I think one of the biggest ways my experience at NC shaped my career was by immersing myself with like-minded people. NC helped me build a solid network of people who shared my interests, not to mention the faculty of Horticulture is awesome and has been there for support every step of the way, both when I was a student, and, now, as an alumni.
Going back to school at 30 can seem daunting to some, but Evan knew his affinity for plants could lead him to a fulfilling career. Hadley was no stranger to post-secondary education having already gone to university for English and later Television and Broadcasting. Unfortunately, Hadley felt that he was just going to school for the sake of going to school and wasn’t truly passionate about these two programs. This time would be different.
Hadley enrolled in the Horticulture Technician program at Niagara College which would prove the be the right decision. The program aligned with his interests and allowed him to explore his fascination with urban farming and botanical gardens. After graduating he would land a career working in the cannabis industry, but this was just a steppingstone for what was to come next.
In June 2020 Hadley would be laid off and instead of finding any job, he chose to start his own business. This is how Grumpy’s Greens came to be. Grumpy’s Greens is an urban farm in St. Catharines and NOTL in which Hadley farms using regenerative agriculture practice on several plots throughout the region. The business is set to launch in 2021 and products will be available at local farmers’ markets and for CSA members through a weekly box of fresh seasonal veggies and greens.
“The horticulture program helped to prepare me, to a large degree, through the life experience that profs had to share. Hearing their stories, and having them lay out the course of their careers helped to reassure me that, although challenges can seem overwhelming right now, people can persevere and make something out of themselves in this field. Not to mention they all really seemed to genuinely enjoy their careers, which is inspiring.”
Keep an eye out for Grumpy’s Greens coming to a farmers’ market near you!