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Ep. 14: Guy Gillingham - Freedom to Thrive: Organic Health Tech and the Future of Food
89 Plays6 months ago
Are you truly free if you don’t have control over the food you eat and the technology you use? We all crave freedom—the freedom to choose what we eat, how we live, and what we support. But are we really making decisions that empower us and our future? In a world where convenience often wins over consciousness, it’s time to rethink what freedom truly means.
Real freedom is rooted in the choices we make for our health, our communities, and our planet. It’s not just about freedom to do whatever we want, but about the power to make intentional, smart decisions that lead to a healthier, more sustainable world. We explore the massive role that organic food and health-driven technology play in shaping our future, and how we all have the opportunity to take part in a global movement that heals both people and the planet.
Gregory Gillingham is a serial entrepreneur and expert in the world of plant science. With over 14 years at Onit Sciences, Gregory is at the forefront of enhancing plant growth and unlocking their full genetic potential. He’s here to share insights on how we can harness the power of nature and technology to transform the way we live, eat, and thrive.
Take control of your health and freedom today! Challenge yourself to make one small change—whether it’s swapping processed food for fresh, organic options or trying out a new health app. And don’t forget to follow Guy Gillingham’s works.
Website: https://www.onitsciences.com
Email: Guygregorygillingham@gmail.com
Explore these valuable resources to further your journey in regenerative design:
Discover more about Paulownia trees and their sustainable potential at https://www.paulownia-la.com/.
Dive into the Twelve Laws of Nature and unlock the secrets of harmonizing with our planet at https://www.12lawsofnature.com/.
Fulfill your garden aspirations with expert guidance from the Garden of Your Dreams masterclass at https://www.gardenofyourdreams.com/.
Ready to take actionable steps towards your dream garden? Book a complimentary 30-minute training session with Matthieu for immediate results: https://calendly.com/garden-of-your-dreams.
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Transcript
The Impact of Organic Farming
00:00:00
Speaker
On its sciences, it's better food, it's better for the earth, it's better for the soil. you know It increases the yields from 25 to 35 percent. It's organic. you know This is something that I was going to feed the world. There's a lot of hungry kids out there, Matthew, which we know. right so if we can If we can make the soil better, the earth better, and I can feed that that many more mouths, that hit my heart.
Meet Guy Gillingham
00:01:02
Speaker
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Regenerative Design Podcast. Today we have another amazing guest. His name is Guy Gillingham. He's a serial entrepreneur with lots of experience in business. And more recently, in the recent years, he has actually founded ah an amazing company that is called Onnit Sciences that it is making products to enhance plants to grow better. It's purely organic and it's really something interesting to look into. And so he's also the the co-founder of the company. I'm really excited about this conversation. Guy, welcome to the show. How are you doing today?
00:01:41
Speaker
Matthew, thank you very much for having me and I'm doing great. Epic. Amazing. So I would love to hear from you, Guy. How did this start for you?
Guy's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:01:50
Speaker
like It sounds like you've accomplished a lot in your life. um like How did this start?
00:01:56
Speaker
Well, i know I started out, yeah I built a lighting and electrical company. I had basically one employee. I took it up to 25 employees, started with $5,000 in sales and took it up to approximately 3 million in sales. And I did that basically on my own with one partner.
00:02:17
Speaker
And then I got involved in, at the same time, I was watching some people in downtown Vancouver, ah very young entrepreneurs that were doing very well in the stock market. So I took a liking to the stock market, Matthew, and I was actually running both. I was running my lighting and electrical company, and I was working on the on the on the stock stock market side.
00:02:42
Speaker
So, that's I had a real passion there. um You know, when you when you own a Lightning Electric company, I had 25 employees. I basically was responsible for all of them. It was kind of like a babysitting service. So, on the ah on the on the stock market side, it was just me.
00:03:00
Speaker
So I knew if I was going to make any mistakes or or anything like that, I only had myself to blame. So I wanted to go more towards the stock market and um start some new companies. And there was some great people that I was working with that downtown Vancouver, Matthew. Nice. when So when did all
Lessons from the Lighting Industry
00:03:22
Speaker
of that start? Are we talking 90s, 2000s?
