We create and support local growers' consortiums that take orders, and coordinate marketing, sales, and distribution from multiple small gardeners in urban regions, all using our proprietary production, marketing and customer-relations software, based on a decade of practical experience. (MORE INFO)
We offer training on indoor gardening in cooperation with local institutions and non-profit organizations, teaching co-operative growing and marketing organization that helps home-based and entrepreneurs and local non-profit organizations improve nutrition and build income in their communities.
We produce microgreens and mature vegetables hydroponically for sale in the central Puget Sound area.
Sample/test growing unit.
Our Team
Rees Clark
Managing director, program analyst
My working life started with the inevitable newspaper route and a summer on a camellia farm, shoveling, shall we say, organic matter, propagating seedlings and transplanting them to ever larger containers. I have worked as an urban planner, university professor and entrepreneur for over 50 years, after taking academic degrees in geography, political science and government.
I happily joined my longtime friend Michael Twiggs in 2013 to help establish Garden of Eden Indoor Farming and later Evergarden Farms. I currently oversee Evergarden's web-based services and consult with our partners about cooperative online services and hydroponic project development, curriculum and finance.
I worked in local government in Southern California and Pennsylvania and formerly taught at Penn State, Villanova, University of Maryland and Colgate University. Since 1980 I have worked principally in data services management and consulting. I was a co-founder of Clark Internet, a developer of web tools for small businesses and non-profits, which now partners with Evergarden Farms on applications supporting independent gardening and related networks.
My professional history includes
Co-founder, Evergarden Farms, 2015, consulting, business development
Garden of Eden Urban Farming, 2013, consultant, organizer
Co-founder, President, Clark Internet - clarkinternet.com - 1994
Co-founder, President, BG Information Systems - 1990
Lecturer, The Pennsylvania State University, geography, 1971-72
City Planner, County of Los Angeles, 1968-69
City Planner, City of Los Angeles, 1965
Education
Ph.D., Geography, The Pennslvania State University - 1979;
M.A., Geography, Los Angeles State University, Los Angeles - 1972;
B.A., Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles - 1965
Languages
English, Spanish, French, German by decreasing fluency with read-only understanding in others.
Other Interests
Vice-president and board member, Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI), 2002-2022
Founding director, LETI Vocational School - 2019
Communications consultant, web content manager, Web design, cloud applications inventor:
Seattle Press 1998
African American Business Link 1994;
Latino Educational Training Institute 2002;
Maxine Mimms Academies 2004;
Standard Biofuels Consortium 2007-present;
among others
Kade Eckert
Operations Manager, project developer
Kade Eckert
I like to solve problems, build valuable relationships and incite meaningful change in the ever-changing world around me. My true passions and ambitions lie with food, from perfecting my latest dish to finding ways to live more sustainably. I’m driven by innovation and seek any opportunity to use technology as a tool to elevate my abilities and feed my curiosity.
Skills: Whole-Food Plant-Based Nutrition / Culinary Arts, Problem Solving, Photography (Product + Landscape), Project Management, Indoor Vertical Farming / Agriculture, Hydroponics, Business Development, Operations Management, Consulting, Graphic Design, Business Strategy, 3D Printing / Small Scale Manufacturing, Active Listening, Fitness / Nutrition
Application Proficiency: Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, etc.), G Suite (Drive, Sheets, Docs, Mail), Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint), Autodesk 360, Ultimaker Cura, Airtable, Quickbooks (Invoicing / Light Bookkeeping), Klaviyo Email Marketing, Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams
Experience
Evergarden Farms LLC -- April 2022-Present
Partner | Urban Farmer / Field Operations Manager / Marketing. Responsibilities: Project Management, Agriculture, Business Development, Operations Management, Problem Solving, Marketing, Graphic Design
John L. Scott Real Estate -- January 2022-Present
Freelance | Marketing Strategy / Business Dev. ConsultingResponsibilities: Graphic Design / Mixed Media Strategy and Execution, Opportunity/Structured Analysis, Problem Solving.
