Mallory Baslee

Green Valley Harvesters

Operations manager

What 3 to 4 professional and/or personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

Starting a business and building it from the ground up with my partner at Green Valley Harvesters. I never thought I would be a business owner, but here we are three years later thriving and growing and shooting for bigger and better things everyday.

Helping develop a tissue culture lab that received a grant from the Department of Agriculture, and I hope to one day soon be the largest lab of its kind in the state.

Supporting the community and giving back is very near to my heart. Green Valley Harvesters will be going into its third year of providing the plants for a horticulture therapy program at a local mental health facility. The program, Plants with Purpose, has been helping its residents with mental health and well-being, and we are honored to be a part of it.

What led you to work in the horticulture industry?

My love for nature and the outdoors has always been a driving force in my life. While studying biology and pursuing related hobbies, I found myself working in government, but after my last overseas assignment, I knew I wanted to stay in one place and build something of my own. I met my now-business partner through mutual friends, and he invited me to work at his greenhouse. It was here that I discovered my passion for growing plants. 

Developed a vision for the greenhouse and shifted its focus from hydroponics to commercial nursery growing. I took the initiative to introduce new practices and systems, which allowed the business to thrive and grow in this new direction. This experience ultimately led me to continue my career in the horticulture industry, where I could fully combine my love for plants with my desire to innovate and grow.

What’s the best thing about your job? (Please select one)

I get to do what I love, every day

Describe to a 6-year-old what you do in life?

I get to play in the dirt all day, plant seeds and help them grow to be big and strong.

What are your favorite hobbies?

• Running
• Hiking 
• Crafting

When you’re not working, what are 2 to 3 things we could find you doing?

• Playing with my cats
• Enjoying a good local brewery
• Photography

Do you have any unusual talents, or can you tell us something interesting about yourself that other people may be surprised to find out?

• I attended college on a choir scholarship, where I honed my skills as a classically trained singer, specializing in early music. My training not only deepened my appreciation for the rich history of music but also cultivated a precision and artistry that continue to influence my approach to everything I do.

One thing you can’t live without?

• My headphones — I need to be listening to my podcasts while I work.

What are you (un)secretly good at?

• Photography. I love taking all of the marketing pictures for our greenhouse.

What are your top three bucket list items?

• Run a marathon
• Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens in the U.K. 
• Patent my own plant

What’s your favorite plant variety and why?

• Lantana. It comes in so many colors and attracts butterflies.

You’re buying a vacation package to anywhere in the world without a budget, where are you going?

• Australia, all of the different biomes to see and experience are amazing. Plus, maybe I could hold a baby kangaroo.