00:03:26
Speaker
Yeah the the lighting electrical definitely would have been in the 90s to late 90s and again too you know Matthew I learned from a couple of other companies um on the electrical and it was part of the BC Hydro Power Smart where they it was the rebate program And I basically started right from scratch, Matthew, um installing um cleaning light fixtures. So I was at the very, very bottom of the totem pole there. And I worked my way up. I learned the business. I worked for two companies. And then I decided, you know what? this so I want to go out my own here. I think I can do this. So I learned the installation side.
00:04:08
Speaker
From one company and the other company, I went and learned all the all the ah the business side and the admin and working with BC Hydro. And yeah, just went from there. And that was, that was yeah, late late, I guess late 90s and into the 2000s. And then I got heavily involved for, you know, it's got to be at least, yeah you know, close to 18 years, 20 years and in in the finance side.
00:04:36
Speaker
Nice, that's incredible.
Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
00:04:37
Speaker
I feel it it's such an inspiring story from you to see like starting out from the bottom as an electrical company and doing the work yourself. Is that something that you could recommend to young listeners that are trying to build a ah life and become an entrepreneur? like what what What's your single best advice to them?
00:04:59
Speaker
100% Matthew. It's like with ah with with with my youngest son right now too. I have four beautiful kids. My youngest son is just starting up. um It's actually a paving stone company, but I told him to start.
00:05:14
Speaker
with the installation side. so he And it's it's tough work, Matthew. So there he is humping around and moving all these paving stones. And he's learned right from the ground floor. okay and then he And now he's started his own company, which he'll start doing the projects on his own now. And he'll be the boss. And he's only 21 years old. And I told him, and he's and he even said to me, dad, this is tough work. I said, yeah, it is. That's why you want to be a boss.
00:05:41
Speaker
So I said, you you know, just be determined, go out and get it. And, you know, it will happen for you. But it's there's nothing it's the best thing to start right from the scratch, whether you're working in a restaurant, you're a dishwasher, and then you're working yourself up. Maybe one day you're the general and manager. But I think, the the you know, that is that for sure the best way is to is start right from the the bottom and and work your way up.
00:06:09
Speaker
There's no no better way. but I love that. yeah I also used to work in gardening. ah companies cleaning up gardens all summer long and doing internships in different companies, not making anything or very little, and then gaining lots of experience, looking, opening my eyes. So yeah, it's it's really cool to see that you walked that path as well, looking at where you are today, which is amazing. And then I also think that what an amazing skill I think you gathered over the years is then to going from, okay, starting and your own business,
00:06:43
Speaker
making some money, putting that in the stock market. And then I think at some point you even got into acquiring businesses, right? Yes, I did.
Venture Capital Insights
00:06:53
Speaker
I did. I did that. And basically what we did was we we were, they want to call us venture capitalists. um Matthew, we would go in to identify a company um that was a private company and they, um you know, basically those private companies, they start out and they, they, they usually get funding from, ah they call it a family of friends round. And then um they start building up their company and then they run out of money.
00:07:19
Speaker
OK, and they don't know where to turn. So we would walk in and maybe take, say, listen, here's the deal. What do you need? How much money do you guys need to? to First of all, we've got to fall in love with their company. We've got to like their company. We're going to like what they're doing. The biggest thing for me is, is is is you know, it's having the structure, having a great product that you believe in, that I believe in, and having a serious management team.
00:07:48
Speaker
Okay, if you're missing one of those, I think your deals in trouble. You need all three. You need the structure, you need the product, and you need the the management team with that with with a very good CEO. So what we would do is we'd go in and say, listen, you need a million dollars and just give me a bit of a You know, just a little idea here, a million dollars and we say, okay, we like your company. We're going to take 40%, 50%, 60% of your company will raise you your money. You know, we're basically, you know, we'll try to support you a little bit and maybe add to your management team, bring you some new board of directors. But basically this is your ship to run.
