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    Shop Talk: Good Land Grows on Sustainability and Community

    Brother and sister Mike and Megan Minnix embarked on a lengthy road trip together and ended their journey with more than just memories and some good photos. 

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    Mike, an environmental consultant, founded Good Land Ohio in 2015. Located in Chromedge Studios at 289 W. Walnut St. in Franklinton, the organization provides environmentally sustainable services for businesses and events across the city and state. The idea to make Good Land into a brand and sell handmade goods and curated plants sparked while Mike and Megan visited 15 national parks in the fall of 2019.

    “Instead of clawing each other’s eyes out in the car across the country multiple times over, we just started scheming and thinking,” Mike said. 

    Good Land lost most of its contracts shortly after the road trip because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having just moved into a new house with his pregnant wife, Mike said he began to worry about finances.

    “I had just started going out in the garage and making things and practicing and learning about how I could use my time a little more effectively,” he said.

    Good Land’s mission is sustainability, which led Mike to consider what was most accessible to him as a new maker. He first learned to make soap and concrete he mixed out of a three-gallon trashcan.

    “As with anything, you start getting better as you do it,” he said. “It’s kind of not giving up and just keep rocking and rolling.” 

    Mike said he never expected Good Land to have a retail business. At the time, he didn’t know if making things would just be a hobby or if he’d continue once the pandemic was over. 

    “Never did I think we would have shelves in here or anything like that,” Mike said. “And that just makes me happy kind of looking at it.”

    The brand’s product assortment has evolved since its first sale in February 2020. Good Land now includes a variety of items such as cleaning supplies, home decor, skincare and beauty products, concrete pots, apparel, art and drink infusions. 

    The shop sells a few items from other makers, but a majority of Good Land’s products are made in-house. In December 2022, the brand grew into a production studio located on the other side of the shop’s back wall.

    “We’re learning every day what we can make,” Mike said.

    Good Land’s production studio located next to the shop - Photos by Ashley Kimmel
    Good Land’s production studio located next to the shop

    Because Good Land is located in a studio space, the shop does not have regular store hours. Brand manager Aly Moore said Franklinton Fridays, a monthly event in the Franklinton Arts District, are a big day for Good Land and an opportunity to build customer relationships. 

    “It’s a unique time for us to sell things because it’s really like a big party. And we actually talk to people and they build this connection with the brand,” Moore said.

    Good Land also operates as an event space, which was another unexpected addition to the business. Mike said the idea was introduced by customers who asked if they could rent out the space. 

    “More and more people just started coming in and asking,” he said. “And of course, we’d love people to come in and share it because we want them to talk about it. We want them to feel comfortable to use this for anything.”

    The shop hosted its first event in the summer of 2021. Mike said non-profit organizations are able to use the space for free.

    “Anything that we can do to help our community, we’re all for,” he said.

    Mike is excited about the future of his business and said he looks forward to continuing to grow and collaborate with new people.

    “I can’t sleep at night because I think about what we can do here. That just brings me joy. Honestly, maybe sleep deprivation, but pure joy,” Mike said.

    Good Land is located in suite 16 of Chromedge Studios at 289 W. Walnut St. The shop is open by appointment and on Franklinton Fridays. You can also browse Good Land’s collection and shop online.

    For more information, visit www.goodlandbrand.com.

    All photos by Ashley Kimmel

    Good Land is located in suite 16 of Chromedge Studios at 289 W. Walnut Street
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    Ashley Kimmel
    Ashley Kimmel
    Ashley Kimmel is a freelance reporter for Columbus Underground. She graduated from OSU with a BA in Journalism. Ashley has lived in Columbus her entire life and is passionate about the growing community and supporting small businesses.
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