{"id":2253,"date":"2025-03-10T16:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T16:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/?p=2253"},"modified":"2025-03-14T11:04:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T11:04:31","slug":"the-magnolia-mile-rooting-for-our-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/the-magnolia-mile-rooting-for-our-community\/","title":{"rendered":"The Magnolia Mile: Rooting For Our Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At The Magnolia Company, magnolias are everything.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Go figure, right?  It\u2019s almost like that\u2019s in our name or something\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over all our years of agribusiness experience, we\u2019ve learned a few things about patience, growth, and most of all, community.  Our clients aren\u2019t just people who buy our products; they\u2019re folks who care about sustainability just as much as they care about admiring nature\u2019s beauty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to your support, our Floridian family business is so much more than we ever imagined! Acres upon acres of gorgeous magnolia groves, a massive team of expert growers and artisans, the opportunity to work with amazing clientele from all over the United States (and even an international community!) – it\u2019s a dream come true. We really enjoy what we do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people like you trust us with your business, we put in every effort to give back.  From the highest quality handmade products on the market to leading by example with cutting edge technology that enhances our commitment to environmental stewardship, you know you\u2019re helping shape the world for the better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What We\u2019ve Done<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The last two decades witnessed all manner of amazing projects, most of which are thanks to amazing partnerships with local government, the scientific community, the agriculture community, and even historical preservation organizations.  Here are just some of the things you\u2019ve helped us accomplish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operation Water Saber<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This project was by far our biggest investment in recent years, and it\u2019s all because the environment deserves to be cared for just as much as it cares for us.   In partnership with our local government and environmental science community, we installed a water reclaiming system<\/a>, so that no drop of water or nutrients goes to waste on our farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By digging a retention pond and irrigating our groves, we collect as much natural runoff as possible.  The irrigation system uses the reclaimed water to water our trees.  Any amount of nutrient runoff or fertilizer (which we already don\u2019t use much of) gets redistributed to the trees and kept out of our natural water sources and groundwater supply as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colonial Williamsburg<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Thanks to a connection one of our founders, Matt Roth, made, we had the privilege of visiting the Colonial Williamsburg<\/a> historic preservation site.  Maintained entirely as a nonprofit organization, the preserve boasts an accredited and highly decorated collection of botanical gardens and arboretums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arboretum in particular is unique, since it\u2019s home to a 200 year old magnolia tree that\u2019s still happy and healthy as ever.  With our minimally invasive and sustainable propagation techniques, Matt was invited to go and take cuttings from this magnificent cultivar.  Those cuttings still thrive on our farm as genetically identical progeny of the Williamsburg Magnolia<\/a>, allowing anyone to have a piece of colonial history in their yard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Fungus Among Us<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Part of being in agribusiness is going to trade shows.  We\u2019ve been everywhere, meeting what feels like everyone from across the country, and boy, have we learned a few things!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the coolest things our resident plant nerd (that\u2019s Matt again) learned about was the symbiotic relationship between fungi and trees<\/a>.  Funguses have massive underground networks that work like information and nutrient highways, and when these networks bond with the roots of trees, the trees grow stronger and healthier than unassisted trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s like fertilizer that isn\u2019t actually fertilizer, and it\u2019s one of the best ways we care for our trees.  There are also lots of beneficial bacteria that aid in this process, and we\u2019re really getting down to business with utilizing nature\u2019s microscopic heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Mt. Vernon Ladies\u2019 Association & The Washington Magnolia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our newest partnership with the Mt. Vernon Ladies\u2019 Association<\/a> runs in tandem with our Colonial Williamsburg project.  On top of having the privilege of cultivating cuttings from the Washington Magnolia, we\u2019ve also been able to craft a gorgeous dried wreath for auction by the nonprofit. Just imagine….a wreath made from the magnolia stems of a tree that George Washinton himself planted. History doesn\u2019t just get to adorn your yard; it adorns your home too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Up Next: Reaching The Next Generation and Our Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our biggest undertaking this year by far is the Magnolia Mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve always tried to engage the next generation with education about the environment and the importance of caring for our natural ecosystems.  In the digital age, \u201ctouching grass\u201d (as the kids say) is more important than ever.  When people connect with nature, they learn to respect it, to care about it, and most of all, they learn how to protect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Field trip outreach is only part of what we offer to our local community, and we have no intention of stopping.  But, we want to do even more: reach more people, touch more hearts, and ultimately cultivate a community of environmental stewardship across generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Magnolia Mile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Matt Roth is the inspired mind behind a lot of the endeavors at The Magnolia Company.  We\u2019re talking about a man who\u2019s at his happiest when he\u2019s elbow deep in dirt, surrounded by hundreds of trees – each of which gets his individual attention.  He\u2019s an outstanding dad to four amazing kids\u2026 and thousands of magnolias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what Matt has to say about his experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/a>\u201cHave you ever gone somewhere that makes you feel like \u2018wow, this place is bigger than me?\u2019 There are certain places that I\u2019ve gone where I want to take my kids because those places are bigger than me – than any of us.  Of course, I\u2019m partial because I spend my life here, but when I get up next to those trees, it\u2019s that same awe-inspiring feeling: this is bigger than me.\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The amount of respect Matt has for nature\u2019s wonders is unparalleled.  This project, The Magnolia Mile, was inspired by \u201ca lot of prayer, and a lot of peaceful mornings in the groves.\u201d  It\u2019s Matt\u2019s mission to share his inspiration and his awe with his community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/a>\u201cIt\u2019s an intangible feeling, and I want other people to experience it, too.  I think it connects us to our Creator in a way that only nature can.\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Is It?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Magnolia Mile is exactly that: a trail of incredible magnolia cultivars that spans a full mile (yes, Matt\u2019s measuring).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it\u2019s complete and fully grown, the mile long stretch will be an arched pathway of beautiful trees, complete with vignettes that spread education about agribusiness, the history of The Magnolia Company, environmental conservation, and the importance of nature in our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of being used for education, Matt wants this spot to be an accessible place for the community to just come and be out in nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t love what you don\u2019t know, and this project helps bridge the gap between two strangers: people and nature.  It\u2019s symbolic that way – a bridge of trees that reach up towards each other and down towards humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>When Will It Be Complete?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Phase One of the Magnolia Mile began last year, as we started moving trees to the land designated for the pathway.  It\u2019s a seasonal project, because we can only move trees in the winter while they\u2019re dormant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If we try to move the trees in warmer temperatures, we risk stressing them out and watching them wither. We do a lot of root pruning<\/a> when we relocate our trees, which is always risky and best suited to the winter. Our focus is helping these cultivars regrow their roots in the warm seasons by nourishing them with phosphorus and a folic acid compost.  We\u2019ll complete our relocation efforts (our \u201cMarch of the Trees\u201d) in winter of 2025 and 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Parting Thoughts from Matt Roth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think a lot of people just don\u2019t know the behind the scenes efforts towards preserving our ecology and our environment.  Farming really gets a black eye for the perceived damage it does to the environment.  I\u2019ve learned it doesn\u2019t have to be that way, and when you see the effort, it\u2019s so important – for young kids especially, to see our natural world and connect with it.  If they see and respect and love it, they\u2019ll care for it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the highest quality handmade products on the market to leading by example with cutting edge technology that enhances our commitment to environmental stewardship, you know you\u2019re helping shape the world for the better. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2253"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2280,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253\/revisions\/2280"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}