00:08:27
Speaker
You know, best of luck. And we'd always say to them right at the very beginning, Matthew is is like, don't tell us you need a million and come back to us like six months later. So we need another 500. If you need 1.5 now, tell us now, because that's the deal. So let's just say we we we took we were going to take 40% of the company, take them public, raising their capital and away they go. Well, that's incredible. You actually helping young people that have a vision to take their wings. That's that's what the money can do. It's incredible. Exactly, Matthew. And and and that that then that what it comes down to is their work ethicists are amazing. um They're very positive. i Again, too I only surround myself with very yeah high energy, positive people. um i don't you know It might be a tough word to say, but I don't i don't like dealing with time wasters.
00:09:20
Speaker
yes you know They've got to have the same drive that I have, and those are the people I like to surround myself around and work with. And I love to help out the younger ones too, especially the ones that have that big vision, Matthew.
The Key to Success
00:09:32
Speaker
And and and I tell these guys, listen, everybody dreams. Everyone has dreams and and and and and they have goals, but a lot of people, they don't go after it. They have the goals, they have the dreams, but you actually got to get up in the morning.
00:09:48
Speaker
and get at her. And there's no there's no more punching in the clock, Matthew, working from nine to five, the banker's hours you want to call. You know, you i ah sometimes I work, so you know, most of the time I'm seven days a week, okay? i And that I'm not saying it's the best thing, but I'll sleep two, three hours a ah night.
00:10:08
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. No, but Matthew, I'll take a nap once in a while here and there. for one But I'll tell you something. That's what it takes to succeed. You you you got to put the hours in and and and really go after it. Go after it. um Be aggressive. Be positive. Show some tenacity. Okay. And that's what it takes. You know, it's like I was always said, well, you know, you're not going to be able to do that.
00:10:34
Speaker
you Are you sure? How are you going to do that? It's like, huh? What are you talking about? No means yes to me, Matthew. That's what it means. I can do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to show you. And I'm not the one that they come back and say, oh, I told you so. I just go, I just move on, continue on and keep working hard and build those companies.
00:10:56
Speaker
I love that. I think it's and it's a a great advice that I think my listeners will dearly respect as well because I came into like okay my mission is to help and support that we can sustain living on this planet but if you look at the efforts that are being made towards that it's more like It's like NGOs and people that think like if we want to improve the health of our planet and and and do something positive for our environment that it's either going to be a cost or you need to do it as a nonprofit. And I highly support these type of businesses that are are doing it in
00:11:34
Speaker
in such a way. But I think there's also a massive opportunity in doing and growing businesses that are good for our planet and that are good for making money and and keep growing because money, at the end of the day, is the vehicle to get things moving. And that's what you've been doing with with helping companies grow. And I think that's also, or or that would be my next question, is that how you then got into on it, on its sciences,
00:12:03
Speaker
Yeah. Or how did you came across this? Well, I want to take a step back to just what you had said there is what what's really important is is we were always told, don't fall in love with your companies.
Passion for Onnit Sciences
00:12:15
Speaker
Okay. And you know, you're you're there and the whole idea behind this whole thing is that at the end of the day, you want to make money, but you want to do good for the planet. You want to do you want you you want to leave a good impression out there.
00:12:27
Speaker
Well, you want to call it a legacy, um but that that's something that that that I'm driven to do. And so with with when i when I came across on it, then I'm going to say, you know, I've been here. I did fall in love with it. And there's reasons why I fell fell in love with this company. and And all my colleagues said, don't fall in love with it.
00:12:45
Speaker
you know You go in there and make your money and get out. Well, no. This, on it sciences um is is is is its It's better food. It's better for the earth. It's better for the soil. it's It it it you know increases the the food anywhere. It yields from 25% to 35%.
00:13:07
Speaker
um Again, too, it's organic. and um yeah you know and For me, i'm i'm I'm big on the ah the kids growing up. okay and and I've always been a big supporter of the Children's Hospital. you know This is something that I was going to feed the world. There's a lot of hungry kids out there, Matthew, which we know. right so if we can If we can make the soil better, the earth better, and I can feed that that many more mouths, that hit my heart.
