Scotty Calhoun

Scotty Calhoun is a fourth generation horticulturalist, raised in Rochester, New York, now living in Cortez, Colorado. He talked with me about the knowledge he's gained from his forefathers. His great grandfather came over from Holland with seeds in his pockets. That man, then his son (Scott's grandfather), and Scott's father and, of course, Scott himself, all worked the farm in upstate New York. It's a business that still exists today, run by Scotty's uncle and cousin. Scotty continued his horticultural journey with work at places like the Chicago Botanic Garden. This work is a constant calculus of considering the weather, the seasons, the soil, the condition of the plants, the state of the equipment, and who is showing for work on any given day. Scotty shares some thoughtful thoughts on, of all things, burlap. Burlap is essential and low tech. And when it decomposes, is it gone? Is all the burlap used by his family really gone? Or does it live on in the soil and in the plants themselves?