While living in Colorado at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott and Rebecca Ramsey helplessly watched as grocery store shelves became empty.

“In the Rocky Mountains, we were basically at the end of the food chain,” says Scott. “Neither my wife nor I have a horticulture background. We’d never gardened before. We didn’t even know where our food came from. So, it was both scary and kind of a wake-up call.”

As COVID progressed, the couple bought an RV to travel the country, staying at state parks and Harvest Hosts farms and talking with families who had worked the land for generations. Scott and Rebecca started formulating their own plans. In November 2021, they reached out to the Virginia Highlands SBDC and connected with Director Cindy Fields, bringing her an idea for an agritourism business — plus a 10-year roadmap they had already designed.

With the SBDC at their side, Scott and Rebecca purchased property in Abingdon, launched Wyndale Gardens in April 2022, and brought their first produce to market within seven months. Today, their multifaceted endeavor features an aquaponics farm, apiary and agritourism business.

To support their growth, Cindy shared startup resources, including pitch competitions and grant suggestions. Alongside Virginia Tech, she supported Wyndale Gardens throughout the USDA’s Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit, as the aquaponics farm sought to be the first in Virginia to carry the GAP certification. Scott notes, however, that Cindy’s greatest contributions to Wyndale Gardens are the connections she helped them formulate.

“Cindy being that conduit to help us network has been vital.”

Cindy connected Scott to an advisor at George Mason University to assist with technical questions on hydroponics. Through pitch competitions and other events, she plugged them into a local support system for entrepreneurs.

“Just for networking alone and getting connected into the small business community in your area, the SBDC is absolutely vital,” says Scott. “You need it in terms of, ‘Hey, who can I sell to? Who can I partner with?’”

In fact, community partnerships have been key to Wyndale Gardens’ ability to scale up after only a year in business.

The business started with a small subscriber program, but now Scott sells his romaine lettuce to the largest local grocery chain, Food City, and to the farm-to-school program, serving the city of Bristol as well as Washington and Tazewell counties. He’s currently working to form a co-op of farmers so that local schools can access other fresh produce. He’s also in the process of producing a honey beer in cooperation with local brewery, Sweetbay Brewing Co.

Since launching, Wyndale Gardens has tripled production and secured loans for $76,000. Four farmers have signed on for the co-op, and Scott and Rebecca plan to expand their agritourism focus by adding a boutique campground.

Throughout its first year in business, the company has continued to work with the SBDC and prioritize regional partnerships. In fact, Scott recommends the SBDC to all aspiring entrepreneurs wondering if they should take the leap.

“It’s like a support system,” he says. “We just have to wait for our food to grow.”