Growing Soil, Gardeners, and Community
As with most anything we undertake, gardening rarely begins with mastery. It starts with a small curiosity about a plant and nature and is assured to produce more mistakes than successes. But those mistakes turn into lessons, and lessons fuel a desire to keep learning—and occasionally succeeding.
As we celebrate Organic Mechanics’ 20 years in business, we also applaud those who learn, grow and connect with one another through gardening. Gardening is for everyone, no matter where they begin.
Rooted in Soil
When Organic Mechanics was founded in 2006, most potting mixes relied heavily on peat and perlite as majority components. But co-founders Mark Highland and Jim Flanigan were inspired by a deep curiosity about soil and how it works. They focused on creating something different: living, biologically active soil.
As Mike Betterly, Chief Marketing Officer for Organic Mechanics, explains, “Mark became a real expert in soils, especially soils that had biology in them, what we now call living soils.” At the time, that idea of adding compost to bring life into soil, especially in containers, was still relatively new in the industry. In fact, Organic Mechanics had the first OMRI-listed, compost-based potting soil in the US!
The company’s beginnings were hands-on with every aspect of the business. “Mark and Jim literally started the company with a shovel and a wheelbarrow, putting potting soil into bags,” Mike says. They launched with a single product, the Premium Blend Potting Soil, and began building relationships with garden centers, greenhouses, and growers to gain a market for their product.
Our first product, Premium Blend Potting Soil!
Those relationships and the quality of their materials grew Organic Mechanics steadily over the next two decades. Today, Organic Mechanics offers a range of regenerative organic products and serves the soil needs of both professional growers and home gardeners.
Mike’s Gardening Arc
Mike’s own gardening journey mirrors the company’s philosophy: start small, learn by doing, and grow from there.
His first gardening experiences came as a child alongside his grandfather. One early project stands out. “The first project I worked on with my grandfather was a cold frame,” he recalls, built from an old glass-paneled door to keep rabbits out of the garden. “Through that project, I got to learn about some of the plants in his veggie garden, like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.” It was a simple introduction, but it sparked a lasting interest in gardening.
Later, working as an estate gardener gave him a different perspective—one rooted in the realities of physical labor. “I was the grunt worker, pulling weeds, lifting logs, moving stone,” he says. It was demanding work, but it deepened his understanding of what it takes to maintain a thriving garden.
Mike working the compost pile!
When Mike joined Organic Mechanics in 2010, he brought his business background with him and continued learning horticulture on the job. One of his most impactful experiences came through a community garden project the company helped create.
Using leftover soil blends, the team built raised beds near their facility and partnered with a local nonprofit. “We’d donate a lot of the food back,” he says. The effort grew into weekly gatherings where harvested produce was turned into shared meals.
For Mike, it was a turning point: “We got involved with not only growing food and harvesting it for the community, but also there were educational aspects for kids in the community. That was my first real experience in knowing what intensive vegetable gardening is all about.”
Today, his gardening has evolved from windowsill succulents in a small space to container and backyard gardening on a small urban plot. Like any gardener, Mike continues to experiment, adapt, and learn.
Mike at a stunning floral exhibit at the Philly Flower Show
Gardening Is for Everyone
One of the most consistent themes in Mike’s own gardening story is accessibility. Gardening doesn’t require expertise to begin, but just a willingness to try.
“I think it takes time and it takes small victories, not necessarily large ones,” he says.
New to gardening? His advice is simple: start small. “Start with something that’s tough to kill,” he explains, noting that early success builds confidence. Even one thriving plant can create momentum.
Succulents are an easy way to get into gardening!
At the same time, he’s quick to point out that challenges are part of the process. Conditions change, environments vary, and not every plant will succeed. It’s learning, not failure.
“I find that I always want to go to the nth degree,” Mike admits, but suggests that scaling back expectations can make gardening more manageable, more enjoyable, and more accessible to all. “The key is to build gradually, gaining knowledge and confidence along the way.”
Connecting Gardens and Communities
For Organic Mechanics, gardening is greater than individual success. Gardening is about connection.
The company works with a wide range of growers, from greenhouse professionals to home gardeners trying their first container. “We’re really lucky to be able to serve a wide variety of customers, and I think that separates us from everybody else,” Mike says.
That reach extends into communities, as well. Over the years, Organic Mechanics has supported school gardens, community gardens, and other initiatives that bring people together through growing. Giving back is a core value. “We’ve donated to prison gardens and community gardens and school gardens … giving back, I think, is always a key part of our company's mission,” Mike says.
The personal connections that gardening creates are just as valuable. Plants are shared, passed along, and remembered. “When you’re sharing plants, you’re sharing your love of gardening,” he explains. “And you’re giving them something that’s going to help benefit their life.”
Mark and the Coatesville Youth Initiative celebrating their summer garden success
At the same time, sustainability remains central to the company’s mission. Organic Mechanics continues to focus on peat-free, biology-based products and resists trends that prioritize marketing over substance. “We want to make sure that everyone’s getting a consistent product that is going to be beneficial for their plant,” Mike says.
Growing with Purpose
Looking ahead, Organic Mechanics is focused on steady, intentional growth, expanding its reach while staying true to its values. “We’re not going to abandon those principles,” Mike says, referring to the company’s commitment to sustainability and soil health.
After nearly two decades, the goal remains simple: help plants thrive and help people succeed in gardening. Whether it’s a single houseplant or an abundant home garden, every gardener starts somewhere—and every garden has the potential to connect someone to something bigger than oneself.