00:13:36
Speaker
Okay, and that's something that the why I did fall in love with on it. I've been with on it for close to over 14 years now and usually you're in these deals from Ruby 3 4 5 These days it's a lot different. You got to grow these companies organically Okay, and it doesn't doesn't happen overnight like it used to Literally and figuratively, I would say. Exactly. No, no, exactly, Matthew. so and And so that that was my biggest thing is this is that i'm helping i'm I'm helping out the world. okay And i'm I'm making it a better place to live. And I've got to go back on on on building a foundation. okay And that's right at the very beginning. And that's with your, yeah yeah you know like I said, I have four beautiful kids. That's your family.
Balancing Profit and Environment
00:14:27
Speaker
That's my church.
00:14:29
Speaker
and my business. Okay, that foundation is a rock. That's what you need to stand on. And I like to build my businesses like that too, Matthew. So let's talk a bit more about the challenges that you seem to be facing with these type of companies that both do good in business and good, do good for our environment because you're passionate about it. Like what are the biggest challenges compared to other companies that might've been like purely profit driven and purely, um,
00:15:01
Speaker
Yeah, maybe not all having a good impact on on our environment or on the world. Why is it so much more difficult? Well, you know, you're competing against some of the big boys. And um ah there' I'm going to say there's some good guys and there's some bad guys. And then everybody knows the word Monsanto. OK, the stuff that they were producing was not good.
00:15:23
Speaker
Okay, they apparently they're they're they're they're trying to turn around a little bit, but um you know they're they were they're all about profit. They're not looking at the bigger picture, Matthew. okay They're not looking, they care about their wallets, they care about their bank accounts. And me, um you know everybody's different, Matthew, and um and and it sounds like you know with your company, you are too. I wanna make the world a better place. I wanna feed the kids.
00:15:50
Speaker
Do I want to make money? Of course I do, Matthew. that's what that's what that's i mean I'm in this to make some money. But I like to make money with a good team, good people together. Like they say, there is no I in team.
00:16:05
Speaker
You gotta have a good group around you. You surround yourself with positive, high energy, um guys that have a great outlook in life, and share share the same values as you. You're totally right. I just met with Les Brown, who's quite famous in the US, probably the best motivational speaker in the world. okay And he says, OQL, only quality people. ah it It's... yeah not a ah misconception that the five people you hang out the most with is like a reflection of your personal income.
00:16:46
Speaker
or it's the average of those five people that you spend most time with. So I think like you nailed it there and I fully agree with that. It's super important to be selective who you spend your time with. And then also just to give a, I don't know if you know this, but the whole Monsanto thing, it's quite astonishing if you go back to the history of the company.
00:17:09
Speaker
they were actually in warfare so their biggest business was world war one and two where they produced a lot of bombs and a lot of chemicals that were like meant to kill people yeah and then all of a sudden the wars were over and they were like shit we have all these products to do warfare What are we going to do now? And they're like looking at agriculture and I was like, oh, looks like we can put some of that on the fields. And it seems to have some sort of an effect. And there's lots of land. So let's put it in agriculture. That's how the whole craze of of our industrial food production system, which it also has its benefits because it's allowed to produce food for
00:17:52
Speaker
a lot of people on the planet, but it came with a big negative downside. It's a very um low nutrient nutritional value of lots of sugar, lots of chemicals
Food and Health Connection
00:18:04
Speaker
that are bad. Like ah most most Western countries are struggling with health care, both mental health, because I believe it's linked to all the chemicals and also things like obesity, cancer, so many diseases that didn't exist, let's say 100, 200 years ago.
00:18:22
Speaker
So it's quite crazy but and that's also why I love your company to bring in products that can help support farmers to produce still at a good yield and to show that they can produce food that is actually healthy and and support that. Like if this product can do it, it's it's amazing.
