Newer to the market is Oberland Agriscience, a Canadian company founded in 2017 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its 2nd Nature brand began as a mission to make better use of food waste has grown into a movement to help people garden more sustainably, said Greg Wanger, Ph.D., founder and chief technology officer. Through the power of black soldier flies (BSF), food waste becomes natural, regenerative fertilizer that helps plants thrive, giving gardeners a simple way to grow healthier gardens while caring for the planet. He said the name 2nd Nature has a double meaning: It speaks to giving pre-consumer food waste a second life, transforming it into something valuable again through natural fertilizer. “But it also reflects how we want regenerative gardening to feel for our customers,” he said, “simple, intuitive and second nature. It’s about making eco-friendly choices easy and rewarding for every gardener.” Considering Customers’ Needs While interest in organic gardening has been growing for decades, Brunner said the post-COVID years brought “an unprecedented surge. With more people spending time at home, many discovered — and rediscovered — the joy of gardening. Whether experimenting with raised beds, container plantings, edible gardens or full landscape projects, new gardeners wanted to succeed, and they sought brands they could trust to align with their values while still delivering results.” She said these customers sought to grow plants naturally, support pollinators and reduce chemical usage. “Espoma was ready for that moment, and our products helped them do exactly that,” he said. “Customers consistently tell us they appreciate that our products are safe for people, pets and the planet, and that they deliver dependable, noticeable results without compromising the environment.” Coast of Maine’s Lawson agreed. “Great plant growth tends to be the deciding factor. … Once gardeners use Coast of Maine organic soils, they tend to come back to their independent garden center for more, season after season.” Oberland Agriscience’s Wanger said the new generation of gardeners —whether they consider themselves growers, plant parents or home gardeners — is transforming the plant care market with their strong focus on sustainability and meaningful choices. “Today’s younger plant enthusiasts want more than just beautiful results; they want to understand what’s inside the products they use and how those products impact them and the planet.” He said transparency is key for this demographic — to them, gardening is an act of environmental stewardship, not a hobby — so they seek natural, family- and pet-friendly ingredients. “This exciting shift inspired brands like 2nd Nature to make regenerative gardening easy, effective and accessible for everyone, helping a new generation nurture plants while caring for the planet.” “The goal is to make natural plant care feel easy and rewarding, like something gardeners want to choose, not something they have to figure out. That’s the spirit behind 2nd Nature —making regenerative gardening second nature for everyone.”
