20 Years of Organic Mechanics
Twenty years ago, The Organic Mechanics Soil Co. was a scrappy business built on the conviction that gardening products could do better by the earth. As Organic Mechanics marks its 20th anniversary, the milestone offers a moment of reflection on how the company came to be and where it’s headed next.
At the center of that story is founder Mark Highland—an unlikely soil entrepreneur whose path wound from glassblowing studios to compost research plots to the bagged soils now trusted by a loyal and growing corps of gardeners, growers and landscape professionals.
From Art to Science
Mark grew up more interested in trees, flowers, and vegetables than in the soil that nurtured them. His passion, though, was in the world of art—specifically ceramics and glassblowing, which he studied at Jacksonville University in Florida. As fulfilling as that creative process was, however, the prospect of a life as an artist began to lose its shine.
Thinking back on his interests in nature and plants, Mark found his way to the University of Florida where he found a discipline he hadn’t previously considered: Environmental Horticulture. “I thought that prospect sounded amazing—it's environmental, and I get to work with plants. It was perfect for me,” Mark said. The coursework was intense, but for the first time, his environmental values and professional direction aligned.
Focusing on Earth-Friendly Options
During his studies in environmental horticulture, Mark began to notice a disconnect. Despite being closely aligned with nature, horticulture relied heavily on synthetic inputs. “That got me thinking about sustainability and its place in horticulture,” Mark says. Later on, while pursuing a master’s degree in the Longwood Gardens Graduate Program, he turned those thoughts into research, specifically studying whether compost could replace peat in growing media. Indeed, it could.
That research planted the seed for a company built to offer gardeners sustainable alternatives that didn’t sacrifice performance. “I started Organic Mechanics to give gardeners more earth-friendly options than what was available in 2006,” Mark says. Organic Mechanics would produce products that could be used for more than one season, that didn’t simply break down and disappear. The focus would be in creating a system that worked with soil, not against it.
From Bootstrap to Multiple Blends
Mark started Organic Mechanics in 2006 as a bootstrapped operation, working another job to get the business off the ground. His first product—Premium Blend Potting Soil—was blended by hand in large bins before heading to the bagging machine. Local independent garden centers were the nascent company’s first customers.
As demand grew, so did the product line. “We launched and continue to launch new products based on customer feedback,” Mark says. “We listened to what the garden centers needed, what they were lacking.” Mark recalls noticing that the cacti and succulent trend was taking off, so they launched their Cactus & Succulent Blend. “With each new product launch, we want to stay true to our core value of sustainability, but we also want to offer something into the marketplace that people want and could use. They not only want the product for their plants, but also because it’s the sustainable option.”
Gardeners Drive the Product Line
Organic Mechanics’ product development continues to be driven by feedback and a sense for what gardeners are looking for. Their initial Premium Blend was followed by the Container Blend, then Planting Mix Compost Blend, Seed Starting Blend and Worm Castings. Sometimes a tweak to the product line means removing an item. When their 1-lb. Worm Castings stopped making economic sense for their customers, they removed it from the lineup, leaving just the more budget-friendly 5-lb. bag option.
One of their most ambitious recent launches is 2nd Sand, a decorative sand alternative made from recycled glass. Nearly a decade in the making, 2nd Sand offers sparkle without the environmental cost of mined or imported materials—proof that their mission of sustainability is at the forefront of Organic Mechanics’ product development.
Products for the Planet
The company’s mission of sustainability has always been rooted in asking one central question: Is this more earth-friendly? That question guides ingredients, sourcing, partnerships and even packaging. Today, all Organic Mechanics bags are made with post-consumer recycled plastic. It costs more. Margins are tighter. But the decision reflects the company’s values.
This philosophy has guided Organic Mechanics’ partnership with the Rodale Institute, as well. Mark and the team wholeheartedly support the Institute’s mission of advancing research and education that enables farmers to transition to regenerative organic agricultural practices. “We're going to continue to work with partners like the Rodale Institute that have a commitment to regenerative agriculture, as we are committed to encouraging regenerative organic agriculture and regenerative horticulture on the home garden scale,” Mark says. The company supports Rodale with a portion of every bag sold being donated to the Institute to support regenerative agriculture research and training.
Sticking with Sustainability
Organic Mechanics’ future will be measured not just in increased distribution and availability but also in their products’ impact. New products are in the pipeline with the aim of replacing less sustainable counterparts. Look for these to debut in 2027.
Biochar—a core product that also highlights the company’s sustainability ethos—will play an increasingly important role. Through USDA conservation programs, Mark sees real potential for biochar, a lifetime soil amendment, to help growers increase yield while reducing fertilizer inputs. For gardeners who want the benefits of biochar without having to amend it themselves, Biochar Blend is a soil amendment that can benefit most any plant.
What Lies Ahead
Organic Mechanics may be a small company, but it is deeply connected to and supported by a network of independent suppliers, partners, garden centers and gardeners who share its values. “We could not have gotten to this point without the amazing horticulture community,” Mark says. “We’re incredibly grateful for the community that supported us to this point. And we’re definitely looking forward to the next 20 years.”
After 20 years, Organic Mechanics stands as proof that a values-driven company can survive, adapt, and grow without losing its soul. And as the next chapter begins, the work continues with the company’s roots firmly planted in doing right by the earth.
By Ellen Wells