00:18:42
Speaker
Yeah, no, I totally agree. and And this is why I think that like, you know, when when we when i when I founded this company, it was kind of a funny story. I met a guy down in Mexico years ago, I went down to look at a gold mine. So I was basically involved in like, it could be high tech mining, medical, import, export, commodities, but When I went, I was going down and look at a gold play in Mexico and I, and my group said, I said, well, what's our next deal guys? What are we looking for? And we, we talked about, you know, the ag world food and water. And that's that, that, that those those two are the most critical right now in this world, water and food. Okay. That's right. That's where it keeps us ticking. So, but again, too, it's putting good nutrients.
00:19:33
Speaker
into your system. like what What are the kids eating these days? you know the You know, the old saying there, Matthew, you are what you eat, right? You become that. So, you know, I'm a pretty, I like to work out hard. I like to eat very good, very clean, and I'm very, very careful um of of of what I put in my body. Yeah, and I've got um've got my little side side driver, my girlfriend that is pretty,
00:20:04
Speaker
influential on what I do, what I eat, and a little bit of everything which really helps out. so Again, it comes down to the you know good food. Matthew, good food.
00:20:17
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's the start of everything. we kind of Sometimes we're looking at new technologies, how to improve lives and like do all of amazing things, AI, and it's it's all really good. I think it's part of the solution, but we shouldn't forget that all of these new tech and all this new stuff It's pretty much useless if we cannot sustain living on this planet. That's correct. And the way we're doing treating the planet with the environment and farming and all this stuff, we do need a big shift.
00:20:50
Speaker
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00:21:15
Speaker
Just to ask like a more in depth, I'm curious to know what your strategy would be to, or what your strategy actually is to overcome these challenges that we talked about earlier with Onit. You know, it's just getting our our our our product out there. And again, we're competing against some of the biggest in the world. um You know, ah they everybody was saying, what is your exit one day from this company?
Competing Globally
00:21:42
Speaker
Well, you know, we're always talked about taking them public or one of the big, big, big boys. you know, Coca Cola, Amazon, these guys are all in the egg world now. Okay. And we have some contacts throughout some of these larger companies. And they're the ones that are actually they'll they'll see our product and they'll and and and basically they got to see our sales and revenue. But one of those big guys will come by and they'll buy us out. Okay, cause because because our product is on is a very special product.
00:22:19
Speaker
And it's um it just you know it's it's just taking the time to get out there. and're And we're around the world there, Matthew. Every corner of in and Southeast Asia, South America, obviously North America. um you know So we're we're yeah we're we're we're all over the world right now. Now we're just trying to push for our our sales and revenues. and yeah and But we're again, too, we're competing with with with some companies that have some very, very deep pockets.
00:22:49
Speaker
Right? So, you know, we would'd we'd like to move a little bit faster than than we are, but it is what it is. But I do concur what with the gentleman that you were visited with in the United States on what he said. That was that was perfect for what he said about the quality of people that you're working with.
00:23:06
Speaker
And I'll tell you something, Matthew. I'll never forget this because i I'm not going to say his name, but he he's one of the most successful businessmen here in in in in Canada. um He actually just it lives probably five minutes, less than five minutes from my home. And um very well-known guy. he's that he's He's older now. But I asked him one day if I could just just hang with him for half a day.
00:23:35
Speaker
It's just a half a day and he just looked at me and I'd seen him out at the restaurants I didn't know him that well and he said sure so I took him for lunch and I hung out with him for a half a day and the the biggest lesson that he Shared with me Matthew was he just looked at me. He said Gia you ah Do you know everything? I kind of looked at him. I said I don't i don't understand. We mean he goes Hey, yeah ge are you still learning? I said well, yeah, you know and I wasn't too sure how to respond but I said yeah of course he said let me tell you something and he's in his 90s now and he said he said to me Matthew he goes the day you stop learning and I'm like yeah and he says you're done you're finished never stop learning
00:24:28
Speaker
And what I've, you know, i I love to talk. I love to hear my myself talk. But I got it, you know, Matthew, I started to learn to listen a little bit more to, you know, I'm getting more, better vibes. I'm getting more information, better information by sometimes just sitting back and listening and learning.
