Venturesome
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Insight to Business Magazine
April 10, 2010
By Mary Beth Matzek
An excerpt from the article
In an area where agriculture remains an essential economic component, Nelson and Pade Inc. is using innovation and entrepreneurship to take the sector to the next level. Located in the Marquette County city of Montello, Nelson and Pade provides aquaponic technology, systems and supplies to buyers across the country and the world.
The company’s founders – Rebecca Nelson and John Pade – are also well known for their workshops and expertise in aquaponics, a sustainable method of growing food in which you raise fish and plants together in one integrated, soilless system. The fish waste provides fertilizer for the plants and the plants provide a natural filter for the water the fish live in. Aquaponics can be used to naturally raise fresh fish and vegetables for a family, to feed a village or to generate profit in a commercial farming venture.
That innovation is paying off for Nelson and Pade, which moved its offices, order fulfillment and shop to a larger site in January. The move helps the company’s six employees better serve its ever-expanding customer base, says co-owner Rebecca Nelson. She says once the weather warms up enough, they plan to move their research and demonstration greenhouses to their new location.
"We see interest continually in what we’re doing. Wisconsin is well known for being progressive in the field of agriculture," says Nelson. She and Pade moved the business from California to their home state of Wisconsin three years ago. "We could have gone anywhere to run our business, but we are impressed with the friendliness of the people here in Wisconsin and the strong work ethic."
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