Kip Gardner joined Filtrexx as a consultant in April 2007, and as full-time Director of Agriculture Systems in August of 2008. A graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, Kip holds undergraduate degrees in Pre-Law and Ecology, as well as a graduate degree in Molecular Biology.  Kip’s career has included work in wetland ecology, biomedical sciences, environmental chemistry, and most recently, agricultural research at the Ohio State University Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio.  At OSU, his work focused on crop genetics and plant breeding for cold temperature tolerance.  Kip has spent a lot of his life in agriculture related activities, having worked as a youngster on a neighbor’s dairy farm, raising his own dairy goats, and later as a both a production and quality assurance manager in the food processing industry.  Kip has also been involved in organic agriculture for nearly 20 years, first as a hobbyist, and also as the manager of several large community garden projects and a small commercial market garden operation.  Kip’s varied background gives him an ability to address issues facing growers from a variety of perspectives, with an understanding of farm systems ranging from soil microbiology to farm ecology and sustainable design, to crop selection and marketing.  Kip is ready to assist growers with all aspects of using the Filtrexx Agriculture System for fruit and vegetable production, including consultation services for those interested in being USDA certified organic growers.