About Emory Knoll Farms

Emory Knoll Farms is the only nursery in the USA that is dedicated solely to the propagation of plants for the green roof industry. Built on a 5th generation family farm, their wholesale nursery has been in operation since 1998, and was incorporated in 2004 by partners Ed Snodgrass and John Shepley. Emory Knoll Farms has supplied plants for more than seven hundred green roof projects in over twenty-five states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, as well as overseas. In October 2010, Emory Knoll Farms became one of the first Benefit Corporations in Maryland under the nation's first Benefit corporation statute. This means they publicly acknowledge their role in providing a public benefit as well as providing value for the stakeholders in the company.

As leaders in sustainable business in Maryland, the company have all been involved with various organizations such as the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance as well as leading the change in promoting Benefit Corporations in Maryland. So, becoming a B Corp made perfect sense for the company; which was already operating as one anyway.

Green roofs provide a significant public benefit by mitigating storm water runoff, providing filtration and sequestration of atmospheric pollutants, and restoring green space in urban environments. They also provide benefit to the building owners and occupants by lowering cooling costs, increasing property values, and by turning otherwise unused space into potential amenity space. By focusing solely on the green roof industry, Emory Knoll Farms helps the green building industry by ensuring that their expertise goes towards ensuring the success of green roof projects. In order to support LEED requirements that materials come from within 500 miles of a construction project, Emory Knoll Farms has partnered with select other growers across the US. With this network, they can support national customers without bearing the environmental cost of delivering plants nationally.

The Change We Seek®

Emory Knoll Farms aims to demonstrate that small businesses of any kind can operate in environmentally responsible and socially just ways, and can still provide equity for the stakeholders. In the nursery industry, sadly the trend is away from these things; with increased use of seasonal immigrant labor and chemical pest controls. Their aim is to show that these things are not necessary for a successful nursery operation. To that end, they:

· Hire local people, employ them year round, and pay them as professionals.Their  payroll supports just a few people that they expect to contribute to their bottom line(s) in every way. That money is spent primarily right back in the local economy where it supports other jobs;

· Use alternative and renewable energy sources such as solar energy and waste vegetable oil for their heat. And they designed their operation to require the minimum possible amount of all energy sources. This saves money AND the environment;

· Minimize the use of chemical fertilizers, and they avoid the use of pesticides except in rare cases where they are required by law. Since they only use about 5 acres of a 140 acre farm, any minimal runoff is effectively buffered and does not enter any waterways. And the remaining 135 acres is in a habitat restoration program for native flora and fauna.

Emory Knoll Farms, desires to be a role model for other nurseries and for all sorts of small businesses. Their systems are accessible to others and they will educate anyone who wants to come and learn more about how to run a sustainable business.

Emory Knoll Farms, Inc.

• Industry: Building Materials
• Product/Services: Green Roof Plants
• Location: Street, MD
• Ownership: Private
• http://www.greenroofplants.com