Sustainability & Our Process | Wade Greens Farms

Our process, start to finish, implements best known practices for land conservation and reducing carbon footprint. It's a responsibility that we take pride and ownership in making sure that whether it is a nursery plant or produce, that each step ensures to use materials that are natural.

Materials & Growing Practices

We grow the right plants, the right way, for our area. Instead of relying on a bunch of synthetic products, Wade Greens builds healthy soil with our own compost and locally sourced amendments — that means stronger plants for you and fewer chemicals in the process.

We also use natural, integrated pest management (IPM), so we focus on preventing problems instead of spraying after the fact.

And because we’re in Lineville, AL (zones 7–8), we stick to proven, region-friendly varieties, so you’re not buying plants that will struggle in your yard — you’re getting the ones that actually thrive here.

Water, Energy & Infrastructure Efficiency

Drip/ebb-and-flow/ timed irrigation → less labor + less water.

Use shade cloth, ventilation, and thermal mass to reduce cooling costs in the greenhouse.

Capture/redirect rainwater for wash/irrigation where legal. This makes scaling to 10k+ plants less painful.

Market Fit & Waste Reduction

Grow what the markets actually buy and schedule crops so you’re not dumping mature plants.

Have a “second channel” for near-miss product: slightly leggy plants → discount rack; extra produce → CSA/mixed boxes; leftovers → restaurants/local makers.

Track SKUs by sell-through, not by vibes — sustainability = not overgrowing the wrong thing.

Inputs & Growing Practices

Prioritize compost, local soil amendments, and integrated pest management (IPM) so you’re not dependent on expensive synthetic inputs every season. ---- Build fertility on-site (compost, leaf mold, spent plant material) so your potting/growing mixes get cheaper and better over time. ---- For nursery: standardize a few proven, region-appropriate cultivars so you’re not wasting trays on stuff that won’t sell in Lineville/AL zones 7–8.

Water, Energy & Infrastructure Efficiency

Drip/ebb-and-flow/ timed irrigation → less labor + less water. Use shade cloth, ventilation, and thermal mass to reduce cooling costs in the greenhouse. Capture/redirect rainwater for wash/irrigation where legal. This makes scaling to 10k+ plants less painful.

Market Fit & Waste Reduction

Grow what the markets actually buy and schedule crops so you’re not dumping mature plants. Have a “second channel” for near-miss product: slightly leggy plants → discount rack; extra produce → CSA/mixed boxes; leftovers → restaurants/local makers. Track SKUs by sell-through, not by vibes — sustainability = not overgrowing the wrong thing.

EXPLORE OUR PROCESS

We feel like it's deserved to any consumer to know where and what the product goes through from end to end. We've broke our process into more details for you in our blog.

LEARN MORE