Founder Story : Dan Nowell
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I have always enjoyed interesting people and always look for every person’s strength and potential. I am a connector of people because I want every person to reach their potential. It seems like I can see how one person can help another and how other people can be profitable once they meet people who can help them. As a child I grew up in Southern California but when I was 10 my parents moved us to Iraq. We went in our camper on a ship, and I experienced quite a culture shock when I lived there. After four years we moved back to California for high school, and I then moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University. I have always been fascinated and curious about geology and geography. Outdoor spaces and terroir are my passion. I also realize that I work better as an entrepreneur than an employee. After college I started a commercial blind business that I ran with my wife. It was very successful but not fulfilling or interesting to me. I then got into brokering large land parcels all over the southwest. These land parcels were suited mostly for farmers and ranchers and miners all of whom fascinated me. This was also a very successful business and I had to commute thousands of miles to see property and do due diligence and research and to meet buyers and sellers (many of them farmers). I received an education in land use.
When the market crashed in 2008, I found myself in the game of musical chairs without a chair. Although I thought I was conservative when prices dipped, I became over leveraged. I was disillusioned with real estate and wanted to do something more meaningful. In my conversations with farmers and in my spare time I read about soils, compost, and hemp I decided this is where my passion was. I have been focused on this ever since. I started a compost company and learned the ropes. I met with local farmers and hemp seed producers in Europe. Through this process I learned that sustainable farming is organic and requires both compost and farms need cover crops- hence hemp as a rotation crop. I then met Mike McMahon. Although at times we seem to be an unlikely pair his discipline and his business acumen and financial strength was exactly what I needed. We started Soil Seed and Water LLC.
When the market crashed in 2008, I found myself in the game of musical chairs without a chair. Although I thought I was conservative when prices dipped, I became over leveraged. I was disillusioned with real estate and wanted to do something more meaningful. In my conversations with farmers and in my spare time I read about soils, compost, and hemp I decided this is where my passion was. I have been focused on this ever since. I started a compost company and learned the ropes. I met with local farmers and hemp seed producers in Europe. Through this process I learned that sustainable farming is organic and requires both compost and farms need cover crops- hence hemp as a rotation crop. I then met Mike McMahon. Although at times we seem to be an unlikely pair his discipline and his business acumen and financial strength was exactly what I needed. We started Soil Seed and Water LLC.