Sara, the farmer and founder of Awaken Acres has always loved life surrounded by plants and nature. 

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I always loved nature since early childhood. My love of gardening started shortly after graduating from college in 1991 and purchasing my own home on eight acres. I wanted to make it beautiful and functional, however, I had a full-time job, which left me drained by the end of the day, so I only managed a small garden and a few tree plantings

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In the early 2000s, I began working in greenhouses. That planted the seed in my head that there was a way to make a living doing what you love. In my case, that was propagating, and growing plants. I worked in a greenhouse, at times that I learned how to do the cutting, plant seeds, repot plants, and pick orders for customers in an efficient and timely manner.

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After a couple of years, I got a job working for Portage Parks, which I found it much more enjoyable than working in greenhouses. Being outside every day in different settings and doing different jobs was a nice change from the factory-like space of the greenhouse. While there, I helped complete mass planting of bedding vegetation and turf, kept plants watered and helped keep the parks looking nice.