Earthwise Organic Designs
About Us
I was born on a farm in NW Iowa. My Dad was a farmer as were most men I knew. My Mom was a teacher and a soil conservation activist.
I watched my Dad, Grandfather and many of their farmer friends die of cancer. The prostate cancer rate for my home county was many times greater than the national rate. My brother Pat died of cancer in 2020. He was the only one of us 7 kids to go into farming. Chemical pesticides played a role
Years later, I oversaw grounds at a children’s hospital and the playground looked awful because I refused to apply the toxic chemicals. I started using organic methods and products on the playground and after 3 years, the playground was looking better than the rest of the grounds that we were treating with conventional chemicals and pesticides and it was easier to maintain.
Staff asked me to do it at their houses and so I began by doing it on the side. This was in 1986. I really don’t have much of an ag education. I have a BS in Business Management and spent much of my career working for startups in various industries. I learned a lot about starting a business but the organics/soil microbiology was gleaned from my own research and trials. I was a single dad. After I put my daughter to bed at night I would get on the computer and go deep to learn as much as I could about organics and other subjects.
I purposely avoided university classes as I didn’t think I would get an objective, agenda-free education by taking classes from organizations that were funded by Big Ag conglomerates like Cargill, Monsanto, etc.
After attending organic and sustainable farming workshops, I took what I learned and started an organic lawn care business so I could apply my knowledge to help people with lawns and gardens in an urban and suburban environment. As a result, I developed methods and products that were unconventional but very effective.
I also launched a line of pre-designed pollinator gardens. These let home owners take problem lawn areas, like a boulevard or sections with deep shade, and turn them into a natural oasis that regenerates pollinators, people, and the planet. Pollinator Gardens made up about 25% of our sales during our last season.
I sold my lawn care business in 2024 and now own Earthwise Organic Consulting, providing analysis and recommendations for making your landscape sustainable. I get to focus on my research and helping customers achieve a healthy, safe yard that protects kids, pollinators, and the environment.
- Bob Dahm