Meet Sarah Kowal and Ben Leatherman | Farmers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Kowal and Ben Leatherman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah & Ben, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Humble Roots Garden began as just an idea years ago and has only recently turned into reality. We wanted to become more self-reliant and truly know where and how our food was grown. We also both have a passion for growing plants and Ben has many years of experience in the agriculture industry and as a horticulture educator. From the beginning, our goal was to grow fresh, flavorful, and high-quality food to reduce our grocery bill, eat healthier, and contribute to our own food security. As the issues with our modern food systems become more apparent, it feels timely to help provide a reconnection between the food and the farmer.

We started small with a portion of our side yard to grow a few vegetables and herbs, and of course no garden is complete without flowers. We experimented with different varieties to see what grows well here in South Florida. Eventually we had an abundance of the most delicious produce and beautiful blooms. Once we were growing more than we could eat ourselves, we started sharing with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who were equally excited and thankful to experience the homegrown goodness. Their positive feedback and support helped fuel us even more, and from there we decided to expand the garden and start the business to reach as many people in our community as possible. Along the way we have transformed our front and side yards to a working market garden. We want to show others that you do not need acres of farmland to grow healthy, delicious food or cut flowers.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our business is unique in many ways, but most notably due to the fact that we are growing on a very small footprint. With the exorbitant price and limited supply of land available in South Florida, our most natural means of pursuing this dream was by converting the land we are living on into our growing and operating space. So, we transformed the lawn at our modest suburban home into a beautiful, thriving garden.

Getting to where we are today has not been easy. It has been a lifelong education and labor of love to bring us to this point. The challenges of successfully growing a plant from seed to harvest are many and we have learned countless lessons throughout this journey. Additionally, we are currently both working full-time jobs outside of Humble Roots, so growing the business on a tight schedule has been challenging as well. By far, the hardest part of starting this business was simply just starting. We’ve learned you have to begin where you are, with what you have, and just keep moving forward. Starting and running a business means that you are inherently going to have to take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and hopefully enjoy the process along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the best parts of living in South Florida is that there is always so much to see and do. When we have friends or family in town we try to check out as many of these spots as possible!

Broward:

– Cruise the river through downtown Fort Lauderdale and Port Everglades, stop for a bite to eat at 15th Street Fisheries

– Visit the historic Bonnet House Museum and Gardens and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale, then enjoy delicious wine and Italian food at Wine + Garden

– Walk or bike the trails at Tree Tops Park or Robbins Preserve in Davie

– If it’s Sunday: Wake up early and bring coffee to watch the sunrise at the beach, then check out the Farmers Market at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, open from 9am-1pm (you’ll see us there!)

Miami:

– Spend the day exploring Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens—if you haven’t been it’s a must-see!

– Hang out in Wynwood for cold drinks, food, and of course all the amazing art. So many awesome places to choose from, but we really love Veza Sur Brewing Co.

– Rent kayaks at Oleta River State Park, bring a picnic and hang out on one of the islands nearby

Bonus:

– If time permits, a trip down to the Keys is always a good idea! For us the best part is seeing the beautiful blue-green waters and tons of wildlife

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our shoutout is dedicated to everyone who chooses to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. Going out on a limb and starting a business is not for the faint of heart. Every single customer at the farmers market, every bit of encouragement, and connecting with people that value our mission and work has become a driving force for what we do.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humblerootsgarden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumbleRootsFL/

Other: Email: humblerootsfl@gmail.com

Image Credits
For our main image, credit goes to Daniella Gual. The other 8 images are our own.