our community. 

Connecting 

The room was filled with the kind of energy that makes you feel instantly supported - warm smiles, engaged eyes, heads nodding along in agreement, and genuine, sincere curiosity. After our presentation, members went around the room asking thoughtful questions, offering ideas and sharing encouragement. We were left feeling completely energized and deeply grateful.

We handed out a few of our favorite microgreen samples and were thrilled to see everyone's reactions - surprise at melon-like sweetness of cantaloupe microgreens, delight at the tangy citrusy kick of red00veined sorrel, and wide-eyed appreciation for there bold spice of red stemmed radish. Everyone found a favorite, and the energy int he room intensified. It was exactly the kind of inspiring, collaborative conversation that reminds us why we love being part of this wonderful community. 

Growing

A heartfelt thank you to Ann Ormond, President of the Andover Rotary Club , for inviting us to present, and to every member who welcomed us so warmly.

As Leaf Water Farms Continues to grow, we hope our friends from Andover Rotary Club will follow along - on Instagram @leafwaterfarms, visit our website www.leafwaterfarms.com, and maybe even order some products to difference our greens can make. 

From caring to growing, it's amazing how the roots of community keep deepening- especially when you nurture what you love.