We recently connected with Jackie Dickinson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jackie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

My target market is supporting gardeners desiring a natural solution for fertilizer for their raised beds, patio and container gardens. These DIY folks are supplementing their grocery budget with homegrown plants, fruits, and vegetables. There is a huge growing shift of health conscious and do-it-yourself gardeners in this industry.

Sometimes it is difficult the first time to try something new, like using worm castings as an alternative to traditional fertilizers. We love to help make life a little bit easier. Our simple to use instructions on our packaging will make it simple to use worm castings.

Also, we understand gardening and healthy lifestyle is a journey of discovery. That’s why we are now sharing our story on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. We are learning just like everyone else, and it helps to have friends along the way!

Jackie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We are on a journey of homesteading and discovery; offering natural products that promote a healthy lifestyle. The dream to begin a worm farm was born, thus, Straight Path Farms, LLC was established in 2021. Worm castings and our soil improvement products are simple and easy to use. Our goal is straightforward – choose a pathway that adds value to our life and the lives of people around us.

Many of my customers were looking for natural fertilizer, but there was a problem – they did not want the 40 lb. packages I had to offer. They wanted a one-time use, small package with simple instructions. So, I went to work finding the perfect fit. I am finding that many first-time users of worm castings or folks with patio gardens like an easy solution. Here’s a quick glance at our Soil Booster and Worm Casting Tea –
• Worm castings are naturally organic and will not burn plants
• Consumable, one-time usage package
• Simple instructions and easy to use
• Sustainable focus with packaging made from Post-Consumer Recycled Materials
• USA product and packaging

With this success, I want to develop other product lines in the garden industry. It takes time and investment to develop products. Also, sustainability is a must and because of this we are careful with our practices and have very little waste.

Most recently, my farm has been certified as a Women Owned Small Business WOSB by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) for the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program (WOSB Program). This was no small task, and I am thankful for the achievement and the doors that will open.

As you can imagine, I love gardening and the outdoors. Getting dirty is not a problem and I always have a new project to explore. Straight Path Farms, LLC is a dream come true and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2019 I became a single mom and started to rebuild my life. There was no option but to look up and start dreaming again. I started setting goals and even made a visual goal board to hang on the wall. This was a frequent reminder of what my future was going to look like.

In May of 2022, I celebrated graduation with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Leadership. I have many cheerleaders pushing me forward. My parents, my siblings, and most of all my four children. Some of them shake their heads in amazement and wonder as to where I find my energy. Others are along for the ride but all of them support and love me.

There is a time for sorrow, but the future is full of opportunity. I’m so glad I found a future and I hope I can inspire others to move forward too!

Have you ever had to pivot?

You are not alone and should never try to conquer the world on your own strength. There were times when I would work late into the night or get up early to do enormous amounts of work. I thought pushing hard and pulling myself up by my bootstraps would help me. In reality, it made me more exhausted and miserable.

There’s a time to push yourself but I now have learned to lean on others more and more. They have experience and wisdom that I haven’t even considered. Collaboration is important! I have learned to glean from other members of the community – businessmen and women, other vendors, individuals sharing success and failure stories. Word of mouth is a powerful tool and I appreciate others sharing their insight with me. Often, I get a new idea or find a new avenue to explore because of a recent discussion.

I’m learning to get enough sleep at night and trust the skill and expertise of friends and family around me. We are in this together – give help and accept help. Life is so much fuller and more enjoyable when we work together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://straightpathfarms.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackie.d.straightpathfarms/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StraightPathFarms
• Youtube: @JackieD.StraightPathFarms
• Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jackie.d.homesteader/video/7259048820674153770

Image Credits
RE Photography