Joe Chocolate Co. -- March 2021-Jan 2022
Full-time | Sales and Marketing Specialist / Business Development. Responsibilities: Fulfillment/Sales Management, Customer Service/Social Media Interaction, Events Planning, Outbound Sales, Marketing Campaign Development, Intangibles and Idea Execution, Retail Strategy Execution, Product Development/Small Scale Manufacturing, 3D Printing
Startup / Internship Experience
The 2050 Company: Business Development / Marketing (Internship); Sustainable smoothies made with reclaimed produce to reduce food waste
AdventureTripr: Business Development / Sustainability (Internship); international outdoor trip tourism software
U.W. Sensors and Automation Laboratory: Business Commercialization (School Program); orthopedic device for scoliosis
Currently, I am working with Evergarden Farms to build a business that assists in the development of hyperlocal food economies, connecting small independent growers via software to meet larger supply chain needs. Creating access to education on fresh, local and nutritious vegetables is our primary objective, but we see many opportunities to use technology and innovation to impact our communities in a positive way.
Academic Background
2014-2017 • Lewis and Clark High School | Valedictorian, 4.000 GPA
2017-2021 • University of Washington, Foster School of Business | BA Marketing + Entrepreneurship
2020-2021 • University of Washington, Jack + Anne Rhodes Sales Program | Professional Sales Certificate
2022 • Cornell University, T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Sciences | Plant Based Nutrition Certification
Awards and Accomplishments
2020 Dempsey Startup Competition • 3rd Place | The 2050 Company ($7,500 prize)
2020 Best Consumer Product Idea | The 2050 Company ($2,500 prize)
2020 NW Entrepreneurship Competition Startup Competition • 1st Place| The 2050 Company ($10,000 prize)
Michael Twiggs
Senior gardener; principal educator
I spent several decades as a technology professional with both technical and management experience in the manufacturing, telecommunications, banking and education industries.
My recent passion is growing fresh fruits and vegetables indoors all year-round. I apply my knowledge and experience in systems design and integration to develop new sustainable business models for food production. To that end I was a co-founder of Evergarden Farms. My emphasis is on building relationships with local organizations seeking to improve nutrition in underserved communities, which we do through our non-profit affiliate Garden of Eden Urban Farming.
My professional history includes technical, supervisory, management and consulting experience.
Significant projects have included custom website design, online publication of newspapers and magazines; integration of Internet technologies with business operations; electronic commerce and catalog development; after-school distance learning program design and implementation; online curriculum administration (K-12); computer lab installation and network administration; wireless Internet connectivity and installation; and a variety of related technology training and consulting services.
Client industries have included banking, real estate, law, accounting, aerospace, retail, education, utilities, employment services, and numerous federal, state, county, and municipal government agencies.
Active in numerous community-based organizations; journalist, group facilitator and business advisor; Board member of numerous local, national and international associations
Web experience includes strategic planning, and the integration of Internet technology with business operations.
Extensive project and program management experience in Web design and development, technology integration, technical support, training and consulting services.
Personal computer experience includes both PC and Macintosh systems; online publishing, video, digital photography and the use of related applications and accessories.
Experienced with legacy, personal computer systems and related technologies; as owner, director, manager, supervisor, webmaster, system analyst, programmer/analyst, recovery analyst and technical consultant to non-profit, private corporations and government agencies
Knowledgeable in business technology evaluation and procurement; strategic planning, wireless Internet connectivity, broadband services, Web-based application services, and the integration of new technologies with current business operations.
Clark Internet – Project Manager, National Sales Director
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Internet Strategies Seminars - "New Tools for the New Millennium”
Louise Jones McKinney Ethnic Learning Center - Board of Directors
Mount Zion Youth Enrichment Foundation - Board of Directors
African Forum Newspaper; Journalist; Computers & Technology
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Deacon, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Seattle
EDUCATION
Evergreen State College, Tacoma (BA 2013) Environmental Studies
University of Missouri, Kansas City. Computer Science / Mathematics
Contact Us
This information is for postal and telephone contact only. Please contact us to arrange meetings.
Evergarden Farms
Communications Center
149 South 140th St
Unit 222
Burien, WA98168
206-769-8778
Evergarden Farm(s)™ is a trademark of Evergarden Farms LLC, registered in the State of Washington. All rights reserved.
The Evergarden Network is a consortium of independent growers of microgreens and other vegetables in urban vertical gardens around the world, who share growing and marketing techniques, procedures and opportunities.
