From Poultry to Petunias: Growing a Family Business Across Generations episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 29 MIN

From Poultry to Petunias: Growing a Family Business Across Generations

from The Business of Family · host Tammy Buss

What does it take to grow a family business for nearly 75 years, without losing what makes it special?In this episode, Tammy sits down with Tom Estabrook of Estabrook’s, a Maine staple that started as a poultry farm and evolved into a thriving, multi-generation garden center.From chickens to peppers to petunias, Tom shares:• How Estabrook’s evolved across four generations• What it’s really like working alongside siblings, cousins, and the next generation• How communication keeps the family, and the business, strong• Why “if you’re not growing, you’re dying” isn’t just a saying• And how failing occasionally can be one of your greatest teachersWhether you’re navigating succession, balancing tradition with innovation, or figuring out how to work with family, this conversation is packed with wisdom.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #FamilyOwnedBusiness #MultiGenerationalBusiness #FamilyEnterprise #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #SuccessionPlanning #NextGenerationLeadership #BusinessLegacy #BuiltToLast #GardenCenter #MaineBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BlueRoots #Estabrooks

What does it take to grow a family business for nearly 75 years, without losing what makes it special?In this episode, Tammy sits down with Tom Estabrook of Estabrook’s, a Maine staple that started as a poultry farm and evolved into a thriving, multi-generation garden center.From chickens to peppers to petunias, Tom shares:• How Estabrook’s evolved across four generations• What it’s really like working alongside siblings, cousins, and the next generation• How communication keeps the family, and the business, strong• Why “if you’re not growing, you’re dying” isn’t just a saying• And how failing occasionally can be one of your greatest teachersWhether you’re navigating succession, balancing tradition with innovation, or figuring out how to work with family, this conversation is packed with wisdom.🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts#TheBusinessOfFamily #FamilyBusiness #FamilyOwnedBusiness #MultiGenerationalBusiness #FamilyEnterprise #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #SuccessionPlanning #NextGenerationLeadership #BusinessLegacy #BuiltToLast #GardenCenter #MaineBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BlueRoots #Estabrooks

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From Poultry to Petunias: Growing a Family Business Across Generations

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This episode was published on March 24, 2026.

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What does it take to grow a family business for nearly 75 years, without losing what makes it special?In this episode, Tammy sits down with Tom Estabrook of Estabrook’s, a Maine staple that started as a poultry farm and evolved into a thriving,...

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