Eric Hagen Landscape Foreman

My interest in the field of horticulture started in 1984 during my senior year of high school when I attended a daily 3-hour class for outdoor occupations. I learned the basics of plant identification, design and landscape installation. It was then that I found I had a real passion for working outdoors and creating things with my hands. My goal then was to get a degree in horticulture and see where that took me. In 1992, I received a two-year degree as a Landscape & Nursery Technician. In 1994, I became a Certified Landscape Professional through the Minnesota Landscape Association (MNLA). Since then, I have obtained my Class A&E Pesticide Applicators License and have become a licensed Power Limited Low Voltage Lighting Technician. Recently, I have also completed a course on low voltage lighting and am now a Certified Illuminologist. I have been taking various classes on pond installation and design and have been installing Aquascapes Pond Systems for 6 years.

I have begun working in the horticulture field during the summer of 1984. First as a youth supervisor for Anoka County doing landscaping and grounds maintenance for Blaine Senior High and two summers doing residential lawn care and maintenance after that. I then got my Horticulture Degree. That led to two years of work as a foreman for a well known garden center on Hwy 65 in Blaine MN, where I learned to build rock gardens, greenhouse production, plant propagation, and how to install irrigation for the garden center. In order to expand my experience, in 1992, I moved on to become a foreman for Halla Nursery. I worked there for 12 years. My job included residential landscape installation, nursery and greenhouse production, nursery maintenance, hiring of landscape crew members, retail sales, computer setup and network support, irrigation repair and installation at the garden center, and just about anything else you could think of.

In April of 2004, the opportunity to join Mark Halla in the formation of The Mustard Seed Company became a reality. This was an opportunity to use my experience and increase my responsibility in creating a successful landscaping service for the community. It brought me together with four other incredible people who share the same interests in providing quality landscape services. The principles of honest, above average service performed by people who care and work as a team, is the foundation of the Mustard Seed Company. These principles are important to me both professionally and personally, and they are a great way to grow and give service to others.

My personal interests include my love for northern Minnesota where I have a cabin and enjoy family vacations, fishing and hunting trips. I have a real love for all animals and I have two dogs. I enjoy the pond I have installed in my back yard complete with fish (which the dogs love as well). One of the best parts of my life is my beautiful wife, who I have been with since 1992. We both enjoy the simple side of life - exercising, trying to stay fit by living a healthy lifestyle, and enjoying visits with friends and family. Another major interest for me is computer technology, PC building, and trouble shooting. I consider myself a self-taught "computer geek". This is an on-going learning situation that I thoroughly enjoy.

I look forward to my future with The Mustard Seed and all that the partnership will bring. I have a great deal of love and devotion towards my job, the people I work with and the job I do. I tend to be a perfectionist and take pride in doing the best possible job. I feel that helping to create beautiful landscapes and building great water garden features is an excellent way to increase my creative abilities. I have faith that this partnership is my life's path to happiness and good health.