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Gary (Pictured on the right) was born in the Cumberland Plateau in central Tennessee, and grew up in Indiana. He was the kid who kept wasps as pets and catalogued native orchids in his county, and studied entomology at Purdue University while working as a researcher assistant after graduation. Gary traveled abroad extensively becoming multi-lingual in the languages of German, Arabic, and Turkish (including Ottoman); and he kept himself busy by translating medieval Islamic Arabic and Turkish manuscripts. Gary eventually moved with his family back to Tennessee where he worked at Black Berry Mountain on the landscaping team while beginning his masters in entomology at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 2022 with his masters and became a plant inspector for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture post graduation.

Joel (pictured on the left) was born and raised in Central Missouri in Jefferson City. He graduated with a bachelor's degree with an art degree with an emphasis on graphic design. Joel enjoys learning about different mediums to create his work with including pottery and stained glass. Another passion that he loves and makes available is his baked goods created in their home kitchen using Virginia’s Cottage Law restrictions.

In the spring of 2024 Gary and his husband Joel purchased a defunct flower farm located in Urbanna, Virginia. They initially purchased the property as they wanted a rural location, and the property had greenhouses which they really wanted to have. Upon moving in, Gary encouraged his husband to consider revamping the derelict flower farm to make it their own, and eventually find financial independence with their own efforts.

Since the summer of 2024 they have worked tirelessly to make the Forever Flower Farm their own, while learning along the way. Fortunately the property came with extensive resources including two high tunnel greenhouses, and equipment to aid their endeavors.