About Our Wholesale Nursery
and Sustainable Growing Practices

Jerry started his career in 1970 after earning a B.S. Agronomy degree from Purdue, first working at Summit Hall Turf Farm in Gaithersburg, MD. In 1973 he co-founded what became a five state regional lawn service called Hydro Lawn based in Gaithersburg. In 1990 he started his nursery production career with 25 acres known as River Farm Nursery. The land for Waverly Farm was purchased in 1996 with planting begun in 1997. His responsibilities today include propagation, all aspects of field production, a broad interest in improving nursery production through many research initiatives, and various administrative activities. He says he is a businessman first who just happens to be growing plants, but his love of agriculture generally and enjoyment gained through the production of ornamental plants suggests he is a grower first.

As a Managing Editor at Bloomberg BNA, I was responsible for leading a team of editors and research analysts to develop and maintain content on state, federal, and international HR law. After twelve years, I decided it was time to try something different. I found it at Waverly Farm. 

Given my background, the nursery business did not look like the perfect fit. And yet, I soon found that research, administrative, and customer service skills from my previous career transferred smoothly into my new role at Waverly Farm.

Whether I was saving my mother's house plants from dehydration or rescuing volunteer trees from sudden lawn mower death, I have always been moved by a passion for plants, soil, and anything green. I feel so fortunate that this late in my career, Jerry took a chance on a completely inexperienced yet enthusiastic applicant, and I'm finally doing what I love. Each day is spent expanding my brain learning Latin plant names, improving my plant identification skills, and figuring out ways to provide the best customer service that I can. 

I earned my BA from Hood College, and an MBA from American University. I worked for many years in legal publishing, before moving to Frederick to get away from the DC rat race. Prior to that I was living and working in Europe and Africa. 

At home, I live with two crazy dogs and two lazy cats. My son and daughter are launched from the nest and currently living in Seattle, which provides lots of great travel opportunities into a gardener's paradise.

Growing up in Sykesville, MD, I have always been driven by a blend of creativity and business. Out of high school, I initially followed the path of fine arts as I got a degree in Art & Design from Towson University. However, my journey took a pivotal turn in the middle of college when I began managing a certified gluten-free facility.

When the facility faced closure, I recognized a crucial need within the community and so my family and I took ownership and built the company up to where it is today. Sanctuary: Modern Kitchen is now one of the fastest growing gluten-free facilities in the DMV. I now play a key role in the business operations where I oversee the licensing and certifications.

With school completed and Sanctuary stabilized, I have shifted my focus to exploring my growing interest in business. At Waverly, I can expand my knowledge and experience with a twist. While performing administrative tasks is my interest, I will also be required to expand my knowledge of horticulture with hours out in the fields learning about each plant and continue to blend my passion for creativity and business.

I grew up at Waverly Farm, taking over as Forman when my Father retired years ago.  I am bilingual and serve as the main communication between the office and the field, making sure everything is seamless. I manage all the equipment, planting, digging and shipping and staff, whom I’m able to delegate tasks to, like irrigation and loading. I have a great crew that comes over from Mexico each year who know the business and work really well together. When I’m not working I spend time with my family, go swimming in the local river, play in a band and go out dancing.

Growing up in the industry, I learned at a very young age what it's like to put your back into the better end of a shovel. My father owned and operated Meadowyck Nursery in Vincentown NJ, offering landscape design/build along with a 6 acre nursery growing Taxus, Arborvitae, japanese holly and boxwood. The early years on the job with my Dad and brothers taught me the value of hard work and the pride associated with a job well done. After graduating Rowan University (back then Glassboro State) I was faced with the major question of what to do with my life. After a few years of dead end jobs in the airline industry I fell back on my love for horticulture. In 1988 I started as the inside sales rep for Medford Nursery in Medford NJ. I was awarded my first sales territory for Robert Baker Companies in !989 covering lower New England. Thirty two years later, here I am, loving what I do and proud to say that I am standing on my fathers shoulders with the same passion for making this world a greener place. Having a passion for swimming and the piano, I still find time to get dirt under my fingernails.

Each year we bring in a crew of 18-21 gentlemen from Hidalgo, Mexico under the H2A program.  The guys chose amongst themselves who comes back each year, and some have been coming for around 20 years!  In their free time they enjoy talking with family, playing soccer, cooking, swimming and dancing.  They spend 10 months out of the year here, returning for winter to get some time with their friends and family, and to work on their houses. They work very hard and you can often find them singing in the fields, even on the very hottest of days.