b'MAKING MINI MEADOWSMike Lizotte, owner and managing partner of American Meadows and author of Mini Meadows, shares how a meadow can be created anywherefrom a rolling plain to a rooftop in the city.SW: Favorite TV show/Movie?Mike Lizotte: Im a big fan of Growing a Greener World. Biasedly, we just finish-ing filming an episode all about Mini Meadows, which will air this November.SW: Do you have a motto for life?ML: For me, this isnt a difficult question, and it relates to what Ive been doing in my life. Doing good through gardening. SW: No. 1 thing to do on a Friday night?ML: My wife Rachael, my daughter Sadie, and I use Friday nights to go out to a casual dinner. After, well watch a movie that Sadie (whos eight) chooses.SW: Why are you called "The Seed Man?"ML: Ive been in the industry for over 30 years now. The company I started with had a retail store. People would always come downstairs to the seed level and see me behind the counter and say Oh, you must be the Seed Man, and I would respond Yep, Im the seed man! Since then, it stuck. SW: So you\'ve written a book! Tell us about Mini Meadows and why you saw a need for this book. ML: I was at a garden communicator show around 2015 or 2016, and we were exhibiting. At the show, all these communicators come to your booth and you can tell your story about your company, new products, etc. We were in Pasadena, Calif. Carleen Madigan from Storey Publishing stopped by the booth to learn more about American Meadows. I told her my story and before I knew it, she wanted me to write a pitch about Mini Meadows.A lot of what I do is just constantly educating, which is exactly what Mini Meadows is aboutgetting back to the benefits of pollinators, why meadows are important and the definition of a meadow. Maybe a meadow is a large area, or maybe its a planter on your roof top in a cityanything can be a mini meadow! SW: What are some challenges you face when talking to consumers about native seeds?ML: Three of the biggest challenges I face in talking direct to consumers is: No. 1: The definition of the word native.No. 2: You need to find a good resource like Prairie Nursery that carries a good selection. No. 3: The costs that can be associated with native seeds. I cant tell you how many people like the concept of natives, but when I put together a quote for them, a disconnect develops. I always try to let consumers know that upfrontyou have to set the expectation that natives can be more expensive than other pollinator-friendly flowers. In the long run, knowing that they can last for many years, then theres a reason and it eases the potential anxiety of paying a little bit more for those natives.SW40/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2019'