The Role of Lifelong Learning
00:24:49
Speaker
yeah Right. And it's, so and that's you know, it was it was it was it was a ah great thing that,
00:24:56
Speaker
This elderly gentleman brought up to me and just said, Guy, the day you start learning is the day you're done. and I went, wow. And that has always stuck with me, Matthew.
00:25:07
Speaker
I love it. That's great advice. like i also Somehow as a kid, I don't know if you could relate to that, but as a kid, I kind of grew up thinking like once I'm like in my 25 age, I'll be done with studying or with like having a degree, and then that's it. I'm going to work and keep working.
00:25:27
Speaker
I never thought that I would have to keep learning, but it's so incredible because there's so much to learn. There's so many amazing books to read. yeah and it's It's the most beautiful thing to keep growing because that's that's what it is. you know Even in the natural world, you can either grow or decay. There's no status quo. You have to keep moving. You have to keep learning. So I agree you greatly appreciate that advice as well.
00:25:54
Speaker
Yeah, and I pass it on to the younger kids and and you're going to learn till the day that you pass away. You're always the learning. There's always something like you said, and and I think I've got to learn that a little bit too, is to get into my books a little bit more. I like videos. um You know, the the books, yeah, I'm not crazy on, but I'm getting into it. and so But again, too, yeah it's nice to get it like you said, is and and you've written a book, and you've got your second book. I want to say congratulations to you, Matthew. And I'm looking forward to your your your next one, the next book that should be coming out. if You can correct me if I'm wrong, but the next six, eight months, you should be out.
00:26:36
Speaker
and working on yeah That's fantastic. Good. you said and and you know You've got your own company and you've you've you've got lots on the go. That's something that I also do too. You can't just have one project going to succeed these days. you need ah I'm working on anywhere from 12 to 15 companies. I'm going after what I want want to get and I will get it. Do I want to build that legacy for my four beautiful kids? 100%.
00:27:04
Speaker
I was just going to say, I was actually, as you're referring to my next book, yeah I was curious to know, well, it's going to be about legacy, building a legacy before you die, actually. I'm actually giving some teasers away here. You helped me do that. yeah We will not get too much into it yet, but I'd love to hear from you. like Looking at the state of our planet environment, imagine that Well, some people think it's true and they have good reason to think it.
Building a Legacy
00:27:34
Speaker
But for example, in Buddhism, they would say that you come back one day. So there is actually some some some value into leaving the planet better than you found it because you might need it back one day. So I'm curious to know from your side, like how do you want to build a legacy
00:27:54
Speaker
but for your kids and grandkids and many generations to come. Yeah, that's that's a great question and and that's why I'm really looking forward to reading reading your book. um because it's not Everyone says, Matthew, it's kind of funny because everyone says, ge what's your number?
00:28:10
Speaker
hi What's your number is basically you how much do you want to make how much do you need to make to be happy to build your legacy? It's not just about the money Matthew. Okay, I I want to inspire my kids I love when they how they watch how I work and I see my son in real estate right now to the guy they got working seven days a week putting a lot of hours in but he gets a better sleep than me but yeah but yeah He needs to sleep he gets angry when I call him at 3 34 that's funny And I expect the same thing back, but going back to the legacy is it's not just about the dollar, of course, ah you know, having the nice things in life and that nice house and nice car. But basically it's it's what what what are you going to leave? Am I going to leave this company? Am I going to feed the world? My kids, are they're they're they see what I'm doing.
00:29:25
Speaker
So I you know this on it on it comes out. and so It's it's it's it's done amazing things and we've left this product on the earth today To help the world Not just my community not just North America the world which I love not And that's and that's you know that that's something that I it that that is my legacy is to to leave leave a very powerful company um instill great um aspirations for my kids. and And I want them to set the same goals. And, you know, just like exactly leaving the leaving this earth that you've given something back. Because I've had a great time here. um i've ah You know, not i love love my family, love my friends.
00:30:18
Speaker
you know and ah and and and it's just It's nice to leave something. you know you can't just you matthew You can't just be a taker. You have to give. I'm that same guy that that you know I gave up alcohol 30 months ago. It just you know wasn't mixing with me. and and and and I'm a lot clearer. I feel way better.
00:30:42
Speaker
and it's just you know it's just It's very refreshing. two two two And I've noticed a huge difference in myself, Matthew, on business decisions, how I conduct myself around my my my kids, my family, my girlfriend. um you know it it it was it's It's been an amazing journey for me.
00:31:04
Speaker
Yes, that's so cool that you're sharing that because I share this talk about this life, this planet, everything, the the oceans, the nature. of There's so much things to experience. It's like there's no way to be depressed or like I so i i find it hard to see people that are are depressed or are struggling.
The Joy of Giving Back
00:31:25
Speaker
It's like, obviously they need help, but it's like you'll just open your window, go in nature. it's This is it. It doesn't need any better.
00:31:33
Speaker
No, it doesn't. And going back to that, so I stopped drinking, so I became a baker. My kids come into my place, and they go, hey, Matthew, they go, this smells like grandma's house. It smells like bacon. So what I do is what I do, and so I'm opening that window. I'm opening that door. I'll make a whole bunch of muffins.
00:31:53
Speaker
cupcakes and I'll go downtown and I'll go find some some you know some sad people, some homeless people, not not guys that are that are that are completely ripped on alcohol or drugs. I'll go find a guy that looks like he's just down and out, just needs a smile, a hug, or a hello.
00:32:13
Speaker
And I'll sit with these guys and they'll usually, you know, down the the alleys, Matthew, and I'll go down there and I'm in my suit in the whole bit and I'll take 24 cupcakes muffins down with me and I'll sit with a couple of these guys and I'll ask him, Matthew is, you know, hey, guys heres I'm going to bring some water on there, some drinks, some Gatorades and some cupcakes. And I said, here's the deal. Let's sit down. Let's talk and tell me how you got to where you are today. Because I like to know that.
00:32:43
Speaker
And you know what, I've had i had you know some of these guys break down in tears, and they tell me their life story. And it's very, very interesting. And to me, that's how I like to give back.
00:32:58
Speaker
Right? And it's it's it's for me, that is, I love it. I love going in and I love hearing your stories. And nobody goes around. Everyone just kind of, they they turn a blind eye to these guys and look at them and, you know, with disgust. And it's like,
00:33:13
Speaker
You know, that's wrong. That's wrong. You know what? he Honestly, these some of these guys, they are so smart and it's it's very refreshing to sit down with these guys and to listen to their story. They like to be heard too. yeah They have nobody to turn to.
00:33:32
Speaker
I think it's amazing that you're doing that and it somehow reminds me of of a quote that keeps coming back to me these days. It's that the wimp of a butterfly can start a tona tornado.
00:33:46
Speaker
so whenever we think like it's something small or insignificant that we're doing to make this world a better place, it might actually ripple through and have a massive impact. And that's the same with each project that I do, each garden that I design, or each farmer that I can support. like I've seen it so often now. I have ah coach gardeners, how they can become better, or people that want to start gardening. I coach them.
00:34:12
Speaker
And then they do everything. The results are amazing. And then they have their neighbor looking over the fence. And they're like, yeah this looks different. like What do you do? And now one of my clients that I coached for her own garden, she's starting to have her own clients as a garden designer. And she took my course. It's like nine weeks only. And it took me over five years to to learn that skill now with the help of AI and and some other tools that I've managed to master. people go out there and improve the world. So I ah think we have a ah common
00:34:48
Speaker
ground there as well to yeah yeah for sure we do matthew and and like and so those all those gardeners that you're teaching whether it's that you know it's their farm or it's their outside their backyard um you know they look outside their window and they're proud of what they've put together out there they look at it you look at it every morning you get to see your flowers you're you're you know they i don't even care even the grass You know, they take care of their grass. It's so rich and green. And and I remember we used to have gardeners at my house, Matthew. And the one thing I would say to my gardeners, do not touch my grass. And they went, what? I cut my grass because I used to like to to put, like a momae I used to like to put lines in them. OK, like Wembley Stadium. So I would do crosses and things like this.
00:35:39
Speaker
And you know what, get up early in the morning and look at my grass and go, God, that looks good. you know And even if my little dog would would pee, you like to get a little yellow spot there, I'd be down there fixing that right away. I love that. That's so cool. Oh, because because yeah again, it's the pride. and you're You're proud. right like i've I've got my one of my one of my older brothers.
00:36:03
Speaker
I look at his his backyard, he's in the interior in British Columbia here in Penticton, BC, and he's got the most beautiful, and my mom, beautiful garden that I've ever seen. like he's He's so proud of it. and it's and and ah you know what You wake up to that, right? That's the first thing that you see when you have your coffee in your hand, you look outside and you go, wow, how nice does that look? <unk> It's something to take some pride there.
00:36:33
Speaker
Yes. But, uh, yeah, no, no, I think, I think, uh, you know what, uh, when we met for the first time, you know, um, I think we both were, we're on the same level of how we can make this world a better place. Yes. And I, and I, and I like your, your, your, your drive to Matthew, I can, and yeah and you're you're younger and, and, uh, and, uh, yeah, you, you, you've got what it takes. And I know, I know you'll be very successful and you're also going to build your own legacy.
00:37:03
Speaker
you've You've got that drive. which i really agree Thank you very much. I think we should talk offline more and and see how we can build a legacy together because actually we only need a handful of people that are ready to make a change and that's actually the ones that do make the change in the world.
Opportunities for Collaboration
00:37:21
Speaker
So I'm i'm teaming up with with some of the most motivated people across the world.
00:37:27
Speaker
to start having a significant impact on our environment. And the good news is that it's not only good for the environment, it's good for so many other things. Like the moment I started to realize what the impact is on social life, on community, on all these things, it's it's so beautiful to see that. So I'm excited to to go ah further into that.
00:37:48
Speaker
But I think we could keep talking for hours and hours here, and I've learned a lot from you again today. So thank you for that. We do have to start wrapping up here. okay Just for the listeners, if they would want to reach out to you, connect with you, maybe they have a ah new business ID, how can they best get in touch with you? They could they they can send me an email, and it's it's ah you might be able to print it out there for them, but it's yeah it's Guy Gillingham.
00:38:18
Speaker
at gmail dot.com. Okay, great. no story Let me go back there. Guy Gregory, my middle name, would they call me GGG. Guy Gregory Gillingham at gmail dot.com. Amazing. We'll put that in the in the show notes so people can just click on it or copy paste it and we'll put the link to on its sciences in there. Any other ways or other links that you would like to have added to this interview?
00:38:45
Speaker
Um, no, that yeah honest science would be fantastic. And, um, anyone like we, we have a very good management team. I've got a great, uh, um, uh, science team behind this too. We have four or five different individuals, some of the top, um, growers of grass golf courses.
00:39:06
Speaker
farms these guys they're the side i'm and I'm mainly on the money side, the finance side, building the business, and these guys, that they they handle all this stuff. They're our agronomists, our scientists, and and and we we have a fantastic team. So, like yourself, two you'll be working with them, Matthew.
00:39:25
Speaker
over there in Europe, um and and they will guide you through everything on the application, um how to apply it, when to apply it, and we have a very, very, very strong support team to hear it on it. and yeah I'm excited to start working on that version. Yeah, yeah and and yeah and and and our product there too, you'll see results. You'll see results within 30 days, sometimes even sooner.
00:39:53
Speaker
We have samples here on our farm in Belgium and we'll start applying them in in test fields this spring to see what's happening. Fantastic. That's that's going to be exciting. Probably will could be good to have another ah updated interview once we see the the results popping because I'm very um excited about it.
00:40:17
Speaker
Well, Matthew, I'd be very happy to do that for you guys and jump back on another podcast. And maybe we can have a live one this time. Sorry, folks, we had a little difficulty yeah setting up our hurrah live interview. But anyways, I really appreciate you having me on too, Matthew. And yeah, we will continue on. Yes. Thank you very much, Guy. Thank you for ah coming on to the show and see you around.
00:40:46
Speaker
Yeah, you betcha. Thank you very much, Matthew. you Have a great day.