Ethan has lived in Asheville since 2014. He arrived here to study at UNC Asheville in hopes of becoming a research scientist. During his collegiate years here, he fell in love with the area. The people of Asheville, with their wackiness, deep caring, and creativity, formed a community that he always envisioned himself in. He made the decision to stick around after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Biology because he wanted to contribute to the community that was so welcoming and healing for him. The idea for controlled environment agriculture arose in his head when he was cooking for a fancy dinner night with his partner. He considered the idea of growing his own ingredients for the freshest, most local produce available in GourMays, then imagined being able to provide that for other people, too. His idea was in its infancy when he met his business partner, who shared a similar passion, motivation, and ambition to further strengthen the Asheville community through local food.
Oslo is an Asheville-area resident who believes in the power of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but even more in the power of the people in them. Five years ago, he moved away from Asheville, only to have the mountains call him back. He loved teaching K-12 in a variety of subjects for over a decade, and was ready to try something new when he considered locally-sourced, sustainable food. After research, he decided to pursue this new idea with a community-oriented, collaborative mindset. He became fully committed to this idea once he met his business partner, who shared similar ideas, as well as a similar sense of humor and workplace values. Oslo loves the “funky gig” of growing local food and enjoys meeting the everyday people that GourMays supports.
