Gordon and Jana Wybo sell candles, local honey, seeds, lotions and other goods at Sustainacycle's Sustainable Living Center in Kyle, but Gordon said they are actually in the business of exchanging information.
Gardeners and craftsmen with varying levels of experience gather at the Wybo's business to trade tips and tricks for growing and cultivating everything from broccoli to bees, he said.
"If you've grown it, you know what's in it," Gordon said. "There's something about harvesting something and eating it and knowing that your effort went into it; it tastes so much different."
Sustainacycle's Sustainable Living Center opened in October 2012 at 409 W. Center St., he said. Before opening, Gordon was operating Wybo's Wigglers—a business specializing in cultivating worms for use in gardening soils—from his home.
"We had worms everywhere," Gordon said. "It was like, 'We've got to find some kind of place to raise these worms because we're running out of room.'"
Since opening as Sustainacycle, the Wybos said they have steadily added goods and classes to their store. The front room is dedicated to the store's retail sales, which include honey, lotions, gardening tools and other goods. What was once a closet has been converted into a small vermiculture setup to allow Gordon to grow plants indoors. In the garden behind the business, the Wybos grow fruits and vegetables, and raise rabbits and bees among other things.
Jana said the duo—who are the lone employees of the business—is planning to begin gardening classes in September. Classes cost as little as $5 and typically include all necessary supplies. Jana said the classes are open to gardeners of all experience levels.
"We'll get them everywhere between 'I've never put a seed in the dirt' to master gardeners looking for advice on how to improve something," she said.
Gordon said those interested in starting their own garden should start small. He recommended building a 4-foot-by-8-foot bed using wood planks and filling it with fresh soil.
Gordon said his message of sustainability goes far beyond the garden behind his business. He regularly teaches at Hays CISD's 18-Plus program, which aims to provide special education students with life skills such as cooking and gardening.
"Part of sustainability is not only growing organically or sustaining your dirt, but it's also sustaining the community," he said. "It's sustaining people who need help. It's sustaining students. It's sustaining special ed kids who have challenges. It's a whole concept. It's not just limited to your property lines."
August is the month to prepare for your fall garden
- Plant seeds such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale squash and pumpkins in August.
- Blend in a generous layer of compost. This will not only feed fall plants, but it will also help hold moisture in the root zone. For heavy clay soils, add sand or composted cotton burr to prevent compaction.
- For natural pest control, August is the optimal month to release ladybugs and praying mantises and apply beneficial nematodes.
- To aid in saving water, spread mulch in a 2–6 inch ring around the stem or trunk of your crop. This discourages the plant from developing shallow roots around its base.
