Maker Series: Jacob Pechenik, Lettuce Grow

Maker Series: Jacob Pechenik, Lettuce Grow

Connecting people back to their roots, literally, by making it so easy and consumer-friendly for anyone - regardless of experience, time or space - to successfully and reliably grow their own food.

When I learned I was going to be a dad I took more interest in nutritional facts on food labels. What was all this stuff? I thought the best for my baby would be fresh, locally produced foods but realized that it was all so expensive and inaccessible to most. Why? Largely because fresh, unadulterated food doesn’t survive the journey in our industrialized food distribution system. I thought there had to be a better way to keep fresh food alive.

Honestly, I just couldn’t stop! I had a vision, felt the passion, and just enough innocence to believe that everyone could benefit. What made sense for me, made sense for many others. And I wanted my kids - and their peers - to be healthy and live on a healthy planet.

I thought it would be the quantifiable metrics like the thousands of milk jugs saved from entering the oceans or millions of gallons saved but what drives me most is witnessing the wonder and joy that our growers experience when they harvest their first veggies and the delight when their children start eating veggies for the first time.

Connected

Optimistic

Motivated

We humans can easily turn a blind eye to things that we know aren’t good for us or the planet. Prior to COVID-19, many people didn’t spend much time considering where their food was coming from. They weren't necessarily rushing to grow their own food at home. But now, generally, most of our value systems have been activated and the health and security of our family is job number one - and everyone all of a sudden gets it! People are very invested in what is in their food and where it's come from. Generally, people also tend to think that they don't have a green thumb or that this is for their aunt, the gardener. And it's not. It's for everyone. If you eat food, it's for you. You will be successful.

I am very connected to our mission and I believe my purpose is to use innovation for the sake of our kids, our planet, and to build a healthier future for all.

I do wear 5 bracelets. They all are special and have meaning but interestingly one of them - the first one that started the trend - was given to me by someone I ran into when I was going through a tough time and it says, LOVE. It's an Ubuntu bracelet.

I'm still figuring that out. I think it would be found somewhere on my Daily Mix 3 on Spotify.  

"go for a bike ride along the beach”

" Sometimes I talk to the plants”

"by helping others have new perspectives on what might be